# Establishing a Masters Program in Research Ethics at University of Belgrade School of Medicine

> **NIH NIH R25** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $234,546

## Abstract

With increasing numbers of biomedical research trials being conducted in Serbia, Serbian institutions need
to build expertise in research ethics. This project is designed to meet that need by supporting faculty
members at the University of Belgrade School of Medicine (UBSM), the leading Serbian institution for
biomedical research, to develop a Masters degree program in “Research Ethics.” First, the project will help
prepare a core faculty group to take the lead in establishing the Masters program. These faculty members
need to build upon their prior basic training and develop advanced knowledge and skills in this subject
matter. They also need to earn Masters degrees in research ethics to be credible leaders of the Masters
degree program. To accomplish this goal, our program will provide Masters degree training and mentorship
for faculty, and guide them in establishing their own Masters. The UBSM Masters program will also provide
education in research ethics for people from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Macedonia, countries
where Serbo-Croatian is also spoken.
 UBSM faculty members, prepared with training, mentorship, and the critical academic credential, will
then be able to provide Masters degree training for others from the western Balkans. The UBSM training will
enable future students to develop the requisite knowledge and skills to provide research review, education,
and assure compliance with international standards for the ethical conduct of animal and human subject
research at their home institutions.
 For the past five years, a faculty team from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS),
together with its partner, UBSM, has been conducting a Fogarty International Center NIH training program
providing Certificate level basic research ethics education in the Balkans and Black Sea region. ISMMS is a
leading U.S. medical institution, currently ranked 13th in its biomedical research funding. Participating
ISMMS faculty members have significant experience conducting clinical and bioethics research. They have
extensive experience in human and animal research review and are leaders in teaching the ethical conduct
of research, research ethics, medical ethics, and research methods.
 The UBSM Masters curriculum will build upon our successful Fogarty Certificate program. The plan
is comprised of two key elements: (A) mentoring UBSM Masters program faculty and (B) supporting their
development and implementation of a sustainable Research Ethics Masters curriculum. Faculty
development will include: enabling faculty members to complete a Masters in Research Ethics, providing
skills training, co-teaching experience, practical experience with research review, consultation and guidance
throughout the curriculum development and implementation process. Continuing education of the Masters
program faculty will employ distance learning technology where feasible.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889199
- **Project number:** 5R25TW008171-08
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Ivanka Markovic
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $234,546
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-06-08 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889199, Establishing a Masters Program in Research Ethics at University of Belgrade School of Medicine (5R25TW008171-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889199. Licensed CC0.

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