Research Ethics Committee (CER) of the University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier’s Research Ethics Committee was officially established on February 8, 2022. Its objective is to reinforce the measures put in place by the University of Montpellier to promote awareness and the application of ethical and professional principles in response to the questions raised by scientific progress and its contemporary societal implications, regardless of the field of research.
The Research Ethics Committee of the University of Montpellier is authorized to provide advisory opinions on research projects and protocols across all scientific fields, particularly those involving human subjects, privacy issues, and personal data.
However, projects falling under Law No. 2012-300 of March 5, 2012, on research involving human subjects (known as the “Jardé Law”) and its implementing decree No. 2016-1537 of November 16, 2016, and falling under Articles R.1121-1-1 and R.1121-1-2 of the Public Health Code defining research involving human subjects, are, for their part, subject to the jurisdiction of the Committees for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPP).
Procedures for Submitting Cases to the UM Research Ethics Committee
1. Who can file a complaint with the UM’s Ethics Committee?
Principal investigators who are employees of the University of Montpellier and the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, as well as any employee assigned to a research unit primarily supervised by the University of Montpellier or the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie.
For students at the University of Montpellier and the National School of Chemistry, it is the academic advisor (internship supervisor, thesis advisor, HDR academic advisor, etc.) who may submit a request to the UM’s Ethics Review Committee.
2. When should the UM’s CER be entered?
A project must be submitted to the UM’s CER well in advance of its implementation. It must be submitted approximately three to four weeks before the meeting is held.
3. How do I enter the UM's CER?
The completed submission form must be sent by email.
Would you like to learn more about submitting a case to the CER?
There are a few things to keep in mind when filling out the form:
Use of data:
- Data storage (retention periods, practical safeguards, identity of the controller)
- Data Archiving Procedures
- Clarification of the procedure for releasing data to the public
Data Privacy:
- Data anonymization process/method
- Data Privacy Management
- Application(s) used for data collection
Details about the project / study:
- Study start date
- Duration of the trial
- Details on the study protocol
- Order of magnitude of potential income
- Protocol based on the subjects of the experiment
- Maintenance Guide / Questionnaire
- Explanation of Acronyms
Consent:
- More explicit consent
- Written consent from parents or guardians for minors under the age of 15
- Provide the informed consent form
Fact sheet:
- Additional Information for Participants
- Adapting fact sheets for different audiences
- Disclosure of potential risks associated with the study in the patient information leaflet
4. How long does it take for the UM’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) to respond?
Advisory ethical opinions are sent to project sponsors within three weeks of the meeting.
Would you like to learn more about the solutions provided by the UM’s CER?
The CER may issue several types of opinions:
- Approval
- Approved, subject to requested changes*
- Unfavorable
- Notice of Lack of Jurisdiction
*The notice will specify any changes, clarifications, or documents required for your research protocol.
To prepare your amended application:
- In the submission form, you must clearly indicate your responses to the requests made by the UM’s Institutional Review Board (IRB);
- Check the "amendment" box;
- Send it by email.
According to the CER’s wording:
- “Approval by the report reviewers and the Chair of the Research Ethics Committee”: The application will be approved by the executive committee after receiving confirmation from the relevant parties.
- “Must be resubmitted to the Research Ethics Committee”: The application will be reviewed again by the Research Ethics Committee.
