About

The Committee's role, mandate and authority

The Montreal Heart Institute has a three-fold mission of care, teaching and research.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Research Ethics and New Technology Development Committee (CÉRDNT) is responsible for evaluating and approving all research conducted with human subjects, human tissue, organic fluids or cadavers. It ensures adherence to ethical rules and sees to it that human subjects who agree to participate in research projects are protected in terms of their rights, safety and well-being. Its mandate is also to examine and review the ethical aspects of new technologies in their human applications. The Committee has the authority to suspend or stop a research project when it deems necessary.

The Committee is also responsible for approving and monitoring databases created for research purposes and for protecting people who assist in the Institute's research activities.

The CÉRDNT is also responsible for ensuring that researchers and all members of research teams show integrity and intellectual honesty in their research activities.

Finally, the Committee is responsible for promoting research ethics training among both CÉRDNT members and research teams.

The Committee's statutes and bylaws help advance quality research based on well-defined rules.