global health | Nuffield Council on Bioethics

Research in developing countries: follow-up

This discussion paper is a follow-up to the Council’s 2002 report on the ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries.

It explores the practical implications of new and revised guidelines from several international organisations, which were discussed at a workshop in Cape Town in February 2004.

Research in developing countries

Developing countries urgently need research to help relieve the burden of disease. It is vital that wealthier countries help sponsor this research, but rigorous ethical safeguards are needed to prevent the exploitation of those who take part.

This report defines the ethical standards for healthcare research in developing countries.

Report of global health symposium

A detailed report of the Council’s 20^th anniversary symposium ‘Global health: responsibility, ethics and policy’ has been published.

At the symposium, which took place on 22 June 2011, speakers from around the globe discussed topics such as ethics and responsibility in global health, non-communicable diseases, the role of emerging biotechnologies in global health, and social determinants of health.

Nigel Crisp: Turning the world upside down

Lord Nigel Crisp discusses his book 'Turning the world upside down: the search for global health in the 21st Century' at the Nuffield Council on Bioethics anniversary symposium on global health, on 22 June 2011 in London.

Aissatou Toure: What contribution can the Nuffield Council on Bioethics make to global health?

Aissatou Toure (Head of Immunology, Pasteur Institute, Senegal) talks on global health inequalities and the role of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics at its 20th anniversary symposium on global health on 22 June 2011.

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International - Global health symposium

An international line-up of speakers and 130 guests discussed current initiatives and future challenges in global health inequalities at the Council’s 20^th anniversary symposium on Wednesday 22 June 2011 in London.

International symposium considers global health inequalities

Broadening bioethics: clinical ethics, public health and global health

Baroness Onora O'Neill presents the Council's 2011 public lecture on clinical ethics, public health and global health at the Royal Society of Arts in London, 19th May 2011.

Broadening bioethics: clinical ethics, public health and global health

Baroness Onora O’Neill gave the Council's Annual Lecture at the Royal Society of Arts on Thursday 19th May 2011.

Download a transcript of the lecture.

Watch a video of the lecture.

Research in developing countries - Summary and conclusions

Download a PDF of Chapter 10 - Conclusions and recommendations (80 KB)

There is an urgent need for externally sponsored research in developing countries. However, rigorous ethical safeguards must be in place to prevent the exploitation of those who take part in the research.