Research Ethics
Standards for research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data.
Human participants
Studies involving human participants must state the approving Institutional Review Board or Research Ethics Committee, and confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Vulnerable populations
Additional safeguards and explicit justification are required for research involving children, patients, or other populations less able to give full informed consent.
Animal research
Studies involving animals must confirm compliance with relevant institutional and national guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals in research.
Ethical oversight of misconduct
Suspected breaches of research ethics are investigated in line with COPE's guidance, and may result in correction, retraction, or referral to the authors' institution.