Maureen Kombe
Maureen Mupeta Kombe is the Research Training Coordinator (Postgraduate Studies) at Chreso University in Lusaka, Zambia. She holds a Master of Social Work in Health Care from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Zambia, Zambia, with a focus on Bioethics, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to research ethics and academic training.
At Chreso University, Maureen is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing research training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of research staff and trainees. She also collaborates with external partners to support institutional research efforts. Her role includes ensuring adherence to research protocols, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
In 2018, Maureen received specialized training in Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), ethics, and bioethics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. In 2018, she attended the Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) conference in San Diego, California. In 2017, Maureen completed the Intensive Global Bioethics training at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and has also undertaken several online bioethics courses, including the NIDA Clinical Trials Network course in 2023.
From 2017 to 2020, Maureen was acknowledged on the final page of the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), USA compilation. Her role involved reviewing, verifying, and confirming the accuracy and currency of information, including web links related to Zambia’s research ethics regulations that govern the ethical conduct of research.
Maureen has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications, including as lead author in BMC Medical Ethics (2019), and as co-author in Health Research Policy & Systems (2021) and Global Public Health (2023).
She is currently preparing to pursue her PhD studies and is developing a research project that examines the operational dynamics, leadership, and ethical considerations of IRBs and their interactions with regulatory bodies. This initiative aligns with her professional commitment to fostering collaborative research partnerships and strengthening ethical oversight in academic research.
Maureen also plans to develop a professional modular course in bioethics, aimed at promoting accountability and advancing equity in research practices. This initiative seeks to strengthen ethical awareness and responsible research conduct among students, faculty members, and institutional stakeholders.