Overview
This consultancy will support the operational strengthening of WPRO-ERC and the development of practical AI-enabled approaches, tools and learning resources to enhance ethics review and research governance across the Region.
Key Responsibilities
- Screen research proposals and prepare documented assessments, reviewer briefing materials and recommendations to support ethics review and decision-making.
- Develop a consolidated repository of ERC review outcomes, reviewer feedback and common protocol deficiencies, with recommendations to improve submission quality and review efficiency.
- Update of WPRO-ERC operational resources, including reviewer guidance, review templates, decision letter templates and documentation tools, in line with WHO ethics governance requirements.
- Prepare an annual analytical report on ERC activities, review trends, recurring ethical issues, review timelines and recommendations to strengthen ethics governance and review processes in the Western Pacific Region.
- Analyze information on international practices, opportunities, risks and governance considerations for using AI in research ethics review and prepare a technical briefing paper for WHO.
- Contribute technical input in the development of guidance framework on the responsible use of AI in ethics review and research governance, including safeguards, limitations and quality assurance measures.
- Contribute technical input in the design and testing of AI-enabled tools or workflows to support ethics review, such as protocol screening, checklist generation, reviewer support, knowledge retrieval or administrative process improvement, and document lessons learned.
- Develop and deliver training for WHO staff, ERC members and researchers on ethics review of AI-enabled research and responsible use of AI in research governance, including at least two virtual capacity-building sessions and a summary report.
Required Experience
Minimum three years of professional experience in research ethics, research governance, health research management or ethics committee operations. Experience developing technical reports, guidance documents or training materials. Experience working with WHO, United Nations agencies or international organizations. Experience applying artificial intelligence or digital technologies within research, governance or health systems contexts. Experience designing and delivering capacity-building activities.
Qualifications
University degree in bioethics, public health, medicine, law, health sciences, social sciences, artificial intelligence, data science or a related field. Additional training in research ethics, health research governance, digital health or AI governance.
