Research ethics and animal testing ethics
If you are informed about research ethics, you can ask the right questions about what is appropriate or inappropriate in research. Research ethics is about both legislation and rules and good research practice.
Ethical review
Are you planning to do research that involves people or the processing of personal data? If so, you may need to seek ethical approval.
More information about ethical review
The Swedish Ethical Review Authority (in Swedish)
The Nagoya Protocol
The Nagoya Protocol is law in Sweden. Those who use genetic resources or traditional knowledge in their research or product development have an obligation to ascertain whether the Nagoya Protocol applies. The responsible researcher must thoroughly examine whether the Nagoya Protocol applies, obtain relevant documentation, and document, preserve and report.
Read more about the Nagoya Protocol
Research representatives
Each faculty as well as the specialised centres have appointed research representatives in order to provide independent advice and support on matters concerning research activities, such as issues relating to publication, the responsibilities of authors or research collaborations.
More information about research representatives
Handling personal data
Research often involves handling data that can be linked in some way to living individuals. The Personal Data Act regulates the management of such data.
More information about managing personal data
Animal experiments
The Swedish Research Council runs a website providing information about animal experiments in collaboration with Lund University and seven other Swedish universities.
More information about animal experiments from the Swedish Research Council (in Swedish)
The Swedish Board of Agriculture website has more information about the rules and permits for use of laboratory animals.
More information about animal experiments on the Swedish Board of Agriculture website (in Swedish)
Deviations from good research practice – research misconduct
At Lund University, deviations from good research practice and research misconduct are handled by the Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board.
More information about deviations from good research practice and research misconduct
Informed consent
Consent is to be informed, voluntary and explicit.
Being informed means that the person who is asked for consent has received relevant information about the study and what is entailed in taking part. Information that is relevant here covers the aim of the study, why the person has been contacted, who is behind the study, what is entailed in taking part from the participant’s perspective, what happens to the personal data and samples if the person chooses to take part, how this data is protected, etc.
If personal data is involved in the research, which is normally the case, you must provide information on the person’s rights according to the GDPR.
Biobank research
Every year, large numbers of biological samples are deposited in biobanks. This usually takes place for clinical purposes that benefit the patient, but the samples may also be used in research.
More information about biobank research
Research ethics course for research staff
A course in research ethics is now available for researchers. The course takes three hours to complete and is intended for research staff from all faculties at Lund University, except for doctoral students who attend a mandatory course on the same topic.
The course covers the following five topics in research ethics
- academic freedom
- good research practice
- research involving human participants
- animal experiments
- your role as a researcher
and gives you a good understanding of the regulations surrounding research, including the laws and guidelines, so that you can feel comfortable and confident in thinking about your research from an ethical perspective.
The course is part of the HR Excellence in Research award project and has been developed as one of the five sub-projects of the ongoing action plan to maintain certification.
Contact
Do you have any questions regarding research ethics regulations?
Mats Johansson
Research Ethics Advisor/Research Integrity Officer
forskningsetik [at] lu [dot] se (forskningsetik[at]lu[dot]se)