The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) has a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) that is mandated to review all proposals as the first stage of the screening of proposals before their submission to funders.

The SRC whose current membership stands at 12 is made up of staff members of the grade of Research Fellows and above in KHRC.

The SRC has standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are strictly followed. Protocols intended for funding are submitted to the SRC at least two weeks before they are reviewed. This is meant to give members enough time to study the proposal thoroughly.

The SRC scrutinizes the scientific merit of each proposal. Two members are selected by the chairman as principal reviewers of each protocol. They submit written reviews of each protocol for discussion. Other members of the committee give oral reviews.

After the review, the proposal is either accepted as it stands, or accepted on condition that the modifications suggested during the review are made. These modifications may either be minor or substantial. Proposals can also be rejected by the SRC if members think it has not got enough scientific merit to warrant funding.

In 2004 the SRC reviewed five protocols. All of them were given conditional approval, and the investigators were asked to make recommended modifications. All of them were subsequently given approval after the modifications were done.

Current post holders of the SRC are Dr Seth Owusu-Agyei, Director of the KHRC as Chairman, Dr Victor Doku as Vice Chairman, Mr. Bright Akpalu as Secretary and Mr George Adjei as assistant secretary.

Contact:Bright Akpalu (Secretary)

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