[The tasks of the Hungarian Medical Research Council, its function in the development of the Hungarian research...

The Medical Research Council (ETT) is the legal successor of the National Public Health Council, founded in 1868. It is an advisory body of health government. It consists of professionals and has become an organization operating committee. Currently, the ethical tasks of the Council are the most important, the research ethics committees with national competence, performing various tasks, such as administering TUKEB (Scientific and Research Ethical Committee), KFEB (Clinical Pharmacological Ethical Committee), HRB (Human Reproduction Committee), REKEBET (Board of Chairmen of Regional Research Ethical Committees), and OEB (National Ethics Committee). Two codes: the Code of Bioethics published by the ETT in its third edition in 2022, and the Code of Medical Ethics also created by the ETT in 2023, contain the systems of criteria for the decisions of research ethics committees and medical ethics boards, respectively. In addition, the ETT is the operator of the ISZT (Forensic Expert Board working in the health area). The paper mainly presents the specifics of scientific clinical research in medicine, its distinguishing features from other scientific fields, the international aspects of research ethics public administration and its historical development, as well as the history of research ethical committees in Hungary. The ETT represents the internationally accepted professional-ethical values and norms; their basis is the interest and safety of patients. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(16): 599–605.