Research Ethics in Epidemics and Public Health Emergencies

Responses to epidemics, emergencies and disasters raise many ethical issues for the people involved, who include responders, public health specialists and policy-makers. This workshop provides an ethical view point on issues arising when research studies are conducted in these difficult contexts. In particular, it will be focused on adaptations of ethical oversight and processes, as deliberations of research ethics committees. Using the example of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the participants of the workshop will discuss ethical issues within a concrete case study. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Andreas Reis, WHO, and Dr. Ignacio Mastroleo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, for their continued support.