Ethical governance of innovative biomedical and clinical research in China

: an institutional case study

Abstract

Research ethics and governance in China are subjects that have received a great deal of international attention in recent decades, not least due to some high-profile scandals. This comes at a time when Chinese medical and scientific establishments are striving to become significant actors in the field of global biomedical and clinical research. This thesis offers a detailed account of the regulatory and cultural landscape within which these developments are occurring. It then goes on to recount and analyse the experience of a particular research institution – The Academy of Medical Sciences at Zhengzhou University, Henan Province – as it attempts to implement a programme of culturally sensitive reform relating to research ethics. The work is informed by interviews with key stakeholders within the institution and across the broader community of scholars, practitioners and policy makers. As well as reporting on, and analysing, the experience of the Academy, the thesis addresses the challenges of conducting social science research on a potentially sensitive issue within the Chinese setting, as well as the challenges of implementing a change agenda. As such the work offers practical as well as theoretical insights helpful to future researchers. From the findings, the Chinese context should be considered in the development of a robust research ethics governance system at the Academy, while some aspects of the practice in the UK and US could be used as reference such as the unified application and review system, the compulsory online training program, the collaboration between researchers and ethicist, the profession and public education in research ethics as well as public engagement, etc.

Date of Award	Mar 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton
Supervisor	Bobbie Farsides (Supervisor) & Prof Nick Lemoine (Supervisor)