Ethics in Research
The interest is focused on the consideration of ethical aspects in research, their nature and aims (respect for the dignity of human beings, autonomy of will, data protection – privacy and confidentiality –, animal well-being and environment preservation).
Research ethics requires scientific practise to be made in conformity with ethical principles that ensure the advancements of knowledge, the human comprehension and improvement of human condition, and the progress of society. It focuses on the interest in the moral perspective of research activity considering its ethical aspects, nature and ends (respect for the dignity of human beings, their autonomy of will, data protection – privacy and confidentiality – animal well-being and environmental preservation.
In view of the increasing importance of ethical implications within the scientific endeavour, as well as the varied legislation developed in this field, the ethics committees play a significant role contributing to make research from the scientific community realised following the current regulations with absolute respect to the principles, compromises, and bioethical and biosecurity demands in general.
Scope of Action. Bioethics and Biosecurity
Bioethics is a branch of ethics which defines a series of principles whose application allows to optimise, from different perspectives, human conduct within the field of the Life Sciences, meaning human actions concerning human, animal and plant life (human interaction with living creatures). Within the field of Biosecurity, the adoption of measures and the appliance of regulation to specific effects to preserve the security of living creatures and the environment acquires a special relevance upon concrete factors that may alter them, such as genetically modified organisms and risks of exposure to biological agents.
Regarding scientific practises at CSIC, there are four fields of action defined within the bioethics and biosecurity framework.
- Research involving human subjects, human samples and/or data proceeding from human populations that requiring protection.
- Research using animals.
- Research with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Research involving risks of exposure to biological agents for human, animal and plant beings, and the environment.
Ethical Evaluation of the CSIC Research
- CSIC’s Ethics Committee has issued institutional instructions for requesting an evaluation of the CSIC’s ethics research.