In December 2025, Working Group 1 published a position paper addressing vulnerability and responsible inclusion in research.

In May 2026, EUREC published complementary case studies building on this work.

📄 Read the full position paper here: EUREC Position Paper Vulnerability_16.12.2025
📘 Read the case studies here: Complementary case studies (May 2026)

The case studies illustrate how the principles from the position paper can be applied in practice, supporting research ethics committees in addressing complex questions of vulnerability and inclusion across four areas: intellectual disability and ageing, paediatric research, migrants and mental health, and pregnancy and treatment decisions.

Together, they highlight that vulnerability is dynamic and context-specific, that exclusion from research can itself cause harm, and that responsible inclusion requires proportionate protections, context-sensitive assessment, and appropriate support.

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.

• 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).