ICMR Bioethics Unit has formulated a consensus policy statement to address the ethical concerns related to the conduct of Controlled Human Infection Studies in India. The statement has been developed through a process of rigorous engagement with experts in the last few months. These studies may play a crucial role in advancing the scientific understanding of infectious diseases and thereby accelerating the development of treatment strategies. However, being a very specialized type of research involving deliberately infecting healthy volunteers with a specific pathogen under controlled conditions, these may have a lot of ethical challenges and an attempt has been made to address these issues in this document. 

 

The document is being posted on ICMR website for Public Consultation for a period of ONE month from  17th July 2023 to 16th August, 2023 and all those who are interested may provide their comments/ suggestions/ feedback. The document can be downloaded from here . Comments may be provided in the attached format as available here 

 

Dr. Roli Mathur, Scientist F and Head, 
ICMR Bioethics Unit;  
Email: icmrbioethicsunit@gmail.com

The last date for receiving the comments is 16th August 2023.