The Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity Committee
While a French Charter of Research Ethics exists, the Institut Catholique de Lille (ICL) has undertaken reflections to establish a committee for all its staff.
Indeed, beyond the obvious principle that research cannot act against humanity in its history, the respect of scientific integrity and ethical principles in research is a strong concern at the national, European, and global levels. This is particularly relevant for empirical research, whether in medical sciences, so-called exact sciences, or social and human sciences, as well as for research addressing complex or sensitive subjects.
These principles are applied by the editorial boards of scientific journals and publications, as well as by the selection committees for scientific calls for projects.
Accordingly, the ICL Higher Education and Research (ESR) has established a Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity Committee (CERIS) to raise awareness and provide support, since January 2024, to its faculty, researchers, doctoral students, and all staff, in ensuring adherence to these standards.
The CERIS can also be consulted on general ethical questions related to research ethics and/or scientific integrity, in order to provide guidance and promote a culture of ethics within the institution.
MISSIONS
Respond to referrals submitted to it
Develop a scientific integrity code and promote its dissemination
Raise awareness among faculty and researchers on ethical topics selected by CERIS members or requested by internal bodies of ICL-ESR
COMMITEE COMPOSITION
Composed of 3 faculty members and/or researchers from ICL ESR, 4 external faculty members or experts, and 2 representatives from civil society, the role of CERIS is to provide guidance through reflection on the ethical issues of a specific research question or a broader topic, where there is uncertainty regarding the actions that should reasonably be taken and the conduct to be adopted.
CONTACT
The committee may be consulted by any individual or group of individuals employed by ICL ESR. The process is carried out on the Y.O.D.A website using a referral document to be sent by email to the committee:
CERIS members then examine the request to determine whether it falls within the scope of its remit, after which its Chair assigns the referral to a member who will be responsible for following up on the case. An opinion is then drawn up and sent to the persons concerned, in the case of a referral relating to a specific research project, or posted online when the referral concerns a general ethical issue, with the aim of providing the entire ICL ESR with tools for reflection on research ethics and scientific integrity.
Scientific Integrity
The research conducted at the ICL complies with the charter of the Catholic University of Lille, which aims to ‘develop fundamental and applied research at the highest level, guaranteeing the excellence of the courses offered, while taking into account the human and social consequences of discoveries’. Steps are also being taken at ICL to sign the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
Internal Medical Research Ethics Committee (CIER)
In 2014, the Clinical Research and Innovation Department set up an internal medical research ethics committee (CIER), which analyses hospital research projects that are not required to be submitted to the Committee for the Protection of Persons (CPP), but which require a favourable opinion on methodology and ethics before implementation and publication. The CIER analysed more than 50 files per year between 2014 and 2016. Not operational in 2017 due to the promulgation of decrees and applications of the Jardé Law, it was re-established in January 2018 in response to the growing demand for ethical opinions on projects outside the scope of the Jardé Law. The plan is to integrate the CIER as an entity within an ethics committee at the Catholic University of Lille, with the allocation of an IRB (Institutional Review Board) number.
