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Ethics Committee opinion on research conducted by scientists, doctoral and residency students

The compliance of research conducted by the UL academic and scientific staff, as well as doctoral and residency students, with research ethics principles is assessed by the UL or an external research ethics committee or other responsible institution, depending on the type of research (see image below). 

The types of research that require an opinion or permission before commencement are:

  • research involving human subjects, including research in which personal data is processed, or biological samples of human origin are used
  • research involving experimental animals
  • research that poses a risk to the environment
  • research that poses a dual-use risk, i.e., research whose results could be used not only for the benefit of society, but also to cause harm to society.

Important! Research conducted by the UL staff in collaboration with other Latvian scientific institutions requires only the opinion of the research ethics committee of one institution. Research conducted by the UL staff in collaboration with foreign partners must obtain the opinion of the UL sectoral research ethics committee or another responsible Latvian institution on the part of the research that is carried out in Latvia. 

Research is reviewed by one of the sectoral research ethics committees. The purpose of the ethics committees is to protect the rights, health, safety, and dignity of research participants, as well as to promote the reputation and excellence of the UL. 

The UL sectoral group research ethics committee meetings are held once a month, except in July and August.

Application deadline: One week before the meeting, by 5 p.m. Applications signed with a secure electronic signature should be submitted to the committee secretary. Applications signed in paper format should be submitted to the UL registry, Raiņa Boulevard 19, room 136.

The application must include a completed application form (typed), samples of research instruments (e.g., questionnaires, interview questions, observation protocols), and a sample informed consent document. 

Important! Already signed informed consent documents must not be attached to the application, as this would violate the confidentiality of the research participants.

After receiving the opinion, the researcher must be aware of the following obligations:

  • inform the committee in writing of any changes during the research
  • in studies involving invasive procedures, inform the committee of any unexpected adverse events within seven days.

Purpose and competence: The committee evaluates compliance with ethical principles and the protection of the rights of research participants in research conducted by the UL scientific and academic staff, residents, and doctoral students in the field of life sciences and medicine, where human subjects are involved, there is a dual-use risk, or there is a risk to the environment.

Meetings: Second Monday of each month (except July and August).

Committee composition (approved by the UL Rector's Order No. 1-4/573 of 15 November 2024):

  • Assoc. Prof. Signe Mežinska – Chair of the Committee
  • Assoc. Prof. Līga Plakane – Deputy Chair of the Committee
  • Data Curator Danija Maļceva – Committee Secretary
  • Prof. Ingrīda Rumba-Rozenfelde; Assoc. Prof. Evita Rostoka; Senior Researcher Tālivaldis Freivalds; Assoc. Prof. Jeļena Vrubļevska: Inese Mauriņa (representative of patient organizations); Jānis Uiska (personal data protection specialist); Ginta Eglīte (personal data protection specialist).

Documents:

Purpose and competence: The committee evaluates compliance with ethical principles and the protection of the rights of research participants in research conducted by the UL scientific and academic staff and doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences, in which people are involved as research participants.

Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month.

Committee composition (approved by the UL Rector's Order 1-4/136 of 25 March 2025):

  • Assoc. Prof. Vadims Mantrovs – Chair of the Committee
  • Prof. Ģirts Dimdiņš – Deputy Chair of the Committee
  • Expert Inese Jurkovska – Secretary of the Committee
  • Prof. Raivis Bičevskis; Prof. Ralfs Kokins; Prof. Zaiga Krišjāne; Senior Researcher Manuel Hoakins Fernandess-Gonsaless; Lecturer Laila Cekule; Jānis Uiska (personal data protection specialist); Ginta Eglīte (personal data protection specialist); Lauris Liepa (representative of the Latvian Council of Sworn Advocates); Lāsma Dilba (representative of the State Data Inspectorate)

Documents: