Juan Manuel Galcerán Sáez, new Chair of the CSIC Ethics Committee

5 de September de 2025

• This Committee issues recommendations on ethical and deontological principles related to research activity.

Researcher Juan Manuel Galcerán Sáez, from the Institute for Neurosciences (IN CSIC-UMH), has been appointed the new Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), an agency under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

(Photo: Juan Manuel Galcerán Sáez at the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC – UMH)

Galcerán Sáez, a Tenured Scientist at the CSIC in the IN, a joint center of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche and the CSIC, is a member of the Cell Plasticity in Development and Disease laboratory. This laboratory studies cell behavior during development and in diseases, particularly those linked to cell motility. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, an extensive background in molecular biology and genetics, as well as experience in using various animal models and developing new alternative methodologies in research. Since the creation of the Animal Welfare Body (OEBA) at the IN CSIC-UMH, Galcerán has been an active member of this committee, further strengthening his connection with the ethical and welfare aspects of scientific research.

“I take on this role with great enthusiasm,” said the new Chair. “I am joining a highly qualified multidisciplinary team with extensive experience, and I will put my knowledge at the service of the CSIC to contribute to the promotion of ethical, responsible, and excellent research”.

Galcerán succeeds philosopher Txetxu Ausín, from the Institute of Philosophy (IF-CSIC), who served as Chair since 2022. The CSIC thanks the outgoing team for their years of service and welcomes the new leadership.

New members of the Committee

The CSIC Ethics Committee is composed of a diverse group of members, some external to the CSIC, with backgrounds ranging from medicine, philosophy, biology, chemistry, and physics to artificial intelligence.

Carme Torras Genís, Research Professor at the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (IRI), serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee. Recently appointed new members include:

Lucía Llanos Jiménez, MD, Clinical Pharmacologist, member of the Technical Secretariat of the Ethics Committee for Research at Fundación Jiménez Díaz, and member of the Scientific Integrity Committee of the same Foundation’s Health Research Institute.

Mónica Méndez Lago, PhD in Political and Social Sciences, Associate Professor in Political Science and Public Administration (currently on leave), and Technical Advisor in the Research Department of the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS).

Pompeu Casanovas Romeu, PhD in Philosophy and Legal Anthropology, Research Professor in AI, Law, and Ethics at the IIIA-CSIC, associate researcher at the Institute of Law and Technology (UAB), Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University Law School (Melbourne, Australia), and member of the university’s AI Ethics Committee.

Other members of the Committee include: Laura Barrios Álvarez (Deputy General Secretariat of IT at CSIC); María José Camarasa Rius (Research Professor at the Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, IQM); José Vicente García Ramos (Research Professor at the Institute of Structure of Matter, IEM); Rodolfo Gutiérrez Palacios (Professor at the University of Oviedo); José Javier Lucas Lozano (Research Professor at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center, CBM); and Ananda Pascual Ascaso (Research Scientist at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA).

The CSIC Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee is a permanent consultative body that supports the Presidency and Governing Board of the CSIC. Its mission is to reflect, issue reports, and make recommendations on ethical and deontological principles related to research activity. It also evaluates the ethical aspects of the research carried out within the CSIC framework, playing a key role in monitoring and safeguarding the guarantees required for the responsible conduct of scientific research.

The Committee has a Bioethics Subcommittee, which reviews the appropriateness of practices and procedures in the Life Sciences, and a Conflicts Subcommittee, which addresses disputes raised by CSIC staff in the exercise of their research activity, as well as deviations from good scientific practices. It also includes a Research Ethics Department.

(Press release from CSIC in the attached file)

Source: CSIC (comunicacion@csic.es)