Nature and management of perceived researcher vulnerability at Makerere College of Health Sciences, Uganda

The concept and concern about vulnerability in research is usually treated almost exclusively as applicable to research participants, with very little consideration given to researchers. This bias is also reflected in national and international research ethics guidelines. This study aimed to identify the nature of vulnerability among researchers and how it could be managed. This was an explorative qualitative study. We conducted 16 in-depth interviews among researchers who had been part of several international collaborative research partnerships, had at least 10 years of research experience, and were affiliated with the Makerere College of Health Sciences. Data were collected between February and June 2021 using a semi-structured questionnaire and were analyzed thematically through NVivo 12. Themes identified were: factors contributing to vulnerability, forms of vulnerability, and management of the vulnerability. Respondents identified structural, economic, intellectual, and institutional forms of vulnerability among researchers. Management of the perceived vulnerability involved seeking legal advice before signing research contracts, strengthening regulatory frameworks to streamline research collaborations, and building local capacity to conduct research. This study highlighted that vulnerability among researchers is a significant ethical concern in both local and international collaborative research. Therefore, researchers should seek legal advice before signing agreements, ensure they understand the terms of their research contracts, and negotiate for more favorable conditions. Furthermore, governments and research regulatory bodies in developing countries must invest in strengthening local research capacity and governance to provide better support and protection for researchers and to foster equitable and sustainable research collaborations.