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irecs Learning Resources

The irecs learning materials have been developed to support learning about the ethics issues associated with research and development of emerging technologies.

They focus upon four technologies:

• Artificial intelligence in healthcare
• Gene editing
• Biobanking
• Extended reality

Here you will find the modules that have been designed for self-directed online learning. They are all open access; there is no charge for accessing the irecs learning materials.

The irecs resources do not have to be studied in any particular order. Users of these resources are encouraged to construct their own path by selecting the modules that are most applicable to their own learning needs.

Want to take part in this training as a trainee? Find out how to sign up for this training.

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Instructions for:ParticipantTrainer

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Stage 1 - Introduction to Research Ethics and Integrity

Instruction

Research Ethics and Integrity Basics

The aim

To provide learners from different backgrounds and disciplines with an overview of the primary ethics and integrity issues in research

The learning outcomes

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of ethics and integrity in research.
2. Describe a range of ethics and integrity issues that can be associated with different types of research.
3. Summarise the primary ethics issues raised by research with human participants.

Click here for an audio version of the text above.

2 hour(s)

Undergraduate Student / Graduate Student, Research Ethics Committee Member

Instruction

Research Ethics and Integrity: Governance and Processes

The aim is to provide learners from different backgrounds and disciplines with an overview of how research ethics and integrity matters are governed, including the mechanisms and processes for ethics approval.

The learning outcomes

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Explore the governance mechanisms for research ethics and integrity at different levels (like international, national, institutional).
2. Identify and consider the research ethics and integrity codes and guidelines that are relevant to their own research.
3. Describe the process of research ethics approval including when it is needed, from whom and what it entails.

2 hour(s)

Undergraduate Student / Graduate Student

Instruction

Critical Thinking, Standpoint & Ethics

The aim

To encourage learners to reflect critically upon their own beliefs and assumptions and to recognise the importance of positionality in the construction of knowledge and approach to ethical analysis.

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Reflect upon their own positionality, where it comes from, how it influences their thinking and personal biases.
2. Critically examine the basis of knowledge.
3. Appraise the significance of alternative epistemological positions.
4. Take a critical approach to ethical analysis.

1 hour(s)

Researcher

Stage 2 - Emerging Technologies: Basics & Ethics Issues

Case Studies

Instruction

Gene Editing Case Study with Human Application

The aim of this module is to facilitate reflection upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of gene editing in humans.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Identify and analyse the ethics issues and dilemmas associated with an example research proposal.
2. Make suggestions for how the ethics issues might be addressed.
3. Identify ethics guidelines and policies that are relevant to the proposed research.
   
   

Video Transcript

In humans, gene therapy via gene editing is a rapidly growing field of research with many potential benefits for health and wellbeing. It involves the editing of genes to modify or knock out specific genes to achieve desired traits, to correct genetic defects, to treat or prevent disease, or to enhance cellular functions.

In this module we consider an example proposal for a research project that is based upon a real-world study. The study aims to trial gene therapy for Hunter syndrome in a small group of young children.  As you work through the module, we invite you to consider the ethics issues that are associated with this type of study from a variety of perspectives as well as how they might be addressed. We begin with some information about the disease.

1 hour(s)

Research Ethics Committee Member