FABTP is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center, and is directed by Drs. Nancy Kass and Adnan Hyder of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. Since its inception in 2001, FABTP has trained 28 professionals, scientists, and senior scholars from 13 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. In past years, the program has provided a one-year opportunity for qualified individuals to participate in intensive bioethics and research ethics training at Johns Hopkins University with additional workshops, seminars, and IRB activities at the NIH and Georgetown University. Following the six month training period, trainees returned to their home countries to conduct independent projects related to research ethics. After completing the program, FABTP trainees have gone on to successful careers in bioethics, and have become leaders in the field across Africa.

FABTP has recently shifted its focus to initiate annual collaborative partnerships with African institutions in an effort to enhance research ethics capacity within the selected institutions. In addition to one year of bioethics and research ethics training at Johns Hopkins University for two individuals from the selected institution, FABTP will now provide one-month tailored training opportunities in research ethics at JHU and Georgetown University for two additional partner faculty, investigators, ethics committee members, or staff. FABTP will also sponsor a training workshop in research ethics each year, hosted at the African institution, and co-taught by JHU and UB faculty as well as FABTP alumni. Further, FABTP will engage in on-site and virtual consultations with institutional leadership to assist with evaluating and enhancing the integration of research ethics into organizational structures. All program participants benefit from long-term mentorship from JHU faculty, and are provided with networking opportunities for their continued professional development.

The University of Botswana has been selected as the first institution to partake in this new program. FABTP is eager to collaborate with and learn from a burgeoning institution, which has already shown a strong commitment to implementing sound research ethics policies and practices. The University of Botswana has approved a Research Ethics Policy and established four Research Ethics Committees through the Office of Research Development. Paul Ndebele, a former FABTP trainee and current Assistant Director of Research Ethics at the University of Botswana, will serve as the Partnership Program Director. The Johns Hopkins-Fogarty African Bioethics Training Program welcomes the University of Botswana and looks forward to establishing a lasting partnership.