Call for applications to Host the
10th Global Forum on Bioethics in Research in 2009

The Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) Partners * invites applications from interested parties to host the upcoming 10th annual meeting of the GFBR.

The Global Forum on Bioethics in Research is the principal global platform for debate on ethical issues surrounding international health research. The GFBR has brought together researchers, policy makers, community members, and ethics experts from developing and developed nations on an annual basis since 1999 (for detailed information about previous meetings, please visit: www.gfbronline.com ).

Information Required in the Application

As a guide, the proposal should aim to address the following points and cover no more than 3 pages:

Venue and Dates

• Which institution(s) are proposing to host or co-host the GFBR? Please provide contact information for the principal organizer as well as names and brief description of the organizing committee.
• What dates are proposed (exact or approximate)? Please mention if particular dates are suggested because certain times of the year would be especially suitable or unsuitable to hold the GFBR meeting in this locale, for reasons of weather, conflicting events, etc. However, it is suggested to hold the meeting in the second half of 2009.
• Main Reasons to Host the Forum
• Briefly explain why you feel you/your group is suitable to host the next GFBR meeting?
• What impact do you expect the hosting of GFBR10 will have for your country and/or region?

Meeting Focus

• What focus/theme would you propose for the GFBR10 meeting? Why is it relevant? Please elaborate briefly why there is a need for the Forum to address this topic/theme at this time.
• Do you have any potential case studies (or case study topics) in mind? If so, please briefly describe these.
• The GFBR Partners may suggest modifications to the overall conference focus.
• Funding and financing
• If the proposed financial "host" organization is different from the institution which will serve as the "local host" of the Forum (i.e. where a financial sponsor in a developed country proposes to collaborate with a developing country institution in putting on a GFBR session), please provide details of such an agreement.
• Provide an estimated budget for the Forum, breaking down the costs into categories: costs associated with the meeting space, local transportation, refreshments, etc; costs of organizing the meeting such as staff support, duplicating materials, providing name badges, etc; costs of travel and per diem for 40 "in-country" and 100 "out-of-country" participants (from around the world).
• Consider the costs of simultaneous translation if the meeting will not be held solely in English.
• Describe the potential sources of financial support for the GFBR meeting (including the ability to cover shortfalls in income should that happens).
• Approximately $130,000 US is usually available in support from the partner organizations that support the GFBR. However, each Forum costs substantially more. How would you go about raising extra funds? Please specify how participants from developing countries will be enabled to attend the meeting.

Logistics

• Have you and other members of your organising committee attended a GFBR meeting before? If so, which one(s)?
• Which comparable meetings (120-150 participants from between 30 and 50 countries) have you and/or your institution organised in the past 3-5 years?
• What is your work plan? Please provide a timeline and project milestones for the organisation of the Forum.
• What is your institutional commitment to absorbing some organisational costs (e.g., meeting space, catering)? What commitment of staff can the organiser make?
• What facilities are proposed for the meeting, both in terms of possible hotel(s) and actual meeting location (if not at hotel, then please explain the logistics in terms of distance, time, transportation and communication)?
• Which is the nearest international airport?
• Do you have experience of working with appropriate government agencies in facilitating the issuing of visas for participants?

Selection Criteria

• The Steering Committee will assess applications on the basis of the following criteria:
• The practical ability of the organisers to host the GFBR10 meeting
• The geographical location
• The relevance of the proposed theme to the GFBR aims
• The participation of organisers in a previous Forum (Interested parties who have not yet attended a Forum should approach the GFBR-Secretariat* * with a view to participation in a future event)

Deadline for applications

Interested parties should send an " Expression of Interest " to host the GFBR10 to Sandra Realpe, realpe@cohred.org by 1st December 2007 .

In order to enable us to decide on the hosts for the GFBR10 meeting, applicants are asked to submit a " Full Proposal " to Sandra Realpe, realpe@cohred.org by 15th January 2008 .

A decision about the GFBR10 meeting in 2009 will be made and communicated to applicants by 31st January 2008 . An institution chosen to host the GFBR works in close collaboration with the GFBR Partners and the GFBR-Secretariat, to prepare the agenda, select participants and speakers, and publicize the meeting, in addition to making the local arrangements.

For further information, please contact:

Sandra Realpe
Ethics Officer
Secretariat-Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR)
Tel: +41-22-591-8914 (direct) or +41-22-591-8900 (central)

Postal Address
Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED)
1-5 rue des Morillons
1211 Geneva 2
P.O. Box 2100
Switzerland
www.gfbronline.com
www.cohred.org

* GFBR partners: Aga Khan University (AKU), Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED), Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO), Fogarty International Center of The National Institutes of Health (FIC-NIH), Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Medical Research Council-United Kingdom (MRC-UK), Vilnius university, Wellcome Trust (WT), World Health Organisation (WHO).

* * The GFBR-Secretariat is hosted by The Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) in Geneva , Switzerland.