This paper looks into the importance of a responsible research community and how ethics can contribute towards the building of such a community. The paper starts off by outlining the many challenges facing a responsible research community. These challenges range from doing research, transferring the research results, commercialising the intellectual property, and publishing the research results, to managing the research results. Although some researchers' behaviour may give reason for the public to question their integrity, it is also a misnomer to label all researchers and their research as unethical. The public should also trust researchers in what they are doing. This paper analyses some of the many challenges in a research community. The analysis moves beyond the conventional understanding of research ethics. The paper also engages with the requirement of ethical research leadership to sustain a responsible research community. The author reflects on some guidelines for a responsible research community based on a South African example. The paper is based on a literature review of the topic, reflecting perspectives from the international research community.