Ethics dumping” or the application of double standards in research involves the export of non-ethical research practices to low‐ and middle‐income countries. This consortium has chosen ambitious and visionary objectives to counteract this practice. We do not want to add another marginal utility output to the existing array of research ethics tools. Whilst clinical trials in low and middle income countries are likely to stay the most ethically sensitive area in global research ethics, a sensitivity which our consortium composition reflects, we want to overcome a restricted mentality which hampers global research ethics from taking the next step: agreeing generic risks of “ethics dumping”, developing a global code of conduct and providing tools that vulnerable populations can use themselves to avoid exploitation. Our clear and measurable objectives are:

  1. Create an international network on global research ethics governance with relevant key actors to identify generic risks of exporting non‐ethical practices.
  2. Identify paradigmatic case studies of exporting non‐ethical practices and report on lessons learnt.
  3. Develop a global code of conduct that can be used by the European Commission and funders world‐wide to foster ethical research and equitable partnerships.
  4. Develop a tool that gives power to vulnerable populations under non‐ideal conditions (fair research contract).
  5. Develop a compliance and ethics follow‐up tool for conditions of high vulnerability.
  6. Develop a strategy for fostering the convergence of global ethical research governance to improve adherence to high ethical standards in the longer term.

 

objectives