ΜΟΔΥ ΕΛΚΕ

RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (REC) of the University of Patras

The Bioethics Committee of the University of Patras was originally established by decisions No. 360/12.11.2003 and 362/10.12.2003 of the Senate and consisted of three (3) Faculty Members. By decision No. 459/31/03/2011 of the Senate, the committee increased its members to seven, to ensure coverage for the majority of scientific fields in matters of ethics, while its re-constitutions were decided in meeting No. 41/06/11/2014 of the Senate and in meeting No. 115/25.04.2017 of the Senate.

The establishment of the Research Ethics Committee (REC), following the latest relevant Act No. 285/8531/26.03.2019 of the Rector of the University of Patras (in implementation of provisions of articles 21 & 22 of Law No. 4521/2018), following Meeting No. 581/04.02.2019 of the Research Committee of the University of Patras and Meeting No. 147/07.03.2018 of the Institution’s Senate).

PURPOSE

The mission of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) is to provide a guarantee, in terms of ethics, for the reliability of research projects carried out by members of the University of Patras. The REC checks whether a research project is conducted with respect to the value of human beings, the autonomy of the persons involved, their private life and personal data, as well as with care and respect for the natural and cultural environment. The Committee also monitors compliance with generally accepted principles of research integrity and criteria of good scientific practice. Moreover, the REC aims to train scientific and administrative staff as well as students of the University of Patras on ethical issues of research.

The Research Ethics Committee (REC) of the University of Patras (UPAT) operates in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 4521/2018, the relevant decisions of the Senate and the applicable regulatory framework in force.

MEMBERS

Based on the latest reconstitution ( Act No. 285/8531/26.03.2019 of the Rector of the University of Patras – in implementation of provisions of articles 21 & 22 of Law No. 4521/2018, following Meeting No. 581/04.02.201 of the Research Committee of the University of Patras and Meeting No. 147/07.03.2018 of the Institution’s Senate), the composition of the Bioethics Committee is as follows:

Regular Members

Αναπληρωματικά Μέλη 

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Bioethics Committee of the University of Patras are as follows:

1. It is the responsibility of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) to ensure that a specific research project to be carried out at the UPAT does not contravene the applicable legislation and whether it complies with generally accepted rules of research ethics and integrity as to its content and the way it is conducted. In particular, the responsibilities of the REC include:

1. a) The examination of funded research projects that, according to the scientific coordinator upon completion of a relevant form, include research in humans, in material derived from humans (such as genetic material, cells, tissue and personal data) in animals or in the environment, natural and cultural, which must be submitted for approval to the Research Ethics Committee (REC).
2. b) The examination, in addition to the research projects of the above point (a), of any other research project, at the request of an interested person or complaint. Moreover, the opinion may concern ethical issues concerning an article for publication in a scientific journal or a dissertation or doctoral thesis in preparation.
3. c) The examination of modifications to already approved and implemented research.
4. d) The protection of the individual while processing their personal data, arising from any relevant research.

1. The REC checks compliance with the moral, ethical and legal framework and with all the relevant documents that are necessary. Moreover, it may checks during the course of a specific research until its completion, making recommendations for its optimal conduct in terms of ethics.
2. The relevant approval of the REC is prerequisite for launching the implementation of the project.
3. The REC shall recommend to the Research Committee of the UPAT to suspend a research project if there is a violation of the legislation and of the Code of Research Ethics of the UPAT. The decisions of the REC are binding for the UPAT.
4. The REC may provide a scientific opinion-recommendation to the Research Committee of the UPAT, in matters of its competence, if requested.
5. If the legislation provides for the approval or licensing of a research project by another competent public service, administrative body or independent administrative Authority, the relevant decision of the REC shall not replace such approval or licensing. All relevant approvals shall be obtained prior to the submission of application to the REC.
6. The REC takes initiatives aimed at training on ethical issues in research addressed to scientific staff, administrative staff and students of the University of Patras.

The relevant decisions of the Senate and the Rector’s Council can be found here.

Procedure for submitting a request to the Bioethics Committee

Requests to the Committee are submitted by the Scientific Coordinator – Faculty Member of the University of Patras, at the electronic platform of the Committee: http://ehde.upatras.gr/

The average time for the Committee to deliver its opinion shall be two weeks from the date on which it receives a request.

The submission shall include:

(a) the completion of the general questionnaire for a research programme or teaching internships;

(b) the completion of the special questionnaire with specific reference to the pages of the Research Protocol, and

(c) the submission of the protocol containing all details of the proposal for the reasoning and ethical dilemmas that may arise from the study. Guidance on the content of the research protocol is provided in Annex C of the specific questionnaire.

The Committee may request clarifications or corrections to the submitted protocol.

After the successful completion of the proposal examination, a certificate is issued by the REC of the University of Patras.

Αρχεία:

1. Oviedo Convention

2. Biomedical Research Protocol (Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, concerning Biomedical Research)

3. Cloning Human Beings

4. Genetics Tests Protocol

5. Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of Human Origin