Building ethical research capacity in Pakistan
Official title: Enabling Ethical Research; A Bioethics Capacity Building Program in Pakistan
Funded at Aga Khan University (Pakistan) · NIH-11061017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a two-year Master’s program in Bioethics to help professionals in Pakistan learn about the important ethical issues in healthcare research, so they can lead efforts to improve research quality and standards in the country.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Aga Khan University (Pakistan) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Karachi, Pakistan) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $243,833 |
| NIH project number | 5R25TW012221-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program include mid-career professionals in healthcare, academia, and research who are interested in bioethics and research ethics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in healthcare professions or academic research may not directly benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This program aims to enhance the ethical standards of biomedical research in Pakistan by developing and delivering a two-year advanced Master of Bioethics program. It focuses on training mid-career professionals from various disciplines to become leaders in bioethics and research ethics. The program will also assess the current needs in research ethics across academic centers in Pakistan, ensuring that the curriculum is relevant and impactful. By fostering a deeper understanding of ethical issues in research, the initiative seeks to improve the quality of healthcare research conducted in the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved ethical standards in biomedical research, ultimately benefiting patient care and health outcomes in Pakistan.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been efforts to enhance research ethics globally, this specific program is a novel approach tailored to the unique challenges faced in Pakistan.
Where this research is happening
-
Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
Karachi, Pakistan Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khan, Robyna Irshad — Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
- Study coordinator: Khan, Robyna Irshad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
A small NIH grant to test a pocket-sized decision support tool for nurses and doctors to improve newborn care in Pakistan.
-
NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
A phone- or computer-based decision tool helps frontline nurses and doctors make better newborn care choices in Pakistan.
-
Training researchers to tackle diseases spread by insects in Pakistan.
This study is all about helping researchers in Pakistan learn how to tackle diseases spread by insects, like mosquitoes, by working together and understanding how people, animals, and the environment are connected, especially with climate change in mind.
-
Improving research administration to enhance health equity in vulnerable populations
This study is working to improve how research is managed at Aga Khan University, helping to make sure that important health information is collected and used effectively, which will benefit communities in East Africa and South Asia.
-
Training program for researchers on non-communicable diseases in Pakistan
This study is all about helping people in Pakistan understand and manage diseases like strokes better by training new researchers to collect and analyze important health data, so they can find affordable solutions to improve health in their communities.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.