New draft code for research involving humans proved a major challenge.

A new draft code of conduct for research involving humans aims to bring a fresh vision to the ethics field. The code is a joint endeavour of the Medical Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and supersedes all three agencies' earlier ethics statements. Once the draft code is revised and approved, likely by the end of the year, investigators will have a more refined understanding of the ethical limits of acceptable research.