Instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research - Postbacs and GPP Students

Please note that the following information is a DRAFT and has not yet been fully approved by the Office of Intramural Research (OIR).

Posbacs and graduate students generally enter NIH research labs with little or no experience in research ethics training. A special course is under development for this unique subpopulation of trainees.

Course Description

This course will employ a combination of lecture and case study discussion to help NIH scientists at the very beginning of their careers develop a practical and useful understanding of and appreciation for the ethical dimensions of biomedical research. Emphasis will be on understanding relevant professional norms and values as well as institutional and governmental guidelines and regulations that dictate how research ought to be conducted.

Prerequisite

Completion of NIH’s Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research online training (1 hr)

Schedule

Class will meet weekly for 2X 2.5 hr session during the summer.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course participants should:

• Recognize the ethical dimensions of biomedical research
• Understand what constitutes strict research misconduct as well as other questionable research practices
• Know what to do if they suspect misconduct in the lab
• Be familiar with professional norms as well as institutional (governmental) regulations governing biomedical research
• Feel empowered to hold themselves and others to a high ethical standard

Topics

• Research (Mis)conduct – Definitions • Misconduct, questionable practices, bad science, and illegal behavior • Professional norms and values • What to do if you suspect misbehavior
• Data Management and Collaborative Research – Ownership and sharing of data • Record keeping • Protection of data • Intellectual Property • MOUs and MTAs
• Mentoring and Managing Conflicting Interests – Ownership and sharing of data • Record keeping • Protection of data • Intellectual Property • Types of interests • Acknowledging, reducing, and managing • Federal policies and practices
• Authorship, Publication, and Peer Review – Pros and cons of peer review • The authorship conversation • Rightful authorship • Evolving publication models
• Animals As Subjects In Biomedical Research – Respecting individual sensitivities • Historical perspectives • Federal regulations and guidelines for protection of animals • Getting approval for research using animals • Animal rights extremists\
• Humans As Subjects In Biomedical Research – Historical perspectives • Federal regulations and guidelines for protection of human subjects • Getting approval for research using human subjects • Research vs clinical care