Ethics Accelerator

A resource for investigating ethical research questions across the University

Ethics Accelerator provides a Consultation Service for normative, conceptual, and empirical research on ethical issues. This includes:

  • Sharing practices and experiences that enhance understanding of complex ethical dilemmas

  • Supporting integration of research on ethical issues in basic, translational, and clinical research in biomedicine

  • Identifying multi-disciplinary expertise to bear on ethical questions and social policy

  • Building collaborative partnerships and ethics capacity across campus and across communities

Please click here to request a consultation.

Ethics Accelerator FAQs

Who can request an Ethics Accelerator Consultation?

The Ethics Accelerator Consultation Service is available to members of the Columbia University community.

Are Ethics Accelerator Research Consultations Confidential?

Yes, consultations are confidential and details of consultations remain confidential. With permission of the consultee, de-identified descriptions of cases may be requested for educational purposes.

What are the Scope and Limitations of the. Ethics Accelerator?

Requests that fall under the direct regulation and/or recommendation of another institutional body (such as the FDA, IRB, University Conflict of Interest Committee or Ombudsman offices) will be referred to the appropriate  group  for  further  consideration.

For example, the Ethics Accelerator is not intended to address IRB questions or adjudicate cases of scientific misconduct.

What are the elements of the Ethics Accelerator Consultation Service?

The Ethics Accelerator Consultation Service is designed to be an evidence-based, iterative process.

  • An initial assessment of the first request will lead to the assignment of an advisor.
  • The advisor will bring together the required expertise to make recommendations, provide a preliminary report, a follow-up review, and a final report.
  • While consultations will remain confidential, each de-identified final report will be included in an outcomes database.
  • Consultations of particular interest to the ethics community may be written up as case studies (with the initial requestor and the advisory team) for further dissemination by publishing or presentation.