Institute of Advanced Studies

What in the world does ethics have to do with health research?: Some musings on whether morality is local or global

Health research is now a global enterprise.

For example, the vast majority of studies that test new drugs are funded by the private sector (such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies) and an increasing number of studies are funded by philanthropies and charities.

National and international codes of ethics have been widely disseminated for more than five decades to guide the ethical conduct of research, and yet there remain important questions that need answers:

• What is the ethical rationale for conducting studies in certain countries and not others?
• Why is research conducted on some groups and not others?
• How should science accommodate and respect local values and morals?

This presentation addressed  these and other questions that arise and offers some perspectives on the world of health research.