Ethics Review Committees

All research involving human participants or personal data conducted in FHML/ Maastricht UMC+ should be submitted for ethics review. This also applies to research involving animal experiments. For more information on research ethics you can consult the research code of Maastricht UMC+.

Medical Ethics Review Committee (METC)

Ethical review is obligatory by law for all research that is subject to the WMO. The METC acts as an accredited independent Ethics Committee for review and approval of all scientific research with human participants subject to the WMO. Prior to the start of each WMO complicit research project performed at Maastricht UMC+, the Executive Board of Maastricht UMC+ requires the METC to review and approve the project.
For more information on the involvement and tasks of the METC during the preparation, execution and closure of scientific research with human participants, please consult the website of the METC.

Non-WMO research

For non-WMO research with patients from the academic hospital, it is obliged by the Executive Board of Maastricht UMC+ to submit your research plan to the METC for judgement. Researchers undertaking work with human participants that falls outside the scope of the WMO and does not include patients from the academic hospital, are able to submit their research proposal to the ‘FHML-REC’ - the FHML Research Ethics Committee for ethics review.
For questions concerning non-WMO research, the METC or FHML-REC can be contacted.

Animal Ethics Committee

Maastricht UMC+ and UM are aware of the ethical objections regarding experimentation on animals and only conducts animal experiments when the scientific necessity for this research has been established by an independent animal experiments committee (Dier Experiment Commissie, DEC, in Dutch). Respectful treatment of animals, reduction of the number of animals used and refinement of the applied methods to minimize animal suffering (collectively known as the 3Rs – replacement, reduction and refinement) serve as points of departure in all the research.
For more information on the involvement and tasks of the DEC please consult the website of the DEC

Applications to the FHML-REC

Applications to the FHML-REC should be made using the following forms (which contain details of how to submit the forms):

Return the completed forms to fhml-rec@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Any question should be addressed to fhml-rec@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Meetings
The FHML-REC meets once a month, with two alternating panels. Once submitted, an application is reviewed by the next available panel. The response from the panel can be expected within 10 working days from the date of the meeting.

Deadline for submitting applications(18.00CET)FHML-REC meeting
November 25, 2024December 05, 2024
January 06, 2025January 16, 2025
January 27, 2025February 06, 2025
March 02, 2025March 12, 2025
March 17, 2025March 27, 2025
March 24, 2025April 03, 2025
May 04, 2025May 14, 2025
June 01, 2025June 11, 2025
June 29, 2025July 09, 2025
Summer break - The FHML-REC will not meet in August
September 01, 2025September 11, 2025
September 29, 2025October 09, 2025
October 26, 2025November 05, 2025
November 24, 2025December 04, 2025


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