ETHICS
COMMITTEE
ETHICS
COMMITTEE
In accordance with Regulation No. 1043/2022 of 27 October, which approves the Regulation of the Ethics Council and the Ethics Committees at ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, it is the responsibility of the Ethics Committee of DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte to issue opinions and recommendations, within the scope of the scientific areas of this Research Unit, on the research conducted, including on doctoral projects within the doctoral programmes under its responsibility (cf. Art. 6(2) and Art. 11 of the Regulation).
This Committee will not evaluate projects/studies submitted by 1st or 2nd cycle students. These requests must be submitted to the Ethics Committee of the Iscte - School of Social Sciences.
The Ethics Committee was established by order of the Director of DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte, of 9 January 2026, and is composed of:
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Professor Maria Eduarda Gonçalves (President)
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Professor Helena Lopes
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Professor José Luís Saldanha
SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS FOR ETHICAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL
Before submitting an application for ethical review to the Ethics Committee, the researcher must consider, in particular, whether the research project or activity involves participants, namely vulnerable populations, whether it implies the processing of personal data, or any other element that may raise ethical issues.
If it is determined that submission to the Ethics Committee is necessary, the researcher must proceed to complete the respective form (see link below). In the case of a doctoral project, the submission must be prepared with the support of the supervisor, and both the form and the supporting materials for the submission (e.g., research protocols, informed consent forms, interview guides, etc.) must be previously reviewed, corrected, and validated by the supervisor, ensuring the quality and compliance of the documentation.
Submission is advisable, although not binding (cf. Art. 11 of Regulation No. 1043/2022).
The deadline for issuing opinions is up to 45 days from the date of receipt of properly completed applications.
The Ethics Committee of DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte recommends consulting the following documents:
The documents are also available in Portuguese:
Why submit a study for ethical approval?
Ethical approval is viewed as a fundamental part of the research process: it promotes the protection of participants, as well as researchers, and the integrity of scientific production. Furthermore, it is often a necessary condition required by research funding bodies, and many scientific publications do not accept the publication of study results in the absence of ethical approval.
Which studies are eligible for ethical approval at DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte?
Studies involving data collection with participants are eligible for ethical approval at DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte, whereas studies that do not involve participants, that solely use data already available in public databases, or that have obtained ethical approval from another entity, are exempt from ethical approval by the Ethics Committee.
Who can submit a study for ethical approval at Iscte?
All DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte researchers can submit a study for ethical approval. Students may also make submissions, provided they are guided and supervised by a faculty member or researcher.
How to submit a study for ethical approval at Iscte?
Submission and the respective ethical approval must precede the beginning of the data collection process. Studies submitted a posteriori are not considered eligible for ethical approval. The study plan must be submitted electronically, via the email comissao.etica.dinamiacet@iscte-iul.pt using the forms made available for this purpose: the Submission Form for Ethical Approval and, if the study involves the processing of personal data, the Questionnaire on the Processing of Personal Data (links above). In the latter case, you must also ensure compliance with the current Iscte guidelines on this matter. In addition to the forms, templates for informed consent and debriefing are provided (links above), which you may adapt depending on the characteristics of the study (cf. Guidelines for Researchers on the Protection of Personal Data in Scientific Research Activities at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, link above).
Any questions regarding the submission may be submitted via this e-mail: comissao.etica.dinamiacet@iscte-iul.pt
Does ethical approval at Iscte exempt from other legal/administrative obligations that may arise within the scope of the research?
Obtaining ethical approval from DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte does not exempt or replace compliance with other types of legal/administrative requirements or obligations that may arise in the context of the research by other entities (e.g., internal authorization processes in school or hospital contexts, or within the scope of competitive funding applications).
The Ethics Committee of DINÂMIA'CET-Iscte recommends consulting the following documents:
The documents are also available in Portuguese: