The WCG IRB International Fellows Program is training the next generation of global research leaders and strengthening research protections, ethics, and practices around the world. Since 2002, WCG IRB has trained more than 200 scientists, researchers, and ethicists from more than 27 countries.
WCG IRB’s International Fellows Program is designed for global healthcare professionals who intend to establish or improve institutional review boards (IRBs) in their home countries. Our intensive program helps participants develop the knowledge necessary to create, manage, and/or administer IRBs that comply with the regulations and ethical standards that protect the rights and welfare of human research participants.
The International Fellows Program was founded in 2002 in partnership with the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Washington. To date, more than 200 international fellows from across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe have graduated, many making significant contributions to the field of clinical research in their home countries.
The International Fellows Program is hosted at the WCG IRB office in Puyallup, WA and includes two weeks of training in human research ethics at New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center in New York City. The Fellows supplement their NYU coursework with practical training, mentorship and observation of actual IRB meetings at WCG IRB.
Following the first eight weeks of training, six-month Fellows are eligible to enter the review process to be appointed as a board member. Six-month Fellows receive additional intensive training and a mentorship period covering the role and responsibilities of being a board member, as well as in-depth exposure to IRB operations.
PHASE 1
Achieve a foundational understanding of the history, roles, responsibilities, and processes of protecting human research participants.
PHASE 2
In-depth discussions on human research participant protection provided by the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU’s Langone Medical Center.
PHASE 3
Training on relevant regulations, guidelines, and guidance pertaining to human research participant protection, protocol review, the consent process, human research populations, and safety.
Alfred Koskei, BSc, MPH, MSc (Kenya)
Mr. Koskei holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and Technology (Pharmacology and physiology option), and two Master’s degrees – in Public Health and International Health Research Ethics. He is also doctoral candidate in Public Health. Currently, he has been the Head of Department (acting) for Environmental/Public Health at the University of Kabianga in Kenya since 2017, and an Executive member of and reviewer for its IRB since 2016.
Cox Lwaka Tamba, PhD (Kenya)
Dr. Tamba holds a Bachelor of Education (Science-Double Mathematics) degree, and MSc (Statistics) degree from Egerton University, as well as PhD in Bioinformatics. Dr. Tamba also has a post-graduate diploma in Actuarial Science. Currently, he is a Lecturer of Bio-Informatics, Statistics and Actuarial Science in the Department of Mathematics at Egerton University, Kenya.
Dr. Tamba is an active voting member of Egerton University Review and Ethics Committee, EUREC where he is involved in review of research proposals. EUREC’s mandate goes beyond human research participants and extends to ethical issues in general research including animal research subjects.
Daniel Lagat, MA, MSc, PhD (Kenya)
Dr. Lagat holds two Master’s degrees – one in Religious Studies and the other in Organizational Development, and a PhD in Religious Studies. Currently Dr. Lagat is a Part-time Lecturer at Moi University and Adjunct Lecturer at Africa Theological Seminary in Kenya as well as a Roving Students Counsellor for the Plateau District Church Council.
Dr. Lagat is the Volunteer Executive Secretary for Moi University and Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) which is a review board that performs ethical reviews of studies done at Moi University Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) research study.
Faith Kanjira, BBA (Malawi)
Ms. Kanjira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is the Regulatory Coordinator for Clinical Biomedical Research Trials for the University of North Carolina Project in Malawi. In this role, her responsibilities include preliminary review/prepare research protocols/proposals going for review and approval to the Ethics committee (NHSRC) and the Regulatory Board (PMPB) this includes Amendments, SAEs, Protocol deviations, EAEs among others; and communication with the Local and International ethics committees (NHSRC, UNC IRB, WIRB) on behalf of the project.
Fidelis Anumu, BSc, MPhil (Ghana)
Mr. Anumu holds both undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics. He is the Assistant Registrar and Acting Head of Research Operations for the Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences – a position he has held since 2016. In this role, his responsibilities include establishment and administration of the University’s IRB, as well as leading the administration of all research projects in the University.
Isaac Boakye, BSc (Ghana)
Mr. Boakye holds a Bachelor’s degree in Botany/Zoology as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Trials. He is the Deputy Chief Health Research Officer, Research & Development Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, in Kumasi, Ghana, and is also the Administrator of the Hospital’s Institutional Review Board.
Stellah Lungu, MBBS (Malawi)
Dr. Lungu is a general practitioner who is the Public Health Associate at the Public Health Institute of Malawi Research Unit where her duties include assisting with human participant protection activities including study protocol screening and conducting study inspection exercises; facilitating the national IRB induction meetings, and attending IRB committee meeting as a member of the national IRB secretariat.
