Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practice

The Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practice replaces the Interim Ethics Council, whose mandate runs until 31 December 2025.

Mandate of the Committee

The Committee’s responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and developing management and operational support regarding both animal and human research ethics, as well as good research practice.
• Monitoring and identifying deficiencies, and submitting observations and proposals for improvement to the President, the Faculty Board, Deans, and/or the University Director.
• Working preventively and promoting discussion and reflection on ethical issues throughout the university to foster good research practice.
• Issuing statements on research ethics matters and proposing changes to mandates and governing documents within the ethics area.
• Contributing to the development of KI’s systematic quality assurance processes for research.
• Following national and international developments in the ethics field.
• Ensuring that action plans and recommendations are implemented and followed by the responsible parties.
• Ensuring that departmental handling and procedures regarding ethics permits are appropriate and meet applicable requirements.
• Providing support and guidance on ethics-related matters concerning responsible internationalisation.
• Advising on ethical review of student theses at undergraduate and advanced levels.
• Advising on financial conflicts of interest that may affect good research practice.
• Advising on ethical assessments of financial donations.
• Handling naming matters and issues related to anatomical collections.
• Following up reports from the National Board for the Assessment of Research Misconduct (NPOF), as well as statements and decisions issued by KI’s Council for the Investigation of Deviations from Good Research Practice and the President.
• Preparing an annual summary of its activities, including the work of the bodies and functions it coordinates. After consultation with the Faculty Board, the report is submitted to the President and should include descriptions, analyses, and observations related to the Committee’s work.

Coordination Responsibilities

The Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practice coordinates the work and reporting of the following bodies and functions:

• The Council for the Investigation of Deviations from Good Research Practice
• The Scientific Ombudsmen at the departmental group level
• The Animal Welfare Body (DO) at KI
• The Animal Ethics Review functions
• The ethics application support at the Research Support Office, Professional Services (GVS)
• The legal support for ethics-related matters at the Department of Law, Planning and Finance, Professional Services (GVS)
• The Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME) (expert advisors)
• The Institutional Review Board (the committee that reviews projects funded by U.S. federal agencies)
• Any other remaining ethics-related groups. The Committee shall evaluate their roles, propose their dissolution if appropriate, and, if needed, assume responsibility for their functions.

Term of Appointment

Three years, with the possibility of extension.

Members of the Committee

The Chair is appointed by the President. In addition to the Chair, the Scientific Ombudsman, the student representative, and one external member, the remaining members are appointed by the Faculty Board.

• Two faculty members (from the Faculty Board or one of its committees)
• Expert in medical ethics
• Member from the healthcare sector (external)
• Scientific Ombudsman
• Legal expert
• Member with expertise in ethics review/advisory processes
• Member with competence in laboratory animal ethics
• Student representative