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Research Integrity and Ethics

 

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At ACTRI, research ethics is the cornerstone of all our endeavors. Upholding the highest ethical standards ensures the integrity, safety, and efficiency of our research while fostering trust among participants, researchers, and institutions. Our goal is to address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of cutting-edge research, including decentralized trials, digital health, and AI. 

Through innovative tools, community-engaged Institutional Review Board (IRB) models, and comprehensive support services, we aim to transform regulatory submissions and enhance research ethics to create a safer, more efficient research environment. 

ReCODE Health: Supporting Ethical Digital Health Research

ReCODE Health empowers researchers, developers, participants, and institutions to conduct ethical digital health research. By increasing awareness of ethical principles and practices from the earliest stages of technology design to the deployment of digital health research, ReCODE Health bridges the gap between innovation and ethical accountability through: 
  • Awareness: Promoting ethical principles from concept to practice in digital health research. 
  • Resources: Providing tools, consultations, and instructional modules to guide ethical research practices. 
  • Community Engagement: Supporting researchers through collaborative platforms and educational initiatives. 


Learn more about ReCODE Health

Research and Tools

Digital Health Framework and Checklist (DHC) 

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The Digital Health Framework was developed with a group of subject matter experts and evaluated by digital health researchers.
The resulting framework consists of four intersecting domains including:
  • 1- access and usability,
  • 2- risks and benefits,
  • 3- privacy, and
  • 4- data management
These domains were identified as the key factors critical to decision-making. Ethical principles of respect for the person, beneficence, justice (Belmont Report) and respect for law and public interest (Menlo Report) form its core.
 
Digital Health Checklist for Researchers
The DHC was developed to fill a gap in guidance for digital health researchers. However, it can be useful to technology developers, ethics boards, clinical personnel, and people considering participation in a digital health study. The checklist was developed in consultation with researchers affiliated with the Society for Behavioral Medicine interested in creating safe and responsible digital health research.
We thank those who have contributed and welcome suggestions for improvement.
To provide comments, please complete this short survey.


 Access the digital health checklist


To cite the checklist, please use:
Nebeker, C., Ellis, R.B., Torous, J. (2019). Digital Health Checklist for Researchers (DHC_R) Accessed on [Date] from ReCODE Health https://recode.health/tools/

Related publications:
Nebeker, C., Bartlett Ellis, R. and Torous, J. (2019) Development of a Decision-making Checklist Tool to Support Technology Selection in Digital Health Research, Translational Behavioral Medicine ibz074, https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz074

Nebeker, C., Torous, J., Bartlett Ellis, R. (2019). Building the case for actionable ethics in digital health research supported by artificial intelligence. BMC Medicine, 17(1), 137; http//:DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1377-7 

ReCODE.Health tools are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License. 2018 – 2022.

Education and Training

Led by Camille Nebeker, PhD, our Research Integrity and Ethics team offers: 

  • Education: Training on ethical, legal, and societal implications of research. 
  • Consultation: Expert advice on issues like consent, risk mitigation, data management, and the return of research results to participants. 
  • Conflict Resolution: Support with authorship disputes, collaboration challenges, mentor/mentee expectations, and laboratory management. 

Through a “learning community” for researchers in digital health, ACTRI is fostering innovation while maintaining scientific integrity.

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CORE Platform: A Global Resource for Digital Health Ethics

The CORE Platform is a global resource designed to support researchers, developers, participants, and institutions in conducting ethical digital health research. With over 700 members, the platform fosters collaboration and resource-sharing to advance the field.  
 
Features of the CORE Platform: 

  • Network Building: Connect with a global community of digital health researchers and stakeholders.  
  • Resource Library: Access and contribute to a growing collection of tools, educational materials, and best practices.  
  • Discussions and Q&A Forum: Engage in meaningful conversations, share challenges, and seek solutions from fellow members. 
     

Get Involved: 

By participating in the CORE Platform, you can help shape the future of ethical digital health research. Contribute resources, join discussions, and collaborate with a diverse community to drive innovation with integrity. 

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