At VHIR, we have implemented and continued to develop activities that promote the principles of the RRI culture both internally within our institution and in society.
Citizen participation
With regard to citizen participation, the VHIR ensures patients are central to the IMI2 projects of the Innovative Medicines Initiative - EU Patient-Centric Clinical Trial Platforms (EU-Pearl) and Health outcomes observatory (H20) - and we have had patient associations and other members of society form part of the process of drafting our strategic plans (both for 2016-2020 and also for 2021-2025).
Our entity has also collaborated in the drafting of SARIS monographs for the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Evaluation (AQuAS):
- SARIS 1: How to measure participation in health research by the actors of the system Review of the literature
- SARIS 2: Are we ready for citizen participation in health research?
We have also participated in the Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD) Guide and in the Working Group on Participation in Research #SomRecerca of AQuAS, as well as organising and participating in HealthIO.
Gender equality
On the road toward gender equality, the VHIR has implemented an Equality Plan at the institution, specifically emphasising the following aspects: the inclusion of women in decision-making committees and in management positions the establishment of a work-life balance policy.
Furthermore, we have created the Women in Science programme and we participate in the Ellas Investigan project run by the Women for Africa Foundation, welcoming African women researchers at our research centre.
Among other publications, the VHIR has also participated in preparing SARIS monographs in this area, such as Women’s Advancement and Leadership in the Biomedical Research Centres of Catalonia II: Bringing about change (SARIS 7 monograph by AQuAS).
Scientific education
We actively promote scientific education, with examples like:
- Partnership with the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
- The VHIR Master’s in Biomedical and Translational Research.
- Participation in training programmes for university students and doctors, such as the PhD4MD programme to train doctors in advanced biomedical research.
The VHIR participates in the following scientific dissemination activities:
- Barcelona Science Festival.
- Explora.
- The Youth Mobile Festival (YoMo).
- Escolab (a programme giving ESO (secondary education), sixth form and vocational students access to research centres).
- Regular visits by students, donors, and local people.
- Open days.
Open access
An open access policy is being implemented (open data), with actions including:
- The allocation of an open researcher and contributor ID (ORCID) to each researcher.
- The increasingly active monitoring of FAIR data culture (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) at VHIR.
Ethics
Our institution has long been committed to fostering the principle of ethics. Some of the steps taken in this regard are:
We also have two operational ethics committees:
- The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (CEEA).
- The Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (CEIm).
Furthermore, we have obtained the following certifications:
- ISO 9001 (for the central VHIR facilities).
- Best Clinical Practices (BCP).
In this area, we have promoted the exploratory study of the impact of research at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (AQuAS SARIS 5 monograph).
Governance
VHIR believes in participative governance, made possible thanks to the Internal Scientific Committee and the External Scientific Committee. In the latter, we also benefit from the perspective of patients, through the inclusion of a member of the European Patients Forum.
Furthermore, since 2015, we have a Business Council, where different actors from society participate and assess us on our activity.
Lastly, since 2009, and together with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, we have been awarded the status of Health Research Institute by the Carlos III Health Institute.