RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE

Selflessness, truthfulness and reliability are just a few of the principles that guide researchers employed at the University of Lodz. The “Code of Ethics for Researchers” organises, systematises and summarises the values that guide researchers from the academic world.

Every research conducted at the University of Lodz regarding humans, i.e. one which: 

• involves collecting biological material (biological, medical, chemical and physical)  
• interferes with the human psyche,   

requires a positive opinion from the University of Lodz Research Ethics Committee.  

IMPORTANT! The scope of the Committee’s jurisdiction does not cover the matters which, by the virtue of the Act, belong to the jurisdiction of other bodies (e.g. committees on research bioethics operating at the Regional Medical Chambers).

Permission to conduct research must be obtained by employees, doctoral students and students. Before receiving a positive opinion, the Committee shall examine the research qualification, selection of the study and control groups or the supervision of the research. These actions are aimed at ensuring the reliability of the conducted research.

The Committee considers applications for the approval of biological, medical, chemical and physical research projects using biological material taken from humans and research that interferes with the human psyche.

The Committee operates based on the guidelines of competitions announced by the National Science Centre in Krakow, the National Centre for Research and Development and other agencies granting resources for conducting scientific research, concerning the need to give opinions on research experiences. When giving its opinion on an application, the Committee shall assess the research foreseen therein to ensure that the principles of research ethics are respected and that the rights of the research participants are protected. The Committee may also take a position on the relevance of the research envisaged in the proposal, as well as its scientific feasibility. 

• the research documentation and data collection forms are drawn up in accordance with the requirements and principles of scientific integrity, without exposing the study participants to the risk of injury or damage to health or its deterioration
• the qualifications of the researcher(s) is/are sufficient for the proper conduct of the research; this also applies to the auxiliary personnel, in particular, those collecting the biological material or collecting the survey data
• the selection of the study and control groups is well planned
• proper supervision of the research project implementation is ensured
• the information for the study participant is comprehensibly formulated and contains all the required elements
• the requirements for the processing of personal data of the study participants have been fulfilled, provision has been made for remuneration of study participants and whether its amount may affect voluntary participation in the study

The detailed scope of the Committee's activity and the procedure for obtaining an opinion shall be determined by its Rules of Procedure, which must be read before drafting the application

The Committee deliberates during meetings, which are convened no less than 2 times a semester. The date of the forthcoming meeting shall be given at least two weeks in advance and the date by which applications must be submitted.

The University of Lodz Research Ethics Committee operates under the UL Rector's Regulation No. 49 of 5 January 2022. The rules of its operation are described in the Rules of Procedure. The work of the Committee is headed by the University of Lodz Vice-Rector for Research, and the Committee's composition for the term 2020-2024 has been defined in the Rector's Regulation No. 50 of 5 January 2022.