Unit, ethics committee formed to regulate research
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 09 2025: In a move to streamline and regulate health research activities in the state, the Directorate of Health Services has constituted a 15-member Research Unit and an 11-member Research Ethics Committee.

The development was announced in a notification issued by Health Services director Dr Chambo Gonmei on May 5.As per the notification, joint director (planning), Directorate of Health Services and State Nodal Officer (SNO) for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), Dr Y Premchandra has been appointed as the member secretary and nodal officer of both the Research Unit and the Research Ethics Committee.

The Research Unit will temporarily function from Room No 103, Ground Floor of the medical directorate building at Lamphelpat.

All research proposals involving human subjects, submitted by investigators, researchers, postgraduate trainees and others at health centres or within communities served by the state's health facilities, must be forwarded by the head of the department or the guide concerned of the respective institution to the director of Health Services.

The notification further stated that all such research proposals, including thesis approvals for MD, MSc and other academic works in government health facilities, will now be examined by the Research Unit.

After preliminary screening, the proposals will be directed to the division concerned, which is the training section, state programme officers or relevant NHM divisions, for comments and observations, it said.

The member secretary of the Research Unit will then forward the screened applications to the Research Committee for final approval, where applicable.

The Research Unit will conduct bi-monthly meetings at the aforementioned Room No 103, to provide necessary approvals for research proposals.

The member secretary is also tasked with initiating orientation programmes for members of the Research Unit and the Research Ethics Committee.

Additionally, the various divisions under the directorate and the NHM will be regularly updated on health research proposals.

The nodal officer will also be responsible for inviting research proposals, identifying research funding agencies, and initiating collaborative research work with institutions such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and universities including Manipur University.

The 15-member Research Unit will be chaired by Health Services director Dr Chambo Gonmei, with state mission director of NHM Manipur Dr M Dinesh as co-chairman, and Dr Y Premchandra as member secretary.

The 11-member Research Ethics Committee will be chaired by retired dean of Manipur University, School of Life Sciences Prof Guruaribam Shantibala, with Dr Y Premchandra serving as member secretary, the notification informed.

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