Research in developing countries

Non-EU countries, especially developing countries (DCs) represent a very wide, and constantly changing, variety of situations. Many of the ethical issues that are specific to these countries originate from the potential vulnerability of local stakeholders

Some overall considerations apply to all research projects in DCs:

1. The research must be responsive to the needs of the country where it is carried out (e.g. the study must have value for the health and welfare of the intended participants, their community, and/or their country). This issue is of critical relevance for emerging and developing countries.

2. Sensitivity must be shown to the local conditions. Explain how your research proposal fits into local customs and practices. Also, the research should not employ local resources to a degree that normal function, for example in heath care, is reduced.

3.   t is also important to indicate how the results of your research can be applied in the developing country (e.g. developing vaccines for malaria).

4. Also ideally, your application will be able to show that you are also helping build local capacities by conducting research in developing countries and by bringing something extra to the community (e.g. Extra health care, etc.).

5. Explain how it is ensured that resources and materials obtained from participating DCs will remain accessible to these partners even after the end of the study (e.g. blood samples from local populations).

6.   If appropriate, state that you are planning to discuss in advance the planned research and dissemination of the results with relevant parties in the developing society.

7. The research needs to adhere to FP7 ethics requirements and the research must abide to relevant local and international laws and guidelines.

8. As for doing research in non-EU countries, you need also approval of the host countries which will judge the ethical acceptability of the research in accord with the customs and traditions of the society concerned.