The Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong successfully hosted a workshop titled “Strengthening Ethical Research Practices: A Workshop on ICMR Guidelines and NDCT Rules 2019” on 29 May 2026 at the MIIT Hall, Dhankheti.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Roli Mathur, Head of the Bioethics Unit at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The sessions were co-facilitated by Prof. Sandra Albert, Director, IIPH Shillong, and Dr. Benedicta Sthuti Kumar, One Health Fellow, IIPH Shillong.
The programme brought together researchers, Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) members, academicians, and public health professionals for an engaging and interactive learning experience focused on strengthening ethical research practices and regulatory understanding.
The sessions covered several important topics, including the ICMR National Ethical Guidelines, the Department of Health Research (DHR) National Ethics Committee Registry, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines, and the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules 2019. Discussions also addressed recent updates in ethics-related policies and tools, informed consent processes and moral dilemmas, as well as the roles and responsibilities of Ethics Committees in ethical review and oversight.
Participants actively engaged in discussions, group activities, and experience-sharing sessions on ethical challenges encountered during research and ethics committee review processes. The workshop also provided valuable insights into emerging ethical considerations, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and healthcare, along with the ICMR Operational Guidelines on Single Ethics Review of Multicentre Research in India.
The workshop served as an important platform for strengthening ethical awareness, promoting responsible research practices, and fostering dialogue among professionals engaged in health research and public health practice.
