Ethics in Translational Medicine I

As scientists, we are legally obliged to submit our research for evaluation and permission by the appropriate research ethics authorities. However, we are also morally obliged to reflect regularly about why, how, and on whom we are doing the research we do, what consequences that research might have, and the dilemmas it tends to sprout everywhere. This course focuses on the second obligation, and pays only superficial attention to the first. The course is discussion-based and will include examples from the teachers’ research, as well as the participants’ own projects.

The topics taught are:

• The basics of research ethics of studies involving human subjects and experimental animals (“Brush-up”)
• The basics of responsible conduct of science (“Brush-up”)
• Research ethics of translational research: “Does one size fit all?” (cross-cultural issues, e.g., academia vs. clinical setting vs. industry; international research)
• Research ethics of big data use in translational research
• Research ethics of gene modifications in translational research
• Research ethics of experimental animal use in translational research