Strengthening Capacity in Health Research Ethics and Research Methodology
Veronica Njie-Carr, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FWACN
School of Nursing
Henry Silverman, MD, MA
School of Medicine
The Gambia is on the cusp of transformational changes in the political landscape with opportunities to strengthen institutions through the implementation of interdisciplinary research studies requiring health professionals and scholars to gain a deeper understanding of research ethics and methodologies. Formal training is unavailable necessitating the education of health professionals and scholars to facilitate their evolving roles as change agents.
We propose a Planning Program focusing on two aims: 1) Train four Gambian scholars in research ethics, research methods, and other essential leadership and pedagogical competences. 2) Provide professional development through mentorship and an exchange visit for sustainability. Program activities will include face-to-face instruction, training workshops, experiential, and online learning experiences. The proposed approach is inherently impactful with the multi-prong and bi-directional collaborative engagement to maximize project sustainability. The Program will develop trainee expertise and leadership capacity leveraging UMB’s ongoing collaborative efforts with Gambia’s education, practice, and research activities.