Research Ethics Consultation Service

The RECS supports Pitt researchers and scholars by helping them think through ethical and conceptual issues arising in their research. It complements compliance-focused activities by assisting in identifying and addressing ethical issues. However, the RECS is not a replacement for oversight committees or regulatory bodies, and it does not substitute for reporting concerns to the appropriate University offices. The RECS serves the entire Pitt research ecosystem, including trainees, investigators, scholars, research administrators, and members of regulatory bodies. Request a consultation below.

People

RECS Director
	Jonathan Fuller, PhD, MD Assistant Professor of History and Philosophy of Science
Consultants
	Michael Deem, PhD  Associate Professor of Bioethics and Human Genetics Clinical, genetic/genomic, pediatric, and public health research
	Brenda Diergaarde, PhD Associate Professor of Human Genetics Research involving human subjects (observational and clinical trials) and/or biological samples, epidemiology, basic/laboratory science (including research involving nonhuman animals
	Jonathan Fuller, PhD, MD Assistant Professor of History and Philosophy of Science Clinical trials and communicating results; death, disorders of consciousness, and dementia research; medical research and medical education research; research during pandemics or involving pandemic-potential pathogens
	Bridget Keown, PhD   Lecturer in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Bias in research, archival research, oral history research
	Paula Leslie, PhD, MA Consultant Scholar  Health services, qualitative, survey, behavioral, and basic science research
	Judith Navratil, MA Coordinator, The Pittsburgh Study, Department of Pediatrics Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Pediatric, community-engaged, behavioral, or health services research; research with vulnerable subjects or prisoners; informed consent for research; and complex issues in IRB protocols
	Lisa Nelson, PhD, JD Associate Professor Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Research involving data privacy or social media, or research on those topics
	Lisa S. Parker, PhD Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Professor of Bioethics Genetic/genomic research, mental health research, neuroengineering research, precision medicine
	Melissa Ratajeski, MLIS, AHIP, RLAT   Assistant Director for Data and Publishing Services, Health Sciences Library System Data management and sharing, nonhuman animal welfare
	Jennifer Burgher Seaman, PhD Assistant Professor of Acute & Tertiary Care, School of Nursing Behavioral, critical care, qualitative, and survey research, and clinical trials
	Valerie Swigart, PhD, RN, CRNP Professor Emeritus of Health Promotion & Development, School of Nursing Qualitative and mixed method research
	Ritu Thamman, MD Clinical Instructor in Medicine Research relating to COVID-19 and/or cardiovascular diseases, and outcome trials
	Mark Wicclair, PhD Center for Bioethics & Health Law Research involving the recently deceased
	Jamie Zelazny, PhD, MPH, RN Assistant Professor of Health & Community Systems, School of Nursing Psychiatric/mental health (pediatric and adult), epidemiology, survey, and behavioral research; suicide, social media, eHealth, and clinical trials

Request a Consultation

To request a consultation, click here.