Research Ethics: an Introduction

Introduction to research ethics

You will learn about which historical scandals and controversial cases have led to the practice of ethical reflection on human subjects research. The questions addressed here include: How can history shed new light on ethically controversial cases? What are basic ethical requirements for human subjects research? Which main ethical codes, guidelines and declarations apply to human subjects research? What is the importance and necessity of medical research? What do we owe to research subjects? Is there a duty to participate in medical research? You will also analyze “Helsinki 6”: must the well being of individuals always take precedence over all other interests?

Informed consent and the ethics of randomized clinical trials

After this introduction, you will tackle other demanding questions. What is genuine informed consent? What do participants need to understand in order to participate in medical research? When do we speak of undue inducements? What is the therapeutic misconception? What is an RCT? What are ethically challenging aspects of RCTs, not only at the moment of inclusion, but also during and after the trial? Is clinical equipoise a necessary and sufficient requirement for RCTs?

Risk-benefit assessment and the role of ethics committees

You will look into the essential principles of research ethics – such as risks and benefits – and examine the role of research ethics committees. Hence you will think about how to balance the risks and burdens of research with the benefit to science and society. You will also discover the importance of ethics committees in this process and reflect upon the usefulness of the distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic research.

Scientific integrity

As there is a growing amount of attention being paid to scientific integrity, you will not only learn about research ethics but also about the ethics of research, and of researchers themselves. You will read about the philosophy of science and think about what the rights and duties of clinical investigators are. You will also reflect upon important codes of conduct and think about how you should manage conflicts of interest in clinical research.

Vulnerable groups: children and participants in developing countries

You will learn to reflect on the use of vulnerable populations in human subject research. Here the focus will lie on the moral problems involved in research with children, and in biomedical research in developing countries. The key questions are: What should you regard as vulnerable research populations? Should children be included in, or excluded from, research? What are the ethical issues involved in international research in developing countries? What do researchers from high-income countries owe to participants in low-income countries when conducting a trial in that country?

Biobanks, stem cells and genetic research ethics

Lastly, you will discover the ethical issues involved in biobanking, stem cell research and genetic research. Here you will be confronted with questions such as: What type of consent is appropriate for biobanking research? What are the ethical issues of using stored human tissue and patient records for biomedical research? Is there a moral duty to disclose genomic incidental findings? How should you translate stem cell research from the lab into clinical studies in a morally sound way?