Innovating Health Through Research
Overview
Innovating Health Through Research
Since the onset of the Syrian conflict, the SAMS Research Committee has overseen research projects and partnerships that align with our mission: improving health outcomes and humanitarian wellbeing for Syrians and other vulnerable populations. It ensures that all research conducted through or in collaboration with SAMS meets rigorous ethical standards and yields meaningful impact.
Our Role & Responsibilities
Support Operational & High-Quality Research
We facilitate operational research that addresses real-world health challenges in humanitarian settings.
Ethical Oversight & Human Subjects Protection
Ensuring that all research proposals are compliant with ethical norms, including protection of human subjects, privacy, and dignity.
Gatekeeping Authority
The Research Committee is the first point of contact and decision-making body for any research involving SAMS or resources tied to SAMS.
How to Work With SAMS on Research
If you want to partner with SAMS or conduct research in collaboration with us, here’s what’s required:
A full proposal including:
- Researchers’ names, affiliations, contact info, CVs
- Clear articulation of research questions, aims, objectives, methods, timeline
- Ethical compliance plan
Evidence of IRB approval or waiver (or equivalent ethical oversight)
Funding sources
Attribution: SAMS must be credited; if appropriate, SAMS contributors included
Pre-publication review by SAMS of any paper or presentation to ensure policy compliance and content quality
Note: Research proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. The process typically takes up to 30 days. Decisions are final. SAMS does not maintain its own IRB; external institutional review is expected.
Code of Conduct &
Ethical Standards
We commit to:
- Maintaining medical confidentiality
- Respecting privacy and dignity of participants
- Ensuring research delivers benefit to studied communities and broader populations
- Sharing benefits reasonably with local communities
- No claims on intellectual property or commercial exploitation from SAMS-associated research
Research During Medical Missions
Research should not interfere with direct medical care delivery.
If research is proposed during a mission, the proposal must be submitted together with the mission application well in advance, and must be approved both by the Research Committee and by the mission leadership.
Committee Leadership
Chair: Dr. Aula Abbara, Consultant in Infectious Diseases; Honorary Research Fellow, Imperial College
Co-Chair: Dr. Ahmad Tarakji, Former SAMS President
For questions, contact SAMS Director of Programs, Dr. Randa Loutfi at: randa.loutfi@sams-usa.net