Research Project: Collaborative Research Ethics Education Program
At a Glance
Research Area
Implementation Science | Training & Capacity Strengthening | Research Ethics
Location
Mozambique | Cabo Verde | Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP)
Funding
NIH Fogarty International Center
Tulane Faculty
D. Troy Moon, MD, MPH | William G. Vincent Professor of Tropical Medicine and Pediatrics; Department of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases
S. Shannon Hanson, PhD | Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine; Director, Program in Medical Ethics & Human Values, Tulane School of Medicine
Status
Active 2014–2030 (anticipated)
Project Highlights
11+ Years of Partnership | 4 Countries Engaged | NIH Funded
Project Details
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, there is an increasing 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. Strengthening research ethics ultimately strengthens the quality and impact of global health research in both partner countries and the United States.
Our Approach
Tulane works with long-standing academic partners to build sustainable research ethics capacity through:
- Launching Master's programs in Bioethics and Human Values at Eduardo Mondlane University 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.
Research Partnerships
Tulane University
- WSPH Department of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases
- Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values, Tulane School of Medicine
Global Partners
- Esperança Sevene, PhD | Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Eduardo Mondlane University
- Isabel Inês Araújo, PhD | Department of Science and Technology, University of Cabo Verde
- Elizabeth Heitman, PhD | Professor, Division of Ethics, Department of Psychiatry, and Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Academic institutions across the PALOP network
Featured 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. View publication.
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