News

University of Botswana (UB) Office of Research and Development (ORD) Institutional Review Board (IRB) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ethical research practices and safeguarding research integrity during its 2025 strategic retreat held at the Grand Aria Conference Centre.

IRB Chairperson and Academic Head of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, Dr Dipesalema Joel, opened the retreat by emphasising the importance of pausing to reflect on the Board’s mission and improving systems that protect research participants. He said the retreat offered an opportunity to evaluate progress and sharpen the Board’s approach to ethical oversight.

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, highlighted the critical role of ORD in driving the University’s research agenda, noting that stepping away from routine work allowed the team to refocus on purpose and alignment.

Assistant Director for Research Ethics, Dr Dimpho Ralefala, outlined the objectives of the retreat including assessing past achievements, identifying challenges and enhancing consistency in review processes.

Key discussions centred on updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), incorporating emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence into ethical considerations and strengthening data-sharing and protection systems.

IRB Deputy Chairperson, Dr Abed Tabalaka, underscored the significance of refining SOPs, describing them as essential tools guiding the Board through the complex landscape of research governance and accountability. He stressed that the procedures must align with international ethical standards, national laws and UB’s commitment to research excellence.

The retreat concluded with a renewed collective commitment to reinforcing UB’s position as a leader in ethical, responsible and globally competitive research.