Strengthening Research Integrity: SPARC-TRAIN Hosts RCR Training

The Sickle Pan Africa Research Consortium TRAINing (SPARC-TRAIN) Program held a two-day hybrid workshop on the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) from January 9–10, 2025. This training addressed critical aspects of research ethics, including data integrity, authorship, conflicts of interest, and responsible mentorship. With over 400 participants from diverse professional backgrounds, the workshop reinforced best practices in ethical research and compliance with international standards.

Participation and Engagement

• Registered Participants: 462 (Day 1), 432 (Day 2)
• Online Attendance: 244 (Day 1), 298 (Day 2)
• Physical Attendance: 93 (Day 1), 57 (Day 2)

Participants included medical doctors, researchers, data scientists, epidemiologists, pharmacists, and public health professionals.

Key Topics Covered

• Scientific Integrity and Research Misconduct – Addressing ethical challenges in research
• Data Presentation and Ownership – Ensuring transparency in research findings
• Conflicts of Interest – Managing relationships between research and industry
• Ethics in Clinical Research – Addressing challenges in developing countries
• Mentorship and Research Leadership – Cultivating ethical academic practices
• Grantsmanship and Funding Strategies – Insights into securing NIH K Awards

The training featured expert-led discussions, real-world case studies, and a panel session with leading researchers, including Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, Prof. Fred Sarfo, Prof. Prisca Adejumo, Dr. Helen Mamven, Prof. Funmi Olopade, and Prof. Oladosu Ojengbede.

Key Takeaways

• Ethical research requires a strong foundation in scientific integrity and responsible authorship.
• Mentorship and collaboration strengthen research integrity across disciplines. 
• Understanding conflicts of interest and research misconduct helps build transparency in academia.

Impact Assessment: Knowledge Gains

Pretest and posttest assessments measured knowledge acquisition. Participants demonstrated increased understanding of key ethical principles, particularly in authorship integrity, conflict resolution, and research misconduct prevention.

Participant Feedback

Attendees highlighted the practical relevance of the sessions, with many noting that the discussions on data ownership, research collaboration, and mentorship provided valuable insights applicable to their work.

“This training was invaluable! The case studies and real-world examples made ethical research concepts come alive.” – Participant Feedback

“The expert panel discussion provided a deeper understanding of conflicts of interest and responsible publishing practices.” – Attendee Testimonial

Next Steps

SPARC-TRAIN remains committed to advancing research integrity across Africa. Future training sessions will be advertised accordingly.