Description and Impact of the 20-Year Fogarty International Center/NIH Middle East Research Ethics Training Initiative.

Abstract

The Middle East Research Ethics Training Initiative (MERETI), established in 2004 with funding from the Fogarty International Center at the NIH, aimed to enhance research ethics capacity in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Initially focused on Egypt, MERETI expanded to other Arab countries, providing advanced training in international research ethics to over 100 individuals. The program emphasized additional skills in research methodology, pedagogy, scientific writing, and leadership. MERETI's training evolved from a one-year program to a two-year model incorporating sequential hybrid/blended and asynchronous online components and, eventually, included a fully online 12-credit graduate certificate in research ethics. The program's impact is demonstrated through the professional achievements of its trainees, which included publishing in peer-reviewed journals, assuming key roles in national research ethics committees and ministries of health and contributing to the development of ethics research practices in their respective countries. MERETI also fostered a sustainable Egyptian network of research ethics committees.