The membership of the IRB in 2007/8 included:

•  Prof Jens Mielke Neurologist
• Prof. Innocent Gangaidzo Internal Medicine
• Ms. Mabel Torongo Pharmacist
• Prof. Val Robertson Microbiologist
• Mr. Toberai Mapako Blood transfusion
• Prof. Anthony Butterworth Immunologist
• Mrs. Sylvia Musiwa Social Scientist
• Prof. Peter Mason BRTI – non-voting
• Mrs. Rita Pike BRTI – non-voting

 It was with great sadness that the IRB heard of the death of Professor Mielke in a plane crash in Harare. Professor Mielke had trained in research ethics in Toronto, Canada and he was Chairman of the BRTI IRB and he was also Chairman of the Joint Ethics Committee of the Medical School and Parirenyatwa Hospital. Professor Mielke brought much insight and tact to the sometimes difficult tasks on ethical reviews, and also much humour to the IRB meetings. He will be sadly missed. Professor Gangaidzo has now taken responsibility for the Ethics Research Unit established by the BRTI, and is Chairman of the IRB.

The IRB met 4 times in 2007 and 3 times in 2008. During the two year period, 12 submissions were discussed at IRB meetings with the following outcomes:

• Morbidity in adolescent HIV Approved
• Modified protocol Approved
• Modified protocol Approved
• Health worker access to TB care Approved
• DETECTB – case finding study Approved
• Rifaquin clinical trial Approved
• Male genital Schistosomiasis Withdrawn
• Drug resistance in HIV subtype C Approved
• Rapid tests for TB detection Approved
• Economic impact of ART Presumed withdrawn Sharing of TB data for meta-analysis Approved
• Community nutrition survey Approved

In addition there were 8 requests for renewal of studies previously approved by the IRB and in each case the request was granted.

During 2008 a proposal was made to modify the IRB procedures in line with other ethical review committees. The IRB agreed that there were some proposals for which the risk of research harm was very low, and such studies could undergo an expedited review process. Proposals were to be circulated electronically to members of the IRB, and if no objections were raised the study could be approved by Chairman’s action. The next meeting of the IRB would then provide an opportunity for any further discussion and a decision to ratify (or not) the action taken.

The IRB agreed that there was need to have greater diversity in membership, and particularly to attract representatives with experience in legal, social science or psychological issues. A number of attempts had been made to widen the membership, and these would be taken up again during 2009.

The IRB was registered with the Office for Human Research Protection (IRB 000001432) and has a Federal-wide Assurance number for projects administered through BRTI (FWA00000757). The BRTI also reports annually to the Office for Research Integrity with regard to any instances of misconduct in research. So far no instances of misconduct have been reported