On January 28th, I had the opportunity to attend a seminar on Ethics, led by David Font. It was very interesting to attend and learn about all the necessary steps to obtain data while ensuring compliance with all the required protection measures.

In the meeting, key topics regarding the role of the Ethics Committee were discussed. The necessary steps to obtain its approval were explained, including the evaluation of ethical protocols in doctoral theses and research projects, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the application of principles such as informed consent.

David Font also emphasized the importance of anonymization and data security. It was clarified that researchers must submit their projects to the Ethics Committee before starting data collection and that any subsequent changes to the research protocol must be reported for re-evaluation.

The feasibility of Data Transfer Agreements (DTA) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) between institutions and countries when necessary was also discussed. Additionally, Carlos Torres’ inquiry about submitting a report to the UOC Ethics Committee after obtaining CEIM approval was addressed, with an agreement that he would send an email to clarify his specific case. Finally, it was noted that the infographic and presentation will be available on the Ethics Committee’s web space.

This summary was made possible thanks to the AI tool Read (https://app.read.ai/), which is a very useful resource for seminars and online meetings. It allows participants to stay focused without having to take notes and risk missing important explanations.

Although this summary was generated by AI, I would like to add my personal opinion about the seminar. While it was very interesting to attend, in my case, I did not have to collect data myself, as it was already provided to me. However, I did have to request permission from the relevant authorities. I had to submit a formal application and seek the intervention of my supervisors, but since the Desk-Cohort project data is closely linked to the UOC, obtaining it was easier. Nevertheless, the process took a long time because the data was being processed to facilitate analysis.

From October 11th to 13th (2024), I attended the ADOS-2 Clinical Accreditation Course, led by Amalia Hervás and organized by IGAIN.

This  online course was crucial for understanding the multimodal component of diagnostic evaluation in autism, as it provided thorough training on the ADOS-2 tool. ADOS-2 not only addressed the linguistic aspects of communication but also incorporated non-verbal cues and interactions, offering a comprehensive approach to assessment.

Gaining accreditation in this assessment protocol was essential for accurately analyzing both verbal and non-verbal behaviors, which are key in the diagnostic process for autism. Additionally, this training was highly valuable for the design of a new dynamic assessment of language tool that takes into account the specific characteristics of the autistic population, ensuring a more tailored and effective evaluation approach.