In this past year, we have heard a lot about clinical trials and how important they are in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Conducting research of drugs and vaccines on people is a key aspect of ensuring they are safe and effective, and has to be guided by ethical principles to ensure that people are not harmed or exploited in the course of the research. We find out more from Assoc Prof Dr Julia Patrick Engkasan, coordinator of the Master of Health Research Ethics Programme, University of Malaya, and Dr Alex Phang from the Medical Research Ethics Committee at University Malaya Medical Centre.

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