AMBSO Participates in the 12th Annual National Research Ethics Conference (ANREC – 2025)

From 21st to 22nd October 2025, AMBSO represented by Dr. Joan Nakakande, the Head of Clinical Trials, Winfred Zalwango, the Head of Quality Control and regulatory Affairs and Micheal Owor, the APHS Coordinator and Community Engagement lead participated in the 12th Annual National Research Ethics Conference (ANREC) held at Hotel Africana, Kampala.

The conference was organized by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and provides a platform for dialogue and exchange among key stakeholders involved in human and animal research, including researchers, regulators, policymakers, ethics committee members, institutional officials, students, civil society, and research communities.

Held under the theme “Communities as Partners: Strengthening Community Engagement in Research,” this year’s conference focused on enhancing community participation throughout the research process. Discussions highlighted best practices for effective community engagement, ensuring research responsiveness to community needs, and addressing post-research responsibilities such as participant obligations and post-trial access.

A key highlight of the conference was the launch of three new national research policies including the Community Engagement Guidelines, the Updated Guidelines for Engagement of Research Participants, and the Joint Scientific and Ethics Review Guidelines all aimed at strengthening ethical standards and inclusivity in research across Uganda.