The Master of Science in One Health and Emergency Research Ethics (MOHERE) program is an international joint initiative of the University of Nairobi (UoN), The Ohio State University, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Together, these institutions aim to establish master’s and post-graduate diploma (PGD)-level programs in international health research ethics, focusing on One Health research and emergency research at the UoN. They recently held their inaugural workshop for the MOHERE program in October in Nairobi, Kenya.
This workshop signifies a critical milestone in the project, with the official launch of courses at the UoN beginning on October 9. The workshop trained the incoming MOHERE MSc and PGD students on the Responsible Conduct of Research through lectures and group discussions led by the three institutions. Fourteen students registered for the program, including ten MOHERE scholarship recipients.
The week was a networking opportunity to strengthen collaboration within the MOHERE team and with the University of Nairobi. The MOHERE project Principal Investigator (PI) Donal O’Mathuna and Ohio State MOHERE team member Dana Howard traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to conduct workshop sessions in person and to meet with key stakeholders, guided by Joseph Mwanzia Nguta, UoN PI and One Health Ethics and Regulatory Procedures (OHEARP) fellow.
During the week, the MOHERE team met with Stephen Kiama, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, faculty from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, KEMRI leadership and the Kenyatta National Hospital – University of Nairobi Ethics and Research Committee.
Keynote speakers included Marion Mutugi, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, presenting on One Health Research and Human Rights, and a virtual presentation from Doris Schroder, University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom, presenting on her book, “The Trust Code: A Global Code of Conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships.” Panel discussions, including the keynote speakers, followed both presentations.
Workshop sessions incorporated innovative aspects to engage attendees, including documentaries, group discussions, panel discussions and case studies, emphasizing local context.
This project is supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25TW012217. All program costs are covered through Federal funds. Workshop content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Fogarty International Center nor the National Institutes of Health.