Pokhara University Research Center oversees the ethical concerns about the health research conducted by the faculty members and students of Pokhara University. The Ethical Review Committee for health research (ERCHR) is a dedicated committee established according to the Institutional Review Committee guidelines of National Health Research Council (NHRC). The structure, formation, processes, operation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) of PU ERC are explicitly guided by the NHRC guidelines, particularly the National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research in Nepal and Guidelines for Institutional Review Committees for Health Research in Nepal. The key objective of ERC is to protect the rights and ensure welfare of human participants involved in the health research conducted in Pokhara University, both constituent and affiliated institutions.
The ERC comprises minimum of 7 to a maximum of 15 persons including a Chairperson and a Member Secretary. As per the NHRC IRC guidelines, experts and experienced personals from the diverse disciplines serve the ERC including Public health/Epidemiology/Research methodology, Biomedical/Laboratory science, Clinical science, Nursing, Behavioral and social sciences, Biostatistics, Pharmacy/Pharmacologist, and Law/Teaching/Journalism/ Community Leadership.