The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) held the Meeting of Ethics Committees with Human Beings of the ISD (ECEP RN) on October 30th and 31st, bringing together researchers, students, and representatives of research ethics committees from institutions across the country. The event took place at the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS), an ISD unit located in Macaíba/RN, and was also broadcast online.
Organized by the Research Ethics Committee with Human Beings (CEP) of ISD, the meeting aimed to strengthen dialogue and the exchange of experiences among professionals and institutions that are part of the CEP/Conep System, responsible for ensuring compliance with ethical principles in scientific research involving human beings in Brazil.
The event brought together former members of the National Research Ethics Committee (Conep), representatives of ethics committees from institutions such as the Federal University of São Paulo (UFESP), the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), and the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), as well as researchers from the Santos Dumont Institute.
The program included lectures, roundtables, and debates on topics such as the CEP/Conep System; the role of Artificial Intelligence in ethical review; and the impacts of Law No. 14,874/2024, known as the new legal framework that establishes guidelines for research with human beings in Brazil.
“The Meeting was a necessary and relevant event given the current context of changes brought about by Law 14.874/24. The discussions focused especially on redefining the role of social control and the possible implications of the new guidelines for the ethical review process of research,” highlighted the coordinator of CEP/ISD and coordinator of ECEP RN, Caroline Cunha do Espírito Santo.
Research Ethics Committee of ISD
The Research Ethics Committee of the Alberto Santos Dumont Institute of Education and Research (CEP/ISD) was created on February 3, 2020, and registered by the National Research Ethics Commission (CONEP) on September 28, 2020, under number 10147.
The Ethics Committee (CEP) is a deliberative, consultative, and educational body, formed by an interdisciplinary and independent group, with the objective of ethically evaluating research involving human beings at ISD and related institutions. Furthermore, it works to protect the integrity and dignity of research participants, seeking to establish ethical guidelines for research in the health field.
“Receiving former members of CONEP and representatives from CEPs from different regions of Brazil was an important milestone for CEP/ISD, highlighting the maturity and commitment of the institution to the ethical and responsible conduct of clinical research here at the institution,” concluded Caroline.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
