CACEDIT-URL

Ramon Llull University has a Committee for Ensuring Ethical Conduct in Research and Knowledge Transfer (CACEDIT) which allows all its centres to consult, seek advice and opinion on the research projects they wish to pursue

The entry into force of Royal Decree 905/2025 establishes the creation and regulation of the Committee for Ensuring Ethical Conduct in Research and Knowledge Transfer by Teaching and Research Staff (CACEDIT-URL).

With its establishment, CACEDIT-URL replaces the former Research Ethics Committee of Ramon Llull University (CER-URL) and assumes the responsibilities for integrity and ethical conduct arising from the new legal mandate, in addition to the traditional functions of ethical evaluation of projects.

The purpose of the new body is to ensure appropriate ethical conduct in the conduct of research and knowledge transfer by the university’s teaching and research staff (PDI).

The URL is committed to ensuring that the university’s research staff work in accordance with ethical standards to guarantee the integrity of their research, in line with the provisions of the CACEDIT-URL Regulations and the principles and values of the Code for Research Integrity.

CACEDIT-URL carries out its functions with full transparency and, in doing so, may also take into account other national and/or international standards and reference documents on the subject. Its functions include drawing up and approving reports, proposals, recommendations and other related documents.

The procedure for research ethics approval

Fill in the preliminary questionnaire to determine whether the project requires ethical review.
Complete the application form for an ethical review and prepare the relevant documents for the ethical review *
Submit the application and supporting documentation to the CACEDIT-URL secretariat: rbabington@rectorat.url.edu

* Relevant documents for the application for an ethical review:
- Detailed project proposal.
- If human participants are to be involved in the study, an information sheet and informed consent form must be drawn up (see the guide on preparing these documents).
- In the case of animal experimentation, approval from an Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (CEEA) or equivalent body.
- If the project involves the processing of sensitive personal data that poses a significant risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms, a Data Protection Impact Assessment (AIPD) must be prepared.
- Data management plan (see template). Find out more about open science and data management here.

PROJECT REVIEW

Once all the documentation has been received, the chair and the technical secretary of CACEDIT-URL will review the project and determine whether any initial clarification or amendments are required.

Projects will be reviewed by all members of CACEDIT-URL at ordinary meetings, which take place once a term (2026–2027 academic year calendar: 18 September 2026, 14 December 2026, 2 March 2027 and 7 June 2027).

For duly justified reasons, academic staff may request an extraordinary meeting of CACEDIT-URL to assess a project.

COMPOSITION OF CACEDIT-URL

With regard to its composition, CACEDIT-URL comprises a minimum of ten members, ensuring the principle of gender balance. The chair of CACEDIT-URL will be held by the director of the Ethos-URL Chair, and the vice-chair will be held by the ethics expert representing the Borja Institute of Bioethics-URL, who will stand in for the chair in their absence. In addition, there will be a representative from the URL’s affiliated institutions, an expert in artificial intelligence and ICT, the URL’s data protection officer, and a representative of PhD students.

President: Dr. Francesc Torralba Rosselló, Director of Ethos-URL Chair
Vice president: Dr. David Lorenzo Izquierdo, Director of Borja Institute of Bioethics-URL