NewKerala.com

SAI & ICMR Workshop Champions Ethical Standards in Sports Science Research

The Sports Authority of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research jointly organized a workshop on Good Clinical Practice in New Delhi. The event aimed to enhance understanding of ethical and regulatory frameworks for human studies in sports science. Experts covered critical areas including informed consent, investigator responsibilities, and management of adverse events. The initiative underscores a commitment to aligning India's sports research with international ethical standards to ensure participant safety and data credibility.

Key Points: SAI & ICMR Workshop on Good Clinical Practice for Sports Research

  • Ethical frameworks for human studies
  • ICH-GCP principles & ICMR guidelines
  • Participant safety and data integrity
  • Regulatory compliance for trials
2 min read

SAI and ICMR organise workshop on good clinical practice to strengthen ethical sports science research

SAI and ICMR organized a workshop on Good Clinical Practice to strengthen ethical and regulatory standards in India's sports science research.

"Compliance with these standards is essential for regulatory submissions and adherence to globally accepted guidelines. - Dr. Stuti Bhargava"

New Delhi, April 21

A one-day Workshop on Good Clinical Practice was successfully conducted at the Return to Play Division, Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, in a hybrid mode by the Sports Science Division, Sports Authority of India, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The workshop brought together researchers, support staff, and key stakeholders involved in sports and clinical/sports science research to enhance their understanding of ethical and regulatory frameworks governing human studies, according to a press release.

Scientific sessions led by experts from ICMR covered critical areas such as ICH-GCP (E6) principles, ICMR Ethical Guidelines, provisions of NDCTR 2019, roles and responsibilities of investigators and Institutional Ethics Committees (IECs), informed consent processes, and management of serious adverse events (SAEs).

Highlighting the importance of Good Clinical Practice, Dr. Stuti Bhargava, Scientist-E, ICMR, emphasised that "Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is an international ethical and scientific quality standard for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting clinical trials involving human subjects.

It ensures the protection of participants' rights, safety, and well-being, while guaranteeing the credibility and integrity of trial data. Compliance with these standards is essential for regulatory submissions and adherence to globally accepted guidelines."

Emphasising the significance of such capacity-building initiatives, Brig. (Dr) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Executive Director, Sports Science Division, SAI, stated, "As sports science research increasingly involves advanced interventions and athlete-centric studies, adherence to Good Clinical Practice is not merely a regulatory requirement but a moral responsibility. Ensuring ethical compliance, participant safety, and data integrity is fundamental to building trust and generating credible, high-quality evidence that directly contributes to athlete performance and well-being."

He further highlighted that such initiatives play a vital role in sensitising researchers and practitioners to global best practices and strengthening India's sports science research ecosystem.

Dr. Jugal Kishore, Professor, Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital and Chairperson of the SAI NCSSR Ethics Committee, underscored the critical role of ethics oversight in research.

The workshop underscored the growing need to align sports research in India with internationally accepted ethical standards. It reaffirmed the importance of ensuring participant safety, regulatory compliance, and the credibility of scientific outcomes, while fostering a culture of responsible and ethical research within the sporting ecosystem.

The programme concluded with an interactive valedictory session, marked by active participation and a shared commitment towards continuous learning and strengthening clinical research governance.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Absolutely essential workshop. The line about it being a "moral responsibility" is so true. Our athletes put their bodies on the line for the nation; the least we can do is ensure the research meant to help them is conducted with the highest ethical standards. Well done.
R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but the real test is implementation. We have great guidelines on paper, but the ground reality in many institutes is different. Hope this leads to regular audits and actual enforcement, not just a one-day talk. The intent is commendable though.
S
Sarah B
Aligning with international GCP standards is crucial if Indian sports science wants global recognition and collaboration. This will help our researchers publish in top journals and attract partnerships. A smart move for the long-term health of the sports ecosystem.
K
Karthik V
The focus on informed consent and managing adverse events is vital. Often in the pursuit of results, the participant's voice gets lost. Protecting the athlete, who is the subject, must be the top priority. Bahut accha kaam hai yeh.
M
Michael C
This is how you build a sustainable sports culture - from the ground up with solid science and ethics. Investing in the research backbone will pay dividends in athlete performance and injury prevention for decades. Hope this model is replicated for other sports disciplines.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50