Ethics in Research
Ethics and Integrity in Research are vital to all disciplines as they guide researchers in their work and enforce them to face the practical and ethical challenges that arise in research. Ethics examines the application of the principles to the various areas of research, including first the planning and conduct of the research, the way the participants or animals are treated, and secondly the awareness of the scientific misconduct. At the same time, integrity is recognized as the attitude of scientists to conduct research in accordance with appropriate ethical, legal and professional standards. The areas of Research Ethics and Integrity combine general considerations of law and due integrity as academic disciplines dealing with research activities, researchers’ ethical attitudes, stakeholders regulatory policies, such as sponsors or funding agencies, the various ethical expectations of civil society.
At the EU policy level, the Council of the European Union recognizes Ethics and Integrity as the basis for high quality research and a prerequisite for achieving excellence as well as developing a credible knowledge base leading to socio-economic development. In addition, it stresses that “inappropriate” research and disputed practices can lead to negative consequences for the economy and society. In particular, failure to adhere to good research practices can adversely affect research processes, deteriorate interpersonal relationships among researchers, undermine research trust and credibility, waste resources and expose users, or research, environment in unnecessary damage.
Data Protection Officer and Ethics Advisor of the Golden Helix Foundation:
Vasileios Xyrafas holds a BSc in Philosophy from the Philosophical School of the University of Patras, a BSc in Theology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an MA in Sociology from the Radboud University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, an MA in Philosophy of Religion and a PhD in the field of Sociology and Ethics from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is currently Researcher in the field of Bioethics, specialized on ethics of personalized medicine interventions and a Group Leader at the University of Patras, Department of Pharmacy in Greece.
