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Ethical Clearance

The Committee produces official Ethical Clearances with authorization value. 

In order to request an Ethical Clearance, it is necessary that the Scientific Coordinator of the project submits the request by email to the Coordinator of the Committee, Dr. Cinzia Caporale, at cnr.ethics@cnr.it. The email should include a telephone number (preferably a mobile phone number) of the Scientific Coordinator of the project.

The e-mail must contain:

  • the research project (in Italian or in English) for which the Ethical Clearance is requested, in its final version (numbered and dated), specifying whether the request concerns the entire project or only specific work packages carried out by CNR, and which ones;
  • an abstract in Italian (500-1000 words) describing (i) objectives, duration and partners of the project, (ii) methodologies used, (iii) detailed procedures for involving any participants and their number, (iv) detailed procedures for handling personal data of any participants, (v) any expected risks and benefits to participants;
  • any ethical clearances or approvals previously obtained from other bodies/committees (e.g., OPBA or clinical trial ethics committees), including Ethics Summary Reports for projects funded by the European Commission;
  • whenever involved, the information sheet and consent form for research participants, where applicable, including contact details for the Scientific Coordinator, explicit provision for the possibility of withdrawing consent, and information on data processing (for the purposes of their elaboration, it may be useful to consult the Committee's document "Informed Consent in Scientific Research: Ethical Toolkit");
  • if the project involves minors, an information sheet and consent form to be filled in by their parents or legal guardian is required (for participants aged between 14 and 18, an additional information sheet and consent form for them is also required);
  • where genetic data are collected from participants, a dedicated disclosure statement in addition to informed consent;
  • where the complexity of the project and the quality and quantity of the data processed make it necessary, a specific information to the participant on the processing of data, in addition to the informed consent;
  • a declaration signed by the Director of the Institute, as legal representative, certifying that the processing of personal data complies with the provisions of the applicable European and national regulations. If it is necessary to carry out a preliminary assessment of the impact on the protection of personal data, the opinion of the Data Protection Officer of the CNR (rpd@cnr.it) must be attached;
  • a statement by the Scientific Coordinator of commitment to comply with the Ethical Rules for Processing for Statistical or Scientific Research Purposes published in accordance to Article 20, paragraph 4, of Legislative Decree No. 101 of August 10, 2018 - December 19, 2018.

It is recommended to always consult the Institute's Privacy Representative before submitting the project for the purpose of obtaining an Ethical Clearance, both in the case of simple data processing and in the case of involvement of research participants.

All project materials submitted to the Committee Coordinator are considered confidential documentation whose circulation is limited to the Members of the Committee and the Scientific Secretariat.

The Committee also reserves the right to accept requests for Ethical Clearance from universities and public and private research institutions, for projects whose funding has already been approved. Applicants from outside the CNR will be required to pay a contribution of € 500.00 (excluding VAT) for the operating expenses of the Committee.

The Scientific Secretariat of the Committee can be consulted for the submission of the documents. The Secretariat can be contacted by email (cnr.ethics@cnr.it), or at the following telephone number: +390649937900 (number with call forwarding and therefore always active). The Secretariat can also be contacted for any support in the compilation of the section of the projects dedicated to Ethical Issues provided in the application forms of Italian and European funding calls.

It is recommended that requests for Ethical Clearances, together with the documents described above, be sent to the Committee in a timely manner (and in any case no later than 10 days before plenary meetings), considering the following schedule of plenary meetings: July 6 and September 14. In the request email, you may indicate any reasons of urgency for which you request the release of the Ethical Clearance prior to the first available plenary meeting of the Committee. In the period between two successive plenary sessions, extraordinary sessions for the approval of Ethical Clearance are scheduled.

Ethical Clearances issued by the Committee

The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of the CNR structures and external organizations (public and private) to which Ethical Clearance opinions have been issued.

CNR structures

  • Activities and Relations with European Institutions Office
  • European and International Relations Office
  • Institute for Applications of Computing "Mauro Picone" (IAC)
  • Institute for Biological Systems (ISB)
  • Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB)
  • Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes (IPCF)
  • Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC) 
  • Institute for Construction Technology (ITC)
  • Institute for Educational Technology (ITD)
  • Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR)
  • Institute for International Legal Studies (ISGI)
  • Institute for Mediterranean Agricultural and Forestry Systems (ISAFOM)
  • Institute for Research on Innovation and Development Services (IRISS)
  • Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies (IRPPS)
  • Institute for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage (ICVBC)
  • Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems (ISASI)
  • Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC)
  • Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE)
  • Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology (IBFM)
  • Institute of Biometeorology (IBIMET)
  • Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB)
  • Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR)
  • Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN)
  • Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC)
  • Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technology (ISTC)
  • Institute of Computational Linguistics (ILC)
  • Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy (ICMATE)
  • Institute of Electronics, Information Engineering and Telecommunications (IEIIT)
  • Institute of Food Production Sciences (ISPA)
  • Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB)
  • Institute of Industrial Technology and Automation (ITIA) 
  • Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT)
  • Institute of Information Science and Technologies "A. Faedo" (ISTI)
  • Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing (STIIMA)
  • Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR)
  • Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM)
  • Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM)
  • Institute of Neurological Sciences (ISN)
  • Institute of Neuroscience (IN)
  • Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS)
  • Institute of Structure of Matter (ISM)
  • Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)
  • National Institute of Optics (INO)
  • Research Institute on Judicial Systems (IRSIG)

External organizations (public and private)

  • Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, SZN, Naples
  • Bioversity International
  • Foundation for Research on Migration and Integration of Technologies (FORMIT)
  • HuGeF Foundation (Human Genetic Foundation-Turin)
  • Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
  • International Affairs Institute - IAI, Rome
  • Lombardy Regional Emergency Service Agency (AREU)
  • Modena Women’s Documentation Centre
  • National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
  • National Institute of Health (ISS)
  • National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), Trieste, Italy 
  • SerenDPT S.r.l. S.B.
  • The National Fire and Rescue Service (CNVVF)
  • University of Florence
  • University of Gent (Belgium)
  • University of Sassari
  • University of Uppsala, Sweden (ERC Project)

Last update: 19/05/2023