Working Groups

At EUREC, all our members contribute to one of our two working groups, which are the engines of action driving meaningful change and innovation. Through dynamic discussions, engaging webinars, and collaborative outputs, we strive to achieve specific goals and make a lasting impact.

Working Group 1: Legal and policy issues of RECs

Working group 1 explores legal and policy matters concerning RECs in the field of health-related research. It aims to:

  • Enhance communication among RECs regarding ethically significant policies and legal structures.
  • Tackle emerging ethical challenges.
  • Create shared European REC policies.

Working Group 1: Updates and Highlights

Webinar: "Vulnerability in Research Ethics: The Role of Patient and Public Involvement"

We are pleased to share the recording and slides from our webinar, "Vulnerability in Research Ethics: The Role of Patient and Public Involvement," which took place on 11 March 2025.

This webinar was the final session in a series on vulnerability in research, launched by Working Group 1 in October 2024, with contributions from Working Group 2. The series aimed to provide ongoing insights into how vulnerability is understood and addressed in research ethics.. The series aimed to provide ongoing insights into how vulnerability is understood and addressed in research ethics.

Presenters:

  • Prof. Laura Palazzani, Full Professor, Faculty of Law, Università LUMSA, Rome: "Tailoring informed consent to vulnerable populations" (slides)
  • Jenny Preston, Senior Patient and Public Involvement Lead, University of Liverpool: "Children’s involvement as partners in health research decision-making: Addressing vulnerability" (slides)

📺 Watch the recording of the third webinar here.

The first session, held on 29 October 2024, focused on "RECs and the New Vulnerability Paradigm." Presenters included:

Presenters:

  • Dr. Otmar Kloiber, Secretary General, World Medical Association: "The New Version of the Declaration of Helsinki-Changes in Dealing with Vulnerability" (slides)
  • Dr. Samia Hurst-Majno, Vice-President, Executive Committee, CIOMS: "Vulnerability according to the CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines (2016)" (slides)
  • Monique AI, MedEthics EU: "Vulnerability according to the EU Clinical Trials Regulation" (slides)

📺 Watch the recording of the first webinar here.

The second webinar, titled "Research Ethics Committees & Vulnerability Case Studies: How Might Responsible Inclusion Look in Practice?," took place on 23 January 2025.

Presenters:

  • Pirkko Lepola, MSc.: Practical and special considerations for inclusion of the pediatric population (slides)
  • Prof. Mary McCarron: Responsible inclusion in research with aging populations with intellectual disabilities (slides)
  • Prof. José Luis Molina: Addressing vulnerability in social science and humanities research (slides)

📺 Watch the recording here.

June 2024: Working group 1 position paper on the compensation of research participants

In June 2024, working group 1 published a position paper addressing the ethical considerations and guidelines for compensating research participants.

📄 Read the full position paper here: Position Paper on Compensation

Past meetings

  • May 2024: Working group 1 had an onsite meeting in Vilnius and discussed the topics “vulnerability” and “compensation” (meeting minutes)
  • September to November 2023: Working Group 1 hosted a series of webinars on “compensation" (Webinar minutes).

Working Group 2: Broadening the scope of RECs

Working Group 2 considers the role of RECs in an ethics governance system. It aims to:

  • Promote inclusion and collaboration among RECs reviewing research beyond the biomedical field, including the social sciences, humanities, and new and emerging technologies.
  • Adapt ethics governance systems to changing research environments.
  • Build societal trust in research.

Working Group 2: Updates and Highlights

  • March 2025: Working Group 2 provided the EC with consolidated feedback on the EC 2021 Guidance Note on Ethics in Social Science and Humanities.
  • February 2025: Working group 2 online meeting. Key topics included REC developments beyond medical research in Finland and a discussion on the EC 2021 Guidance Note on Ethics in Social Science and Humanities.
  • December 2024: Working group 2 online meeting. Key topics included REC developments in social sciences and humanities in Sweden, as well as harmonizing ethics reviews for multinational internet surveys.
  • November 2024: WG2 published a position paper advocating on expanding the scope of RECs to research with and on humans beyond biomedical research.  Download the position paper here.
  • September 2024: Working group 2 online meeting. Key topics included new EUREC website features, REC developments beyond biomedicine in Italy and Germany, harmonizing ethics review for multinational internet surveys, and exploring funding options (e.g., COST call).
  • July 2024: Working group 2 online meeting. Key topics included the launch of CoARA’s new working group, finalizing the position paper, and strategizing toolbox development.
  • May 2024: Working group 2 had an onsite meeting in Vilnius and discussed the scope of the working group and the strategy for the development of a toolbox for ethics reviewers doing reviews beyond the biomedical field.
  • March 2024: Working group 2 organised a workshop on “Ethical review of RECs in social sciences research” (Agenda)
  • September 2023: Working group 2 hosted a workshop on “Ethics reviews and networking in social science research: How to move forward in Europe?” (Agenda)

Future plans

We are excited to announce that we are planning the formation of a third working group focused on training. This group will aim to develop comprehensive training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of REC members, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle emerging ethical challenges.

Join our public working group meetings or webinars

If you're interested in joining one of our public working group meetings or webinars, please reach out to the appropriate contact:

We look forward to welcoming you!