At Dr. Hany Akeel Institute and the Iraqi Medical Research Center, we are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in medical and pharmaceutical research. Our Ethical Committee is responsible for reviewing, approving, and monitoring experimental treatment protocols to ensure that all studies adhere to international ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks.
Our Role & Responsibilities
The Ethical Committee ensures that all research involving human subjects, animal models, and experimental treatments complies with:
✔ Patient safety and rights protection in clinical and experimental research.
✔ Scientific integrity and validity of the proposed research methodologies.
✔ Compliance with international ethical standards, including:
- Helsinki Declaration (WMA) – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP) – Ensuring research integrity and transparency.
- World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for biomedical research.
- Institutional and national research ethics frameworks.
Approval Process for Research & Theses
All research proposals, including theses, dissertations, and clinical studies, undergo a rigorous ethical review process:
1. Submission of Research Protocol
Researchers must submit a detailed protocol including:
✔ Study objectives and hypothesis.
✔ Justification and significance of the research.
✔ Detailed methodology, including sample size, data collection, and analysis.
✔ Informed consent process for human participants.
✔ Risk assessment and proposed mitigation strategies.
2. Ethical Review & Compliance Check
Our committee evaluates research protocols based on the following ethical and scientific criteria:
✔ Scientific validity – The study must be methodologically sound.
✔ Risk-benefit analysis – Ensuring participant safety outweighs potential risks.
✔ Confidentiality and data protection – Adherence to privacy and data security regulations.
✔ Non-maleficence & Beneficence – Research should minimize harm and maximize benefits.
✔ Voluntary participation – Ensuring participants give informed consent without coercion.
✔ Conflict of interest disclosure – Researchers must declare any potential conflicts.
3. Decision & Approval
✔ Approved studies receive an Ethical Clearance Certificate for implementation.
✔ Research that does not meet ethical standards is sent for revision or declined.
Monitoring & Compliance
The Ethical Committee continuously monitors ongoing studies to ensure compliance with approved protocols. Regular audits and reports are required to:
✔ Detect any ethical or safety concerns.
✔ Ensure adherence to research guidelines.
✔ Address any ethical violations or unexpected adverse events.
Failure to comply with ethical standards may result in suspension or termination of the research.
Reporting Ethical Concerns
We encourage researchers, participants, and stakeholders to report any ethical concerns or research misconduct. Complaints and violations can be submitted to the Ethical Committee via info@icmr.ml.
Our commitment to ethical research ensures that all studies are conducted with integrity, transparency, and respect for human dignity.