Dr Serena Petrocchi appointed to the USI Ethics Committee

The appointment of Dr Serena Petrocchi to the Ethics Committee of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) was ratified on 23 June. The committee is responsible for ensuring that ethical principles are upheld across all scientific research activities.

Dr Serena Petrocchi serves as a Lecturer and Researcher (Maître d'Enseignement et de Recherche) within USI's Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, where she is affiliated with the Institute of Family Medicine. Her teaching and research focus on health promotion, health psychology, decision-making, and psychological well-being. By blending health psychology with consumer behaviour, her work examines how individuals interpret, evaluate, and make choices regarding their health. She investigates decision-making processes, doctor–patient communication, and interpersonal trust, analysing their impact on patient behaviour, treatment adherence, and overall health outcomes.

The Ethics Committee is tasked with raising awareness and encouraging the practical application of ethical principles across the university community. It is responsible for reviewing specific research projects and scientific publications from an ethical perspective, as well as handling alleged cases of plagiarism or other scientific misconduct by academic staff (professors, lecturers, and researchers). The Ethics Committee is currently chaired by Professor Monica Landoni, and its other members are attorney Davide Cerutti, PD Dr Marta Fadda, and the newly elected Dr Serena Petrocchi.