The role of Research Ethics Committees

TECNALIA will be present at the 12th Congress of the National Association of Research Ethics Committees (ANCEI), to be held from 3 to 5 June in Bilbao, reinforcing its commitment to responsible technological innovation in the field of health. The congress, organised by the University of the Basque Country (EHU) along with ANCEI, will bring together experts from the scientific, clinical and regulatory fields under the slogan "Science, ethics and citizenship: the commitment of research ethics committees".

This forum is a key meeting point to address the ethical challenges associated with human research, including aspects such as the use of data, project evaluation, biobanks and the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence on health.

People-centred health innovation

TECNALIA will contribute its experience in the development of medical technologies and user-centred digital solutions, highlighting the integration of ethics from the initial R&D phases to clinical validation and product certification.

• Our colleague, Ainara Garzo, senior researcher in Medical Technologies, will share her knowledge on the user experience (UX), human-centred design and the ethical and regulatory aspects of medical devices.
• Garzo has more than 15 years of experience in health technology research and actively participates in the definition of evaluation protocols with people and clinical trials, integrating usability, accessibility and regulatory compliance criteria. She is also a member of the CEI of the Carlos III Institute of Health and external advisor to the CEI with Human Beings, their data and samples (CEISH) of the University of the Basque Country (EHU).
• Ainara will participate in Workshop 3 "Aspects to consider in the evaluation of competitive/academic projects by the CEI/CEIm” on 4th June, which will be moderated by Itziar de Pablo López de Abechuco. CEIm Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, and will also include Eva Ortega-Paíno, Secretary General for Research, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

Ethics, regulation and technology: a strategic challenge

Participation in ANCEI is part of TECNALIA's strategy of to foster the development of safe, reliable and user-centred technologies, in a context marked by new regulatory requirements for medical devices (MDR/IVDR) and by the growing complexity of clinical trials.

In particular, the combination of disciplines such as artificial intelligence, robotics and bioengineering makes it essential to integrate ethics and regulation from an early stage, ensuring both social acceptance and the viability of innovations.

Connecting science, industry and society

TECNALIA reinforces its position as a key agent in health technology transfer, fostering an approach that connects research, industry and society.

Forums like this enable progress to be made towards more responsible innovation, where technological development not only drives business competitiveness but also responds to the real needs of people and the health system.

• Click here for the full programme "The role of Research Ethics Committees"