Uplift International builds bioethics capacity in low and middle-income countries

About Uplift International

Our team of experts work in resource-poor countries to teach professionals in universities, government institutions and civil society about bioethics and professional ethics.

Ethics issues in health range from proper informed consent for patients undergoing medical procedures and participants in medical experiments to quality control of genetics manipulation and population health disparities among populations within a country and between countries.  Building bioethics capacity within societies requires improving knowledge and skills among doctors, nurses, scientists, lawyers, administrators and others.

  • We assist professionals and health institutions to build their capacity in providing quality, ethical healthcare to all.
  • We teach professionals about standards in research to protect individual participants and produce quality data.
  • We promote fair distribution of the benefits of research.
  • We partner with local institutions to decrease disparities in health among populations and protect populations, especially the most vulnerable.

Uplift International recognizes that bioethics in the 21st century encompasses issues beyond the traditional topics of medical and research ethics, such as war, refugees, migrants and climate change.  We promote dialogue about these topics as part of our global bioethics program.

We have unique expertise in facilitating Global South-South collaborations to improve bioethics in low and middle-income countries.

Our staff work in low and middle-income countries to improve clinical and research ethics by training doctors, scientists and others to perform their professional duties ethically and teach their colleagues and students to do the same.  This means that all health providers must respect patients.  Clinicians and scientists must know how to communicate about the benefits and harms of treatment or research.

Bioethics is intimately related to culture.  What is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is often dependent upon the context.  For instance, in many parts of the world, women are not allowed to make decisions about their own health.  Respecting culture is important, but eliminating harmful practices to improve health is equally important.

Professionals from countries with similar cultures share common values.  They can facilitate culturally appropriate training in bioethics.

  • We work in South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East through transnational partnerships to build bioethics competence among countries with common cultural backgrounds.
  • Our goal is to expedite change so that all people are treated with dignity and health services or research are fair and just.

Bioethics in the 21st century demands expansion beyond the traditional topics of medical and research ethics to include a wider set of issues, such as war, refugees, migrants and climate change.