EUREC Office - European Network of Research Ethics Committees

Did you serve on a REC during COVID-19❓ Are you willing to share how your REC was funded and how it prioritised research❓ 📝  Take part in our survey as part of the Prepared Project! RECs play a key role in advancing ethical research during crises, but there is little global insight into how they are funded or how they prioritise research. Our survey aims to close this gap and provide RECs with the resources they need – and we need your input! All staff — including secretaries, members, chairs, coordinators, managers, and advisors — who served on a REC in any country during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–September 2020) are invited to respond to this survey. ⏳ Deadline: 15 January 2025 🔗 Complete the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gFAFxtc5

It has been an honor to be a keynote speaker in this important conference with the rectorate of Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna on recent topics of research ethics and academic freedom. I could introduce and discuss central challenges of research ethics committees that mirrors the daily work of EUREC Office - European Network of Research Ethics Committees and the design of an research ethics governance for universities, developed in irecs Project, which is coordinated by the Deutsches Referenzzentrum für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften (DRZE) at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn .

If you're interested in research integrity, research ethics, responsible conduct of research and research governance and looking for a new job opportunity, our opening at LARI might be of interest to you. Feel free to disseminate the job advertisement in your networks.

Missed our webinar on 29 October? 🧐 Want to learn how the Declaration of Helsinki and CIOMS international guidelines are shaping a new vulnerability paradigm that promotes inclusion, or what the EU Clinical Trials Regulation says about vulnerability? Watch the session here: https://lnkd.in/gdfsnZx6 A big thanks to Otmar Kloiber from the World Medical Association, Samia Hurst-Majno of CIOMS, and Monique Al of MedEthics EU for joining us!

🚀 Exciting news! We’re thrilled to launch our very first newsletter! This edition is packed with updates on projects, insights from our working groups, and upcoming activities. It’s your go-to source for all things EUREC, designed to keep you connected and informed 😉 Check it out here: 📩 https://lnkd.in/gV9gccgd Let us know what you think—we’d love to hear your feedback!

📢 Are you an ethics reviewer with training experience? 📢 🌱 RE4GREEN EU is seeking individuals with experience in training, education coordination, or development – including those familiar with the Horizon Europe appraisal scheme – to participate in expert interviews. Your input will help us design innovative training materials on green approaches to research and innovation that are tailored to the needs of ethics reviewers across the ERA! ✉️ If you’re interested or know someone who might be, please contact Dr Lucy Sabin for more details. 

Last Wednesday, EUREC Office - European Network of Research Ethics Committees proudly participated in the ERION EARMA 14th Thematic Group Event in Barcelona, focusing on the pressing topic of AI and Ethics - the big wave shaping our future 🤖 Dirk Lanzerath took the stage as one of the keynote speakers, presenting the irecs EU project: This initiative tackles the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies in research. As technology evolves at lightning speed, research ethics faces unprecedented global challenges. The rapid pace of advancement often leaves ethical considerations trailing behind, potentially putting citizens in less protected regions at greater risk of unethical practices. In response, the project trains researchers to anticipate and mitigate these ethical issues early in the research process, ensuring responsible innovation and safeguarding our communities. 💪 Lisa Häberlein participated as one of the panel discussants, sharing insights on the STRATEGIC project EU: This initiative aims to co-create a robust, evidence-based, and widely consulted approach to responsible research and innovation. Focusing on capacity-building and training materials, the project seeks to strengthen ethical and regulatory institutions for clinical trials and research in Sub-Saharan Africa. By addressing the unique challenges faced in the region, ethical practices in health research will be promoted to ensure that emerging technologies benefit everyone. 🌍 At EUREC, we are immensely proud to contribute as a partner in these transformative projects. Together, we are shaping a future where technology serves humanity ethically and responsibly! 🚀✨ #AI #Ethics #ResponsibleResearch #HorizonEurope

Advancing Ethics and Collaboration in AI: ERION/EARMA Meeting in Barcelona: This week, the ERION/EARMA Group Meeting in Barcelona brought together leaders from across Europe to explore the transformative role of #AI in #research, focusing on ethical frameworks that champion both innovation and societal values. 💡 Lisa Häberlein from EUREC Office - European Network of Research Ethics Committees and Juliana Chaves- Chaparro from our ADIM Board got together at this event to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities for #VERITY. Juliana’s presentation highlighted the UNESCO recommendations on science and AI ethics, emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a focus on gender perspectives—key areas that VERITY is dedicated to advancing. In the morning, attendees engaged in a panel with the European Commission and CoARA representatives, discussing ethics by design for AI and practical steps for implementation. The afternoon’s closed session provided ERION members a space to tackle the challenges research managers face today, share best practices, and think about future initiatives. 🙌 To know more, click here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dBwWnKRZ. _ _ _ #VERITY #VERITYproject #EUproject #Education #Research #TrustInScience #Stewardsoftrust #Ecosystemoftrust #ScienceCommunication #ERION #EARMA #Events #AI _ _ _ Trilateral Research | EUREC Office - European Network of Research Ethics Committees | Centre for Social Innovation | University of West Attica | UCLan Cyprus | F6S Innovation | POIESIS project | IANUS Project

🌍 Advancing inclusivity in research ethics: We're thrilled to announce that our working group has successfully contributed proposed revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki, focusing on inclusivity in research. Our recommendation on the standard of care has now been incorporated into the newly revised Declaration, specifically in Article 31! 🎉   What is the Declaration of Helsinki? The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH), developed by the World Medical Association in 1964, is a foundational document on human research ethics. This 2024 revision emphasises participant protection, particularly for vulnerable populations, and reaffirms ethical standards for research integrity and benefit sharing.   Key updates to the Declaration: 📌 Participant-centered inclusion and respect: Recognises participant vulnerability, community engagement, informed consent, global justice, and more.  📌 Research beneficence and value: Reinforces the pursuit of health, research integrity, and equitable distribution of benefits and burdens.   Are you interested in learning more about how research ethics committees can adapt to evolving standards around vulnerability in research? 🤔 Join us for our next working group meeting on 29 October 2024 from 14:00 to 15:30 CET. Registration is open for everyone 😉 https://lnkd.in/g3t668u9

The revision of the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki is currently culminating in Finland. Why are these revisions crucial for addressing vulnerability in research, and where do RECs go from here? 💻 11 days until our webinar with Dr. Otmar Kloiber - register below!