ClimAIr has released a new ethics report detailing the administrative and ethical authorisations its clinical centres need before starting any clinical or experimental work within the project.
The report’s main purpose is to check that every participating clinical setting fulfils the ethical and administrative conditions for taking part in ClimAIr. In doing so, it lays the groundwork for research into the links between environment and health using advanced data-driven methods, without compromising privacy, safety, fairness or human dignity.
A shared framework across countries
To ensure consistent practice among its clinical partners, the project has turned recognised international and European principles into a common implementation framework. It builds on standards in research integrity, biomedical ethics, data protection and trustworthy AI, and gives special weight to:
- informed consent and independent ethical review
- responsible handling of sensitive health data
- data minimisation and pseudonymisation
- transparency and accountability
The framework also takes into account that research involving biological materials and cross-border collaboration must comply with both common European principles and national requirements.
Governance and oversight
ClimAIr’s Ethical Advisory Board acts as a forum to examine ethics-sensitive matters, harmonise practices between partners and advise when legal or institutional requirements differ. As a minimum standard, all clinical partners must obtain participants’ informed consent and have their study protocol approved by an independent ethics body or a committee accredited by a competent public authority.
According to the report, the participating clinical centres fulfilled this requirement at the time of reporting. It also describes how the consortium handled an identified compliance issue through its governance procedures, leaving out activities that did not meet the agreed independent-review standard, a step that protects participants, partners and the reliability of future results.
Overall, the report provides a solid ethical and legal foundation for ClimAIr’s clinical activities, supporting the project’s goal of producing reliable, socially responsible AI-supported evidence on air quality and respiratory health.