Department of Research and Development

Advancing Healthcare Through Ethical Research

The Research and Development Department operates under the ethical framework and regulatory provisions of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Government of Nepal. Guided by the Institutional Research Committee, the department ensures that all research activities adhere to national and international ethical standards while promoting innovation that advances healthcare for all.

Research Ethics and Regulatory Compliance

Ethics form the foundation of all responsible research practices. In healthcare research, ethical and scientific considerations are equally vital — any ethical inadequacy is as significant as a methodological one. The primary goal of research ethics is to safeguard human dignity while advancing knowledge that benefits society.

NHRC Guidelines and Human Participant Research

All research involving human participants must strictly comply with the guidelines established by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), the national authority under the Government of Nepal responsible for regulating, monitoring, and promoting ethical health research. Researchers are obligated to uphold the principles of beneficence (maximizing benefits), non-maleficence (minimizing harm), and justice (ensuring fairness), while maintaining full respect for the rights, culture, and welfare of participants.

Harm Prevention and Ethical Review

Harms in research can include physical, psychological, social, or economic impacts. Hence, researchers must demonstrate sensitivity to participants’ wellbeing and cultural context throughout the study process. Before any data collection or participant recruitment, all research proposals involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by a duly constituted Institutional Review Committee (IRC) recognized by NHRC.

Our Commitment

Our department is committed to promoting an ecosystem of responsible innovation — supporting clinical studies, public health investigations, and collaborative projects that contribute to national and global healthcare advancement, while ensuring strict adherence to the NHRC’s ethical and legal provisions.

Institutional Research Committee (IRC)

The Institutional Research Committee (IRC) of Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital is the designated body responsible for the ethical and scientific oversight of all health-related research conducted at or involving the hospital.

Aligned with the guidelines of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) Ethical Review Board, the IRC ensures that research upholds the highest standards of scientific integrity, participant protection, and ethical conduct. Its primary mandate is to safeguard the rights, safety, dignity, and well-being of research participants while fostering high-quality, relevant research that advances burn care, reconstructive surgery, plastic surgery, and related fields in Nepal.

All research activities involving human participants, patient data, biological samples, or hospital resources at SKMH require prior review and approval from the IRC.

IRC Leadership

Dr. Raju Bhandari

The Institutional Research Committee is led by Dr. Raju Bhandari, Burn Surgeon and Surgical (Burn) Critical Care Specialist at Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Bhandari brings extensive clinical and academic experience in burn surgery and critical care, with a strong commitment to advancing evidence-based practice in burn medicine, reconstructive surgery, and hospital-based research. Under his leadership, the IRC promotes rigorous ethical review while supporting investigators in designing studies that address the unique challenges of burn injury, post-burn reconstruction, and related healthcare needs in resource-limited settings.

Purpose and Scope

The IRC reviews and monitors research proposals to ensure they are:

  • Scientifically sound and methodologically rigorous
  • Ethically appropriate and respectful of participants’ rights
  • Compliant with national regulations (NHRC) and international ethical standards (including the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice principles)
  • Relevant to improving patient care, particularly in burn treatment, reconstructive and plastic surgery, trauma, and related specialties

Types of research requiring IRC approval include (but are not limited to):

  • Clinical studies and trials
  • Observational and retrospective studies using patient records
  • Case series and case reports involving SKMH patients
  • Surveys, interviews, and qualitative research involving patients, staff, or communities
  • Studies involving biological samples or imaging data
  • Collaborative and multi-center research conducted partly at SKMH

Note: Even case reports involving patients treated at SKMH generally require IRC approval. Certain categories of research may also need additional clearance from the NHRC Ethical Review Board.

Core Functions

  • Ethical and scientific review of new research proposals
  • Assessment of informed consent processes, risk-benefit balance, and data protection measures
  • Ongoing monitoring of approved studies, including progress reports and serious adverse event reporting
  • Guidance and support to investigators on ethical research design and compliance
  • Maintenance of records and reporting to the Nepal Health Research Council as required
  • Promotion of a culture of research integrity and capacity building among hospital staff and trainees

Commitment to Ethical Research

Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital, as Nepal’s pioneering center for burn and reconstructive care, is committed to generating knowledge that improves outcomes for burn survivors and patients requiring complex reconstructive surgery. The IRC plays a vital role in ensuring that this research is conducted responsibly, transparently, and with full respect for the individuals and communities we serve.

The Committee operates independently in its decision-making while working closely with the hospital’s medical leadership, administration, and clinical departments.

Contact and Submissions

For inquiries about the Institutional Research Committee, proposal submission guidelines, application forms, or meeting schedules, please contact:

Institutional Research Committee

Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital

Led by: Dr. Raju Bhandari

Researchers are encouraged to review the latest NHRC guidelines and SKMH IRC standard operating procedures before preparing submissions. Proposal formats and submission requirements are available upon request.

Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital remains dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, and ethical research that benefits the people of Nepal.

Learn More about NHRC