Capacity Building at Nepal Health Research Council for Ethical Research.

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Status of Research Funding in Nepal: A Scoping Review.

With the rapid advancement of health delivery, there has been a renewed interest in conducting research among healthcare professionals in Nepal. However, concern is there regarding availability of funds and mechanisms of awarding.  The purpose of this scoping review is to map the available evidence regarding the evolution and current status of health research funding in Nepal and to highlight gaps and areas for future research.

Revisiting the clinical trial history and regulatory mechanisms in Nepal in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

Presence of Nepal in global clinical trials has been visibly negligible despite the history of conducting large scaled randomized controlled trial on Hepatitis E vaccine decades ago. Majority of the problem is attributed to the lack of collaborative work, financial and human resource constrains. COVID-19 pandemics seems to have triggered urgency among the authorities of Nepal leading to a substantial increase in the number of clinical trials in collaboration with national and international organizations/institutions.

Ethical Characteristics of Research Proposals Related to COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal: A Retrospective Review.

Background: Public health emergency is vulnerable time where maintaining ethical principles is obligatory while doing research, on the other hand, it is the same time when breach in ethics is much likely whenever a researcher is unaware, unprepared or hastens to do research. The aim of this study was to assess ethical issues of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related research proposals submitted during the early stages of pandemic in Nepal.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of COVID-19 related research proposals and their informed consent document submitted to the ethical review board at Nepal Health Research Council was done for the study.

Assessment of Preparedness of Government of Nepal in COVID Designated Hospitals and Clinics for Pandemic Response.

Background: Preparedness, readiness, and response status of any country is integral in identifying, managing, and preventing COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to assess the status of the Government of Nepal designated COVID hospitals and COVID clinics to respond against COVID-19.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with the focal persons of COVID hospitals and COVID clinics using a semi-structured questionnaire from April 26, 2020 to May 27, 2020 via face to face interview with onsite observation and telephonic interview in few unreachable health facilities.

Trend and Patterns of Research Proposals Submitted for Ethical Review in Nepal Health Research Council.

Background: The characteristics of research proposals submitted to the Nepal Health Research Council reflect the trend of health-related researches being conducted in Nepal. The objective of the study was to analyze research proposals submitted for the ethical review in Nepal Health Research Council from 2017 to 2019.

Methods: A retrospective record review of research proposals received over three years from 2017 to 2019 were analyzed.

Historical Development of Health Research Ethics in Nepal.

Health research in Nepal initiated with a survey in malaria in 1952. The first regulatory body for health research was Nepal Medical Research Committee formed under Ministry of Health. Ethical Review Body is the first ethical review structure.