International Biomedical Research and Research Ethics Training in Developing Countries

Abstract

Information and communication technology (ICT) can help developing countries tackle a wide range of health, social and economic problems. By improving access to information and by enabling communication, ICT can play a role in reaching Millennium Development Goals such as the elimination of extreme poverty, combating serious disease, and achieving universal primary education and gender equality. However the benefits of ICT are not fully realised in many countries: ICT is often out of reach of the poor and those in rural areas. This POSTnote discusses how this problem is being addressed, focusing on new ICT such as internet and mobile phones. It discusses the role of the UK and wider international community, and the effectiveness of projects funded by international aid.