Constitution of the Spanish Research Ethics Committee, with the presence of Coral Calero
The Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, led the first session of the newly formed National Council of Research Ethics at the CSIC House of Science in Valencia.
The new body consists of 12 highly reputable specialists in various disciplines, such as bioethics, law, philosophy of science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and animal experimentation. Notable members include Coral Calero, professor at the Higher School of Informatics in the University of Castilla-La Mancha.
The rest of the members that make up the body are: Antonio Diéguez Lucena (University of Malaga), María del Carmen Fernández (Autonomous University of Madrid), Pere Puigdomènech (CSIC-UAB Agricultural Genomics Research Center), Leonor Ruíz (Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga), Nuria Sebastián (Pompeu Fabra University), María del Mar Bolívar (Alcalá University), Encarna Aguayo (Cartagena Polytechnic University), María Amparo Alonso (A Coruña University), Rafael Yuste (Columbia University), Jordi Camí (Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona) and Javier de Francisco Morcillo (University of Extremadura).
Minister Morant has emphasized the importance of this newly formed Council as a crucial step in the implementation of the new Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.
We are investing in science like never before in the history of Spain, and we want to ensure that this commitment is accompanied by ethical responsibility
Diana Morant — Minister of Science and Innovation
We created the Spanish Research Ethics Committee, as mandated by the new #ScienceLaw. pic.twitter.com/0UOyTv5BY9
— Diana Morant (@DianaMorantR) June 1, 2023
The Council's responsibilities include issuing reports, suggestions and recommendations on issues of professional ethics in scientific and technical research, as well as scientific integrity and responsible research.
In addition, the Council will establish the fundamental principles for the creation of codes of good practice in scientific and technical research, which will address the management of conflicts of interest. These codes will be prepared by the ethics committees of the entities that carry out and finance the research.
Back from the constitution meeting of the Spanish Research Ethics Committee. Thank you Minister @DianaMorantR for highlighting the work of this committee. And from here, to work!! pic.twitter.com/J1dkrzaui9
– Coral (@CoralCalero) June 1, 2023
First Meeting on June 1, 2023
At the inaugural meeting, Morant asked the Council to prepare a report on the conflict of interest of research staff and another on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence research.
The members of the Council unanimously voted for Jordi Camí, from the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, as president, and Nuria Sebastián, from Pompeu Fabra University, as vice president.
