Research Ethics from a Developing World Perspective

Global situation
Health research is an essential prerequisite to the overall development of any country. National and international bodies concerned with research ethics need to confront the greatest ethical challenge, the enormous inequities in global health. Less than 10% of research funds are spent on the diseases that account for 90% of the global disease burden. Though 93% of the world’s burden of preventable mortality occurs in developing countries, too little research funding is targeted to health problems in developing countries; creating a dangerous funding differential. Strengthening the health research capacity in developing countries is a critical element for achieving health equity.

Sri Lankan situation
In Sri Lanka, lack of a research culture, inadequacies in research capabilities, absence of adequate incentives for research and near absence of a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach to research is a problem. However, there are influential international research collaborations taking place in Sri Lanka. Developing countries should reject the fallacy that they are only capable of carrying out basic and cheap research. There is a definitive place for advanced research to be carried out. Infant mortality rate alone will provide a good gauge for the need for research in genetic disorders. According to the WHO, any country with an infant mortality rate of less than 50, should invest in genetic research and investigation and treatment of genetic disorders. Sri Lanka has been cited as one of the countries in the South East Asian Region that need to develop an active programme of research in genetic disorders. Increasingly, genetics is extending beyond the confines of the research laboratory, and being incorporated as a part of primary care in all countries.

Our vision
We aim to establish a research foundation, which brings together researchers from diverse disciplines to carry out research that will elevate the quality of life and achieve heath equity and establish a partnership between the researchers and the public who should be the ultimate beneficiaries of these research endeavors.