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Press Release
PRIM&R Annual Conference Advances Ethical Standards and Public Trust in Scientific Research
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 7, 2025
BALTIMORE – Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) is holding its 2025 Annual Conference (PRIMR25) in Baltimore this week, bringing together hundreds of experts to explore ethical challenges and innovations in scientific research and research oversight. The three-day event includes two days of PRIMR25 programming and one day dedicated to social, behavioral, and educational research.
PRIM&R Executive Director Ivy R. Tillman, EdD, CIP delivered the opening remarks this morning, outlining some of the themes of the annual conference. “We remain firm in our commitment to advancing the highest ethical standards in research,” Dr. Tillman said. “We know that ethical oversight is not a barrier to discovery. Instead, it’s the very foundation that makes discovery meaningful, reliable, and trustworthy. Each of these efforts reflects our steadfast belief that ethical research oversight is not a static responsibility, but an evolving practice.”
“Our work is far from finished. But, together, we are making real progress,” Dr. Tillman said.
PRIMR25, held at the Baltimore Convention Center, features more than 200 speakers and over 100 sessions covering topics in human subjects protections, animal care and use, institutional leadership, and research oversight. The national nonprofit’s annual conference also includes sessions on the use of AI in research oversight, including “Collaborative Project on Artificial Intelligence Regulatory and Ethical Review: Insights, Challenges, and Practical Tools” and “Leveraging AI and Emerging Digital Technologies in Risk Management for Human Health Research.”
The opening keynote, "Trust and Equity in the Age of Health-AI,” was delivered this morning by Vardit Ravitsky, PhD, who serves as president and CEO of The Hastings Center for Bioethics. The closing keynote, “Where Do We Stand? Who Do We Stand With? What Do We Stand For,” will be delivered by Josh Fessel, MD, PhD on Saturday.
This year, PRIM&R partnered with the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics in Baltimore to develop a specialized ethics track featuring an advanced series of sessions designed to deepen expertise and wrestle with complex, emerging, or unresolved issues. This collaboration underscores how PRIM&R is working to shape the future of research ethics, not just reinforce current standards.
PRIMR25 and SBER25 are designed to educate and connect those involved in research and research oversight. PRIM&R’s annual conference supports the field in thinking holistically about the research enterprise and achieving shared goals of advancing ethical, responsible, and high-quality research.
The annual conference began on November 6 and will conclude on November 8.
BALTIMORE – Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) is holding its 2025 Annual Conference (PRIMR25) in Baltimore this week, bringing together hundreds of experts to explore ethical challenges and innovations in scientific research and research oversight. The three-day event includes two days of PRIMR25 programming and one day dedicated to social, behavioral, and educational research.
PRIM&R Executive Director Ivy R. Tillman, EdD, CIP delivered the opening remarks this morning, outlining some of the themes of the annual conference. “We remain firm in our commitment to advancing the highest ethical standards in research,” Dr. Tillman said. “We know that ethical oversight is not a barrier to discovery. Instead, it’s the very foundation that makes discovery meaningful, reliable, and trustworthy. Each of these efforts reflects our steadfast belief that ethical research oversight is not a static responsibility, but an evolving practice.”
“Our work is far from finished. But, together, we are making real progress,” Dr. Tillman said.
PRIMR25, held at the Baltimore Convention Center, features more than 200 speakers and over 100 sessions covering topics in human subjects protections, animal care and use, institutional leadership, and research oversight. The national nonprofit’s annual conference also includes sessions on the use of AI in research oversight, including “Collaborative Project on Artificial Intelligence Regulatory and Ethical Review: Insights, Challenges, and Practical Tools” and “Leveraging AI and Emerging Digital Technologies in Risk Management for Human Health Research.”
The opening keynote, "Trust and Equity in the Age of Health-AI,” was delivered this morning by Vardit Ravitsky, PhD, who serves as president and CEO of The Hastings Center for Bioethics. The closing keynote, “Where Do We Stand? Who Do We Stand With? What Do We Stand For,” will be delivered by Josh Fessel, MD, PhD on Saturday.
This year, PRIM&R partnered with the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics in Baltimore to develop a specialized ethics track featuring an advanced series of sessions designed to deepen expertise and wrestle with complex, emerging, or unresolved issues. This collaboration underscores how PRIM&R is working to shape the future of research ethics, not just reinforce current standards.
PRIMR25 and SBER25 are designed to educate and connect those involved in research and research oversight. PRIM&R’s annual conference supports the field in thinking holistically about the research enterprise and achieving shared goals of advancing ethical, responsible, and high-quality research.
The annual conference began on November 6 and will conclude on November 8.
About PRIM&R
Since 1974, PRIM&R has advanced the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research. We accomplish this mission through education, membership services, professional certification, public policy initiatives, and community building. PRIM&R is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Find out more at www.primr.org
Media Contact:
Daniel McLean
Public Engagement Manager
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R)
Direct: 617-303-1877
dmclean@primr.org
www.primr.org