The Research ethics committee
Made up of scientists, members of civil society, Sorbonne University's Data Protection Officer and representatives of the university's Legal Affairs Department, the Research Ethics Committee (Comité d'éthique de la recherche - CER) is tasked with issuing an ethical opinion on non-interventional research protocols involving human subjects, where these do not fall within the a priori remit of a Comité de protection des personnes (CCP).
Missions
The purpose of the Sorbonne Université CER is to evaluate the ethical dimension of the research protocol and, if necessary, to make recommendations. In doing so, the Sorbonne Université CER ensures that research protocols comply with the rules and recommendations in force concerning the protection of research participants and data, and, if necessary, proposes modifications that appear necessary to achieve this compliance.
The CER is competent to examine non-interventional research protocols involving human subjects in fields such as engineering sciences, digital sciences, humanities, social sciences and cognitive sciences.
The Sorbonne University CER issues an ethical opinion on the research protocols submitted to it, particularly with regard to:
- the protection of individuals,
- the benefit/risk balance, including psychological considerations,
- the rules of public order in this area, in particular non-discrimination, unless objectively required by the need for the research.
Sorbonne University's CER offers scientists from Sorbonne Université and Alliance Sorbonne Université the opportunity to examine the ethical aspects of their research protocols. This structure is at their disposal.
The creation of the Ethics Committee was submitted to the members of the Board of Directors for their opinion on November 19, 2019, and received a unanimous vote.