As evidenced by high-throughput sequencers, genomic technologies have recently undergone radical advances. These technologies enable comprehensive sequencing of personal genomes considerably more efficiently and less expensively than heretofore. These developments present a challenge to the conventional framework of biomedical ethics; under these changing circumstances, each research project ha...

BACKGROUND For ethical approval of a multicentre study in Canada, investigators must apply separately to individual Research Ethics Boards (REBs). In principle, the protection of human research subjects is of utmost importance. However, in practice, the process of multicentre ethics review can be time consuming and costly, requiring duplication of effort for researchers and REBs. We used our ex...

Marine bacterial communities are resistant to elevated carbon dioxide levels. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 6 (6). The NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. Summary 31 It is well established that the release of anthropogenic derived ...

One of the fundamental ethical concerns about biomedical research is that it frequently exposes participants to risks for the benefit of others. To protect participants' rights and interests in this context, research regulations and guidelines set out a mix of substantive and procedural requirements for research involving humans. Risk thresholds play an important role in formulating both types ...

Eiko Nemitz,1,2 Jose L. Jimenez,3 J. Alex Huffman,3 Ingrid M. Ulbrich,3 Manjula R. Canagaratna,4 Doug R. Worsnop,4 and Alex B. Guenther2 1Atmospheric Sciences, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, UK 2Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA 3University of Colorado/Dept. of Chemistry and Bioc...

Two agents sharing the intention to do something are interlocked in a web of individual intentions with special social contents. This individualistic approach to shared intentional activity has been originally proposed by Bratman (1993). I will suggest that Bratman’s ‘shared intentions’ are of little help when interdependency of agents’ reasons can threaten coordination as in common-interest ga...

In response to criticism of ethical review of a South African clinical trial, we contrast aspects of the United States Common Rule with South African research ethics requirements. In the USA the Common Rule does not apply to all health research and allows many exemptions from ethics review and waivers of informed consent. At a structural level research ethics review in South Africa is in many c...

Social media (SM) research presents new challenges for research ethics committees (RECs) who must balance familiar ethical principles with new notions of public availability. This article qualitatively examines how U.K. REC members view this balance in terms of risk and consent. While it found significant variance overall, there were discernible experience-based trends. REC members with less ex...