Ethical Compliance

We support you in ensuring ethical standards in your research – with personalized guidance and practical assistance at every stage of your project. In addition, FOMA serves as the Scientific Secretariat (Executive Office) of the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Human Sciences.

Contact us for support in conducting your research ethically. Visit our intranet to discover more key resources!

Support with ethics committee procedures

  • We create an account for you to access the Ethics Portal of the Faculty of Human Sciences. Please request this via ethik.humdek@unibe.ch (processing time approx. 3 days).
  • We guide you through the ethics review process at our faculty, including the use of the Ethics Portal.
  • We inform you about the responsibilities of different ethics committees – e.g. the Faculty Ethics Commission, the Cantonal Ethics Committee (KEK), as well as national and international review boards. Please note: a binding clarification of responsibility can only be issued by the KEK.
  • We advise you on compliance with ethical standards in complex projects – such as multicenter studies, international collaborations, or research involving vulnerable groups.

Ethics monitoring

  • We oversee your clinical studies during implementation and assist you in ensuring compliance with ethical standards in accordance with the KEK regulations and the Swiss Federal Human Research Act.

Export Control & Dual Use

  • If you have questions regarding export control and dual use – for instance, in the context of international research collaborations – you can also reach out to FOMA. We will gladly direct you to the appropriate contact point at the University of Bern.