The foundational principles governing all research conducted at Orpheus Labs — last reviewed by the Independent Ethics Committee, November 2024.
Orpheus Labs occupies a unique position at the frontier of scientific inquiry. The nature of our research — involving the study of human consciousness, memory, and identity — demands an ethical framework that goes beyond standard laboratory protocol. This Charter was first adopted in 2011 and is reviewed annually by our Independent Ethics Committee, composed of researchers, legal scholars, bioethicists, and external advisors.
Every member of Orpheus Labs, from principal investigators to administrative staff, is required to read, understand, and sign this Charter as a condition of engagement.
Our research is guided by four non-negotiable principles:
All research must be directed toward genuine human benefit. No program shall be initiated without a clearly articulated positive outcome hypothesis.
The risk of harm — physical, psychological, or existential — to participants must be minimised to the greatest extent possible and must never outweigh anticipated benefits.
The right of individuals to make free, informed decisions about participation in research is absolute. This right persists throughout the duration of any study.
The benefits and burdens of research must be distributed equitably. No population shall be disproportionately subjected to experimental risk.
All research participants must provide written, informed consent prior to any involvement in an Orpheus Labs study. Consent must be:
For research involving cognition, identity, or consciousness modification, an extended consent protocol (OL-CONSENT-EXT) applies, including mandatory independent counselling and a 14-day reflection period.
Orpheus Labs maintains a dedicated Participant Welfare team independent of all research programs. This team is empowered to halt any study at any time if welfare concerns are identified. All participants in active programs have access to a 24-hour welfare line and are assigned a dedicated liaison officer.
Long-term follow-up is mandatory for all studies involving consciousness-level interventions. Minimum follow-up periods are defined by protocol class: Class A (observation) 6 months; Class B (non-invasive intervention) 18 months; Class C (substrate-level research) indefinite.
Certain research directions are explicitly prohibited at Orpheus Labs, regardless of potential scientific value:
Any researcher who believes they have been directed to conduct research in violation of these boundaries is obligated to report this to the Ethics Committee and is protected from any form of retaliation under our Whistleblower Policy (OL-POLICY-WB).
The Orpheus Labs Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) operates entirely separately from the institute's management structure. It is composed of seven members — a majority of whom are external to Orpheus Labs — and meets quarterly. All research programs above Class A require IEC approval before commencement. The IEC has unconditional authority to suspend or terminate any research program.
Orpheus Labs publishes an annual Ethics Report summarising IEC activity, incidents, and the status of all active research protocols. This report is made available to institutional partners and on request to the public. Any serious adverse event involving a research participant is reported to the relevant national authority within 72 hours.
Violations of this Charter by any staff member are subject to disciplinary proceedings up to and including termination and referral to regulatory authorities.