# JHU-AAU Research Ethics Training Program (Ethiopia)

> **NIH NIH R25** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $243,159

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Johns Hopkins University-Addis Ababa University Research Ethics Training Program in
Ethiopia (JHU-AAU RETP) will create a new track in research ethics within AAU’s Masters of Public
Health program, basic and advanced ethics workshops, and online courses and webinars from JHU
faculty and Africa-based ethics experts covering important and emerging ethical issues. This
partnership will focus on investing in the future of Ethiopian ethicists and supporting their original
scholarly work. Three key themes to support and grow Ethiopian ethicists will include the ethics of
infectious disease research relevant to the major disease burden in Ethiopia; the ethics of testing and
evaluating genetic approaches to improve health services; and exploration of the ethical issues in
studying the new burden of non-communicable conditions across the lifespan. The JHU-AAU
partnership will also establish a national forum to discuss research ethics in Ethiopia. AAU’s strong
national reputation will be used to promote dialogue on research ethics among policy makers and
various professionals in Ethiopia. The partnership will also establish a Research Ethics Unit within an
existing center for ethics at AAU by the end of 5 years that will house and continue to grow Ethiopia’s
ethics capacity by strengthening research ethics teaching capacity; enhancing research ethics
coordination capacity in collaboration with other research especially NIH-funded projects; enhancing
international networking and collaboration; enabling stronger dissemination and communication; and
supporting the IRB at AAU. This transformative approach means that we will implement a capacity
development model for Ethiopians by Ethiopians with technical assistance from U.S.- and Africa-
based experts; address a major gap in health research by focusing on research ethics; and establish
mechanisms to ensure long term sustainability for a strong research ethics enterprise. Building on an
existing Master’s program at AAU with experience teaching health research and building on JHU’s 18
years of experience in training professionals from Africa in research ethics, this program will formalize
research ethics training in one of the premier institutions in Africa. Trainees at AAU will conduct
scholarship on the ethics issues emerging in research studying nationally relevant issues, while the
two institutions collaborate to promote such research. We will work to create a sustainable national
platform to highlight and discuss research ethics aimed at promoting an exploration of social, ethical
and cultural issues in health research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10071224
- **Project number:** 5R25TW001604-20
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph Ali
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $243,159
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2000-09-30 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10071224

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10071224, JHU-AAU Research Ethics Training Program (Ethiopia) (5R25TW001604-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10071224. Licensed CC0.

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