The Chennai based Madras University and Dr MGR Medical University will soon offer joint academic programmes and research projects in the field of bioethics, mainly related to human clinical trials and its guidelines.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed this week between Dr S P Thyagarajan, vice -chancellor of Madras University and Dr C V Bhirmandhakam, vice -chancellor of Dr MGR Medical University, it is learnt.

Both the universities will jointly offer a two-year Master of Bioethics postgraduate course, and a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics. The Department of Curriculum Development of the Dr MGR Medical University and the Department of Politics and Public Administration of the Madras University have been entrusted to develop the programmes and to undertake research programmes. Dr Aruna Sivagami of Madras University and Dr A Nalini of Dr MGR Medical University have been assigned as principal investigators for the programmes, as per the MoU.

The courses will be restricted to 20 seats initially, and the selection of students will be on a national basis as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. Besides, the Madras University will offer bioethics as an elective subject for its postgraduate students under its choice based credit system. The courses would begin once the UGC gives clearance to the proposal to start these courses and allocate the requisite funds, said the sources.

While signing the MoU, the vice-chancellors noted that the programmes would aim to foster public awareness on bioethics and for formulating a sound health policy. Latest developments and ongoing research and development activities in the world of medicines and biosciences have necessitated developing specific guidelines in ethical aspects of such R&D activities. These guidelines are important considering the involvement of humans for trials and experiments in the field of organ transplants, infertility treatment, stem cell research, clinical trials of medicines and vaccines etc.

Though the Medical Council of India has included medical ethics as a subject in the MBBS curriculum, the doctors, researchers, scientists, consumers and even the regulatory officials lack adequate knowledge on the guidelines to be followed, and on bioethics. Hence, it was imperative to initiate academic programmes and research in the field of bioethics, felt the VCs.