SciDev.Net

South–South research collaboration can be a powerful strategy for boosting scientific capacity and achieving common goals. But it should not be embraced uncritically, says Athar Osama.

Sue Eckstein reviews existing schemes to build capacity in research ethics in developing countries, which range from sponsored academic degree programmes to tailored courses and one-off meetings.

Ethical review committees are the main way of ensuring that clinical research conforms to ethical standards. But, as Zulfiqar A. Bhutta explains, the work of such committees is severely constrained in many developing countries.