Research & Institutional Ethics Committee

Research has been an integral part of the academic and clinical activities at Giridhar Eye Institute (GEI), with a continuing focus on advancing ophthalmic knowledge and translating scientific evidence into better patient care.

Giridhar Eye Institute has had an Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) functioning since 2009, providing independent ethical oversight for research conducted at the Institute. The Committee functions under the Chairmanship of Justice M. R. Hariharan Nair, Retired Judge, High Court of Kerala, and has a multidisciplinary composition in accordance with applicable regulatory and ethical requirements. The IEC is accredited/registered with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Department of Health Research (DHR), Government of India.

Over the years, the Ethics Committee has reviewed and approved a wide range of research proposals, including in-house investigator-initiated studies, clinical research projects and multi-centre collaborative studies undertaken in association with other institutions and research organisations. The Committee's functioning provides a structured framework for ensuring that research involving human participants is conducted with due attention to scientific validity, ethical principles, participant safety, informed consent and regulatory requirements.

The Institute has also progressively strengthened its academic and research environment through its postgraduate and fellowship programmes, encouraging young ophthalmologists and faculty members to participate in clinical research, academic presentations and scientific publications. The interaction between clinical practice, teaching and research has helped foster a culture of enquiry and evidence-based ophthalmic care.

GEI is committed to further expanding its research activities, with an emphasis on clinically relevant research, collaborative studies, innovation and translational research. The Institute aims to create opportunities for its clinicians, trainees and research personnel to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of ophthalmology and to generate evidence that can ultimately benefit patients and the wider community.