Joint CT-College – BAREC symposium 2026
We are delighted to invite you to our next joint CT-College – BAREC symposium on 28 March 2026.
The role of Ethics in research
Ethics review at a time of regulatory change
9:00 – 9:30: Welcome coffee
9:30 – 9:50: Introduction by Pieter Moons (President BAREC Board) and introduction by Lucas Van Bortel (Chair CT College Board)
9:50 – 10:10: Important role of the Ethics Committee in research
Speaker: Lucas Van Bortel (Chair CT College Board)
10:10 – 11:00: The methodological assessment of a research project: an essential part of the ethical review
Speaker: Marie-Laurence Lambert (BAREC Board member)
11:00 – 11:20: Coffee break
11:20 – 11:45: Presentation on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and what is relevant for the EC members
Speaker: Christel Vansteenkiste (BAREC founder and honorary BAREC Board member)
11:45 – 12:45: Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) assist Ethics Committees? Screening Tools, Benefits and Risks
Speaker: Mikkel Lindskov Sachs (Chief Advisor National center for Etik Denemarken)
12:45 – 13:25: Lunch Break
13:25 – 13:30: 5’ switch
13:30 – 15:45: Parallel sessions
The afternoon session will be divided into parallel sessions, allowing everyone to choose the one that best aligns with their information needs (either focusing on the Law of May 7, 2004, or on the Law of May 7, 2017).
| 13:30 – 14:30 | 13:30 – 14:30 |
| Final analyses on how Research Ethics Committees (RECs) have evaluated CTR Trials (2017-2024), Numbers, Evolutions, and Recommendations + Reflections presentation Pharma.be Symposium 09/12/2023 Speaker: Audrey Van Scharen (BAREC Board member) + Pharma.be | Ethics Review Beyond Clinical Trials: Interpreting the Belgian Act of 7 May 2004 in Practice Secondary Use of Human Biological Material and Data: Ethical review challenges around biobanks, GDPR and traceability |
| 5’ switch | 5’ switch |
| 14:35 – 14:50 | 14:35 – 14:50 |
| Regulatory Change Ahead: Key Amendments under the Biotech Act and the Simplification of MDR and IVDR Speaker: Audrey Van Scharen | Master’s Theses and Registries: grey zones in ethics review and the role of legal Ethics Committees |
| 5’ switch | 5’ switch |
| 14:55 – 15:25 | 14:55 – 15:50 |
| Ethical dilemma: post-trial access and possibilities (extension studies, CU) Speakers: Ruth Storme and Eker Hasan (BAREC Board members) | Round Table Discussion with stakeholder representatives and policymakers, including those from the cabinet of Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (to be confirmed), the CT College Board, the BAREC Board,… |
| 15:25 – 15:50 Are we better treated in clinical trials? Speaker: Didier Verhoeven (CT College Board BAREC) |
15:50 – 15:55: 10’ switch
15:55 – 16:15: Closing remarks and debriefing of both parallel sessions
Participation fees
- Commercial organisations: €150 per person
- Academic institutions: €75 per person
- BAREC members: free of charge