An Institutional Ethics Committee training workshop was successfully conducted on March 29, 2026, at Varun Arjun Medical College & Rohilkhand Hospital (VAMC & RH) under Varun Arjun University (VAU), Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The workshop aimed to strengthen understanding of ethical principles and regulatory frameworks governing biomedical and health research involving human participants.
Organized by the Institutional Ethics Committee VAMC, the program saw active participation from 35 delegates, including ethics committee members, faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate students. The workshop was also accredited with 3 credit points by the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council.
The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Keshav Agarwal, Chancellor, VAU; Dr. Ashok Agarwal, Pro-Chancellor, VAU; Dr. Lata Agarwal, Vice-Chancellor, BIU; and Dr. Kiran Agarwal, Vice-Chancellor, VAU. The advisory board included Dr. (Col) Ravindra Nath Shukla, Dean & Principal, and Dr. P. S. Powar, Medical Superintendent, whose support was crucial for the conduct of this workshop.
The organizing committee was led by Dr. Sathyajith Naikk N, Chairperson, IEC-VAMC and Principal, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly. Dr. Poornima S. Bhat, Member Secretary, IEC-VAMC and Professor, Department of ENT, served as Organizing Secretary, while Dr. Santhana Krishnan, Vice Principal, VAMC & RH, Professor & Head, Department of ENT, served as Organizing Co-Secretary. The organizing team included Dr. Amrita Gupta, Professor, Department of Anatomy; Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Gupta, Professor & Head, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine; and Dr. Bikash Gairola, Professor, Department of Pharmacology.
Expert sessions were delivered by esteemed guest resource faculties from Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, Bareilly Dr. Nitesh Mohan, Member Secretary, IEC-RMCH and Professor & Head, Department of Pathology; Dr. Shalini Chandra, Member, IEC-RMCH and Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology; and Dr. Abhinav Srivastava, Alternate Member Secretary, IEC-RMCH and Professor & Head, Department of ENT..
Key topics included ethics in human research protection, functions and responsibilities of ethics committees, standard operating procedures, ICMR National Ethical Guidelines (2017 & updates), Good Clinical Practice guidelines, New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, ethical issues in vulnerable populations, informed consent, and publication ethics including plagiarism.
The workshop emphasized ethical compliance, transparency, and accountability. Participants appreciated the interactive sessions and practical insights, making it a valuable initiative for promoting ethical research practices and capacity building.