Collaborative Research Ethics Education Program

Overview

Strong research depends on strong ethical oversight. The overarching goal of the Collaborative Research Ethics Education program (FoCEP) is to ensure that research conducted in Mozambique and other African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa, PALOP) meets rigorous ethical and scientific standards required to generate reliable evidence that directly informs public health practice.
 

Why This Matters

PALOP countries are leading important research on child health, HIV, emerging infections, cancer prevention, and other global health priorities. As research activity grows, the need for investigators, research staff, and ethics review committees with the expertise to ensure informed consent, human subjects protections, data integrity, and culturally appropriate community engagement is increasing. Strengthening research ethics ultimately strengthens the quality and impact of global health research in both the target country and in the U.S.
 

Our Approach

Tulane works with long-standing academic partners to build sustainable research ethics capacity through: 

• Launching of Master's programs in Bioethics and Human Values at University Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique and the University of Cabo Verde 
• Training research ethics educators across PALOP countries 
• Supporting collaborative networks that promote ethical research practices and leadership across PALOP countries
   

Impact

During its first decade, FoCEP helped establish a critical mass of trained researchers and ethics educators in Mozambique through faculty development and graduate education. Program alumni have contributed to national discussions on research ethics while sharing the Mozambican experience through international publications and scientific conferences. The current phase expands these training opportunities to Cabo Verde and throughout the broader PALOP region.
 

Our partnerships

Featured Product/Publication

Ferguson, K., Adebamowo, C., Adejumo, A. O., Ogundiran, T., Aliyu, M. H., Gordon, E. J., Iliyasu, Z., Agulanna, C., Adamu, S. U., Adeyemo, O., Ezugwu, E. C., Adeyemo, S. A., Caplan, A. L., Ogedegbe, O., Moon, T. D., Heitman, E., Taylor, J. C., Bari, I., Hyder, A. A., … Ezeome, E. R. (2025). Strengthening Research Ethics Capacity in West Africa, 2015–2024. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 15562646251335076–15562646251335076. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646251335076