About the committee

The objectives of the Research and Ethics Committee (hereinafter, the Committee) of the Institute of Health Sciences are to contribute to safeguarding the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of all current or potential research participants; to act in the interest of research participants and the communities involved, taking into consideration national and international regulations on research ethics; and to ensure that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed among all groups and classes of society, taking into account age, gender, economic status, culture and ethnic considerations.

• To monitor compliance with the ethical rules governing medical research.
• Check the ethical quality of the proposed research.
• Protect the rights of research subjects by reviewing the study protocol and informed consent (and other relevant documents).
• To ensure that experimentation with human tissues and cells is conducted in a manner that respects the welfare and rights of donors.
• Protect the welfare of experimental animals used in biomedical research.
• Monitor the researcher's adherence to ethical standards throughout the development of the research project.
• The review, evaluation and opinion of Research Protocols involving human beings.
• To formulate and follow up on the ethical recommendations that correspond to the Research Protocols.
• To prepare institutional guidelines and ethical guidelines for health research, in accordance with current regulations.
• Advise researchers for an optimal ethical conduct of their protocols.
• Submit within the first thirty calendar days of the year, an annual report of activities to the head or director of the Establishment.
• Participate with other Committees in the joint evaluation of research protocols when warranted.
• To assist in the application of the Law, the Regulations and other applicable provisions on health research.