Saint Louis University (SLU) upheld its commitment to excellence through the annual Innovations in Creatives, Research, Extensions, and Technology (iCREaTe), spearheaded by the University Research and Innovation Center (UnRIC) together with the Research Ethics Committee (REC). In line with this, the Basic Research Ethics Reorientation and Training series continues with sessions on 21 April 2025 at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall and 8 May 2025 at the American Corner, Charles Vath Building.
This reorientation, intended for each school’s Faculty Research and Innovation Promoters (FRIPs), aimed to refresh and enrich their knowledge of the research ethics review process. Four sessions were allotted to give relevant and specific lectures for the School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS), School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS), School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), and School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA).
Director of UnRIC, Richel L. Lamadrid, PhD, highlighted, in her opening remarks during the 21 April 2025 session, the significance of conducting a program such as this to reaffirm their values and ensure that the university’s credibility and excellence are maintained.
“Research without ethics is innovation without accountability. In a world where knowledge shapes policy, impacts lives, and defines societal progress, we must ensure that our pursuit of discovery never outpaces our commitment to ethical conduct,” she stated.
The SLU REC Chairperson, Prof. Rainier Moreno-Lacalle, PhD, gave an overview of the orientation. He enumerated the steps to adhere to the committee’s regulations, such as completing the necessary forms, defining researcher responsibilities, and meeting ethics expectations.
“Ang REC po natin ay isang independent committee na gusto lang i-ensure ang welfare ng mga participants, research participants, at yung welfare ng mga researchers. So ang appeal ko po, magtulungan tayo, ask the questions that need to be asked, para pare-pareho tayo, para talagang ma-realize natin yung vision ng university na maging research hub ng buong Pilipinas,” Dr. Moreno-Lacalle elaborated. (Our REC is an independent committee that desires to ensure the welfare of participants, research participants, and the welfare of researchers. So my appeal is, let’s help each other, ask the questions that need to be asked, so that we are all equal, so that we can really realize the vision of the university to be a research hub of the whole Philippines.)
The pre-approval process for the REC submission and review of the research was discussed by the former REC Chairman, Prof. Mark Bascos, PhD while pertinent information on the post-approval process was tackled by Dr. Moreno-Lacalle. Round table discussions led by REC member, Prof. Gwendolyn Tadeo, PhD, were also conducted after the lectures where participants shared what they had learned with one another. They also worked on the REC completion forms as practice. Afterward, the FRIPs were given a chance to present their outputs from the activity.
Through this training program, the FRIPs were able to enhance their knowledge of the fundamentals of research ethics, which served as fuel for improving their mentorship and supervision of the students’ research and innovation projects. Moreover, this sets a standard for Louisians to meet, uphold, and exceed in their academic endeavors.
This activity served as a testament to SLU’s commitment to promoting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent work and economic growth), and 17 (Partnerships for the goals). (Article by Ydelvess Faith Morales, UIO Intern | Photos by Kyla Moreno, UIO Intern)
Basic Research Training sessions held on 08 May 2025 continue the much-needed discourse on research and innovation
