University Research Integrity Office

The University Research Integrity Office (URIO) is an office established in 2015 under the Office of the Assistant Vice President For Research, Creative Work, and Innovation, Higher Education. The URIO has the following mandates:

1. Develop University policies and Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) pertaining to research ethics and institutional review;
2. Ensure that University research ethics policies and procedures are consistent with national and international standards;
3. Disseminate information and build capacity in the University on the conduct of ethical research and ethics review by providing seminars / workshops, materials and other resources; and engaging the University units in consultation meetings and other activities;
4. Provide administrative support to the University Research Ethics Committee and serve as its Secretariat.

University Research Ethics Committee

The Ateneo de Manila University Research Ethics Committee (AdMUREC or UREC) is mandated to review and monitor research that involves human participants, to ensure that such research is conducted in accordance with institutional, national, and international ethics principles and guidelines, including:

• scientific soundness
• non-maleficence and beneficence
• respect for persons
• justice

The UREC is Level-2 accredited by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). Level 2-accredited research ethics committees possess the requisite functional structure and demonstrate the capacity to review all types of research except clinical trials required for FDA registration of new drugs.

The UREC is a multidisciplinary and multisectoral body that reviews and monitors the research of faculty, staff, students, and other researchers who conduct their investigation under the auspices of Ateneo de Manila University. It is composed of two panels: the Main Panel and the School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) Panel. It also includes lay and non-Ateneo-affiliated representatives.

The establishment of the UREC is in accordance with the directives of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), particularly the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB); the DOST, DOH, CHED, UPM Joint Memorandum Order 2012-001 (“Requirement for Ethical Review of Health Research Involving Human Participants”); and the DOST-PCHRD, DOH, CHED, UPM-NIH Administrative Order 001-2013 (“Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10532 – or the Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013”).

The composition, functions, and processes of the UREC are aligned with the National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research (2017), the World Health Organization (WHO) Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review (2011), the Belmont Report (1979), and the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (1964), among other international guidelines.

The review and decision-making process of the UREC is independent of other offices, units, and administrative officials in the University. This means that the decisions of the UREC with respect to its reviews of research protocols are not subject to the influence, regulation, or approval of any other office or official in the institution.

 

Alvin Patrick M. Valentin, PhD

University Research Integrity Office, Director

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Dr. Alvin Patrick M. Valentin is an Assistant Professor at the John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University, where he teaches statistics and research. He obtained his Master of Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University. His research interests include sustainability, green consumption, and proenvironmental behavior. Prior to joining the University Research Integrity Office, he was a member of the University Research Ethics Committee from 2017-2023 and 2024.

Marc P. Gellynck, MD

University Research Ethics Committee, Chair

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Dr. Marc P. Gellynck is a Medical Doctor who was first exposed to Biomedical and Research Ethics as a student of Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Since 2008, he has been active in the academic field as an instructor in the Biology Department at Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned his Bachelor's in Biology and is currently pursuing his PhD.

Eduardo Ezekiel S. Denzon, PhD

University Research Ethics Committee, Vice-Chair

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Dr. Eduardo Ezekiel S. Denzon is a faculty of the Quantitative Methods and Information Technology (QMIT) Department of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM). His teaching areas are Business Statistics, Systems Thinking & Dynamics, and Operations Management. He is also often involved as a mentor for the Capstone Project of the BS Management Engineering Program.

Staff Members