The Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF) aspires to be a center of excellence in biomedical research dedicated to improving the quality of life. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for reviewing the ethical aspects of research protocols affiliated with BRF, primarily involving human participants. In addition, this IRB also assesses potential environmental risks that may indirectly affect human health. In accordance with institutional research policy, it is important to emphasize that BRF is neither engaged in nor will it conduct clinical trials involving human subjects, including studies related to new drugs, vaccines, or invasive medical devices. The IRB operates in accordance with standardized guidelines adapted from widely accepted international ethical principles and regulatory frameworks governing biomedical and health research. Key criteria for evaluating a project proposal involving human subjects:

Scientific robustness (significance, study design, risk/benefit ratio, knowledge, and outcome)
Data privacy and security
Informant consent
Societal aspect from a layperson’s view
Religious and cultural sensitivity
Local rules and regulations related to biomedical, clinical, and social science research

IRB team members

S. M. Yasir Arafat, MBBS, MPH, MBA, MD

Chairperson

Dr. S. M. Yasir Arafat is a Bangladeshi physician–scientist with expertise in psychiatry and public health, and extensive experience in research ethics and governance. He holds an MD in Psychiatry, complemented by postgraduate training in Public Health (MPH) and Business Administration (MBA), enabling a multidisciplinary and systems-oriented approach to ethical oversight. Dr. Arafat has an exceptional academic portfolio, with 300+ peer-reviewed publications, along with numerous book chapters and edited volumes. His research spans mental health epidemiology, suicide prevention, stigma, and behavioral sciences, often addressing ethically sensitive and underexplored issues in low- and middle-income settings. He serves as an editorial member of reputed international journals in mental health published by leading academic houses such as Frontiers, Wiley, Springer, and Taylor & Francis. These roles reflect his strong engagement with publication ethics, peer review standards, and global research integrity frameworks. As an IRB Chairperson, Dr. Arafat brings a rare integration of clinical expertise, high-volume research experience, and editorial leadership. His background ensures rigorous evaluation of research proposals while maintaining participant safety, cultural sensitivity, and scientific integrity.

Enayetur Raheem, PhD

Member

Dr. Enayetur Raheem is an accomplished biostatistician and data scientist with over 20 years of analytical experience across academia and industry. He holds a PhD in Statistics/Biostatistics and has extensive expertise in advanced data analytics, machine learning, and real-world health data systems. Dr. Raheem has significant hands-on experience with large-scale healthcare datasets, including electronic health records (EHR) and insurance claims data. In academia, he has taught graduate-level statistics and machine learning courses at several U.S. institutions, including the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, University of Northern Colorado, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (adjunct), as well as the University of Dhaka. His teaching and mentorship experience strengthen his capacity to critically evaluate research design, methodology, and analytical rigor.

Henrike Karim-Kos, PhD

Member

Henrike Karim-Kos is an experienced cancer epidemiologist specializing in population-based cancer research, registry data, and health outcomes evaluation. She earned her PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam, where her research examined long-term trends in cancer incidence, survival, and mortality in the Netherlands. She has contributed to global cancer control initiatives as a consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency, working with the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy. She later served as a researcher at the Austrian National Cancer Registry, where she helped establish epidemiological research on childhood cancer in collaboration with leading clinical institutions in Vienna. Currently, she is a Principal Investigator for Childhood Cancer Epidemiology & Outcomes at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, and a Senior Researcher at the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation. Her work focuses on cancer surveillance, survival analysis, and improving outcomes in pediatric oncology.

Mohammad Sorowar Hossain, PhD

Member

Dr. Sorowar Hossain is a multidisciplinary public health and life sciences researcher with nearly 25 years of experience across academia and industry. His work focuses on emerging and neglected diseases in resource-limited settings, with an emphasis on translating research into community-level and policy impact in Bangladesh. He earned his PhD in Molecular Biology from the National University of Singapore and completed postdoctoral training in Molecular Cancer Pharmacology (Duke-NUS) and Cancer Genomics (National Cancer Centre Singapore). He has held senior leadership roles including Head of R&D (Biotech Division), Incepta Pharmaceuticals, and academic positions at BRAC University and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), where he is currently a Professor. He also holds international affiliations as Honorary Principal Fellow (University of Wollongong) and Honorary Associate Professor (2022–2025). Dr. Hossain is a recipient of the Endeavour Executive Fellowship (Australian Government) and the Outstanding Research Excellence Award (IUB). He has led large-scale collaborative research initiatives and contributed extensively to national science communication and public health discourse, particularly during COVID-19 and dengue outbreaks.

Munaem Khan, LLB, LLM

Member

Munaem Khan is a Bangladeshi legal scholar and academic with expertise in law, ethics, and public policy. He completed his LL.B. and LL.M. from the University of Dhaka. He is currently serving as a Lecturer at Eastern University, where he is engaged in teaching and academic research. Prior to this, he worked as a Research Associate with leading legal practitioners in Bangladesh, gaining practical experience in legal analysis, regulatory frameworks, and policy interpretation.

Md. Mohiuddin Faroqi

Member

Dawra- E Hadith, B.A (Hons) in Islamic Law (fiq) and M.A in Arabic Linguistics from the Islamic University of Madina, Saudi Arabia

Mohammad Sadat Uddoula Pahlowan

Member

Mr. Sadat is an engineer who graduated from BUET