Prof. Mbuthia Ngunjiri, PhD
Chairman, LU-ISERC
Message from the Chairman
Laikipia University Institutional Scientific Ethics Review Committee (LU-ISERC) is fully accredited to conduct rigorous ethics reviews of research proposals across the Social, Biomedical, and Environmental Sciences. Our mandate extends to undergraduate and postgraduate scholars, academic faculty, and the surrounding community.
The University is firmly committed to driving national research standards forward by ensuring all investigative scientific work respects the dignity, rights, and welfare of human and animal subjects. In line with this vision, we have entered into a collaborative research Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Garissa University and are actively broadening our network with additional regional and international institutions.
Regulatory Mandate & Oversight
Operating under the national framework of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), LU-ISERC enforces compliance with established institutional policies, ethical benchmarks, and animal/human welfare regulations.
The committee comprehensively evaluates research risk-to-benefit ratios, privacy provisions, data confidentiality protocols, and justice parameters before any field research initiates. Special, meticulous attention is paid to studies engaging vulnerable groups or populations to guarantee absolute safeguarding.
Submission & Session Timeline
The LU-ISERC review board is fully operational and actively evaluates research blueprints from students, faculty, and external partners. To facilitate seamless processing, applicants must align with our monthly structural timeline:
- Submission Deadline: All documentation must reach the secretariat before the 15th day of every month to provide sufficient administrative processing time.
- Committee Sittings: The board convenes officially on the first Wednesday of every month to review pending proposals.
- Post-Approval Monitoring: The committee actively monitors ongoing approved research tracks and files annual audit reports directly to NACOSTI.
Committee Contact Secretariat
Institutional Email: iserc@laikipia.ac.ke