Responsibilities
Terms of Reference

 The functions of the unit involve the following responsibilities:

• Provision of Professional Secretarial services to the Provincial Health Research Committee.
• Formulate and maintain the Research Policy, Research Strategy and Research Protocols for the Provincial Department.
• Analyze, review and recommend on research proposals submitted to the Provincial Department in line with the Research Policy, Research Strategy and Research Protocols of the Provincial Department.
• Facilitate processes for the formal registration of health research initiatives within the Province including setting of conditions and ethical standards.
• Ensure that progress and final research reports are presented to the Provincial Health Research Committee and other stakeholders.
• Provide research oversight services including site visits to monitor progress of research activities.
• Determine the health research needs of the Provincial Department and liaise with research institutions to facilitate the alignment of research agenda.
• Coordinate research initiatives to determine the clinical outcomes of traditional and other practices.
• Project manage “in-house” research initiatives and report on the outcome thereof.
• Analyze health research reports with a view to identifying new developments that may impact on existing clinical procedures and advice the Departmental Managers accordingly.
• Facilitate processes to identify best practice in the Provincial Department and to share relevant lessons throughout the Provincial Department.
• Develop a knowledge and learning management framework in the Provincial Department of Health.

• Provincial Research Priorities
• Department of Health: KwaZulu Natal 12 point plan for the 2006/2007 financial year

Guidelines for submitting a research proposal

• Application to conduct a clinical trial
• Checklist when submitting research proposals
• Submitting a research proposal and obtaining authority to undertake a clinical trial in Provincial Health Facilities

• Research Ethics Guidelines - 2004. Ethics in Health Research : Principles, Structures and Processes
• Guidelines on ethics in Medical Research : General Principles
• Guidelines on ethics for medical research : reproductive biology and genetic research
• Guidelines on ethics for medical research : use of animals in research and training
• Guidelines on ethics for medical research: use of biohazards and radiation
• Guidelines on ethics for medical research: HIV preventative vaccine research
• Medicines Control Council : General Information
• Guidelines for good practice in the conduct of clinical trials in Human participants in South African. 1st Edition
• South African good clinical practice guidelines. 2nd edition

Knowledge and Information Links

• Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies
• Caprisa - Centre for the AIDS Programme Research in South Africa
• HAVEG
• Health Systems Trust
• Human Science Research Council
• Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health
• Population Council
• South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative
• South African National Clinical Trials Register
• South African National Health Research Database
• The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health GIS Webpage
• The Medicines Control Council (MCC)
• The Medical Research Council of South Africa
• The WHO
• University of KwaZulu-Natal Research