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IRECS trainer guide

This trainer's guide supports trainers in delivering the IRECS modules content on Biobanking, AI health, Virtual reality and Gene editing within their training activities.

It provides training formats for topical sessions and interactive training activities designed for ethics review experts (REC members in both medical and non-medical fields), appraisal scheme experts, and students (PhD or Master's level).

Discover the first impressions of participants and trainers by watching the playlist below.

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Instructions for:TraineeTrainer

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iRECS

Instuctions for trainers

Instruction

IRECS Training format (template)

This training template supports IRECS trainers in the organization and planning of topical sessions for specific target groups on the content presented in the IRECS modules on Biobanking, AI health, Virtual reality and Gene editing.

3 hour(s)

Instruction

Interactive lecture on Gene editing: Exploring Ethical Challenges

This module introduces the ethical challenges in gene editing. Using real life cases, it aims to encourage reflection on ethical issues related to this technology.

3 hour(s)

Instruction

Group reflection using an imaginary line: Biobanking

This short interactive workshop introduces some of the ethical challenges related to biobanking. Using statements, it aims to encourage reflection on ethical issues related to this technology among master students.

3 hour(s)

Instruction

Mind-mapping exercise: Instructions for training researchers about ethics issues on gene editing

This short interactive workshop introduces the ethical challenges in gene editing. Using a real case, it aims to encourage reflection on ethical issues related to this technology among junior researchers.

1.5 hour(s)

Instruction

Role play: AI in Healthcare

This module presents a training activity which can be done with pariticipants to reflect on AI in Healthcare.

2 hour(s)

6 - 30

Blended learning, Role Play

Stage 1: Introduction to Research Ethics & 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.

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2 hour(s)

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)

Instruction

AI In Healthcare: Technology Basics

The aim of this module is to support research ethics reviewers in learning about AI technologies for the review of projects and proposals that develop and/or use AI for healthcare.

The content focuses on key technology basics in a succinct manner,  and signposts further learning opportunities for those who require more in-depth knowledge.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Identify AI systems and how they are built.
2. Discuss some key applications of AI-based systems in healthcare.
3. Discuss the primary implications of the use of AI in healthcare.

2 hour(s)

Instruction

Social Justice, Vulnerability and Inclusion

The aim

To encourage learners to consider how and why matters of social justice, vulnerability and inclusion are relevant to research and the impacts of research.

The learning outcomes

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

1. Consider the meaning and relevance of social justice in research.
2. Explain the importance of inclusion in research and the ethics issues associated with exclusion.
3. Describe the special measures that need to be implemented for the ethical inclusion of vulnerable populations in research.

1 hour(s)

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)

Instruction

Research Ethics in a Global Environment

To encourage learners to consider the types of ethics issues that are associated with research in a global environment and how they might be addressed.

The learning outcomes

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

1. Discuss the specific ethics challenges associated with international collaborative research.
2. Explain when benefit sharing is required and what constitutes fair benefit sharing.  
3. Distinguish between different types of ethics dumping and identify the causes.
4. Explain the measures that can be taken to prevent ethics dumping.

2 hour(s)

Stage 2: Emerging Technologies: Basics & Ethics Issues

Instruction

AI In Healthcare: Technology Basics

The aim of this module is to support research ethics reviewers in learning about AI technologies for the review of projects and proposals that develop and/or use AI for healthcare.

The content focuses on key technology basics in a succinct manner,  and signposts further learning opportunities for those who require more in-depth knowledge.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Identify AI systems and how they are built.
2. Discuss some key applications of AI-based systems in healthcare.
3. Discuss the primary implications of the use of AI in healthcare.

2 hour(s)

Instruction

Gene Editing: Technology Basics

The aim of this module is to support research ethics reviewers in learning about gene editing technologies for the review of projects and proposals that include the use of gene editing. The content focuses on key technology basics, in a succinct manner, and signposts further learning opportunities for those who require more in-depth knowledge.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Explain the basics of gene editing and the role of CRISPR-Cas9.
2. Describe possible fields of human application.
3. Describe possible fields of non-human application.
4. Identify the main risks associated with human and non-human applications.

1 hour(s)

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)

Instruction

Biobanking: Technology Basics

To support research ethics reviewers in learning about biobanking for the review of projects and proposals that include the use of biobanks. The content focuses on key technology basics, in a succinct manner, and signposts further learning opportunities for those who require more in-depth knowledge.

Learning outcomes

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

1.    Explain what is meant by ‘biobank’, the different types and uses.

2.    Describe different types of biological sample and related data and their uses.

3.    Discuss matters related to the sources, storage and sharing of biological samples and health-related data.

4 hour(s)

Instruction

Extended Reality: Technology Basics

To support research ethics reviewers in learning about extended reality (XR) technologies, for the review of projects and proposals that include the use of extended reality. The content focuses on key technology basics, in a succinct manner, and signposts further learning opportunities for those who require more in-depth knowledge.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Describe and distinguish between virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
2. Discuss the meaning of key concepts associated with XR (like metaverse, presence and interoperability).
3. Explain the different types of hardware necessary for XR (like headsets and haptic devices etc.).

1 hour(s)

Instruction

AI in Healthcare: Ethics Issues

The aim of this module is to support students, researchers, and research ethics reviewers in learning about and reflecting upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of AI technologies in healthcare.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Explain the relevance of informed consent, transparency and explainability for AI in healthcare.
2. Describe the data-related ethics issues for AI in healthcare.
3. Reflect upon broader ethics issues (like social values and the environmental impact) related to AI in healthcare.
4. Access relevant guidelines and regulations for the use of AI in healthcare (e.g., the European Commission Guidelines for AI Research)

1 hour(s)

Instruction

Gene Editing: Ethics Issues

To support students, researchers, and research ethics reviewers in learning about and reflecting upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of gene editing.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Weigh the potential harms and benefits of different areas of gene editing.
2. Identify safety issues related to the techniques and applications of gene editing.  
3. Reflect upon some of the broader ethics issues (like dual use/misuse or slippery slope) associated with gene editing.
4. Access the relevant guidelines and regulations for gene editing

2 hour(s)

Instruction

Biobanking: Ethics Issues

The aim of this module is to support students, researchers, and research ethics reviewers in learning about and reflecting upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of biobanking.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Debate the pros and cons of various models of consent for biobanking samples.
2. Consider the core issues for biobank data processing related to data protection, data sharing, and privacy concerns.
3. Identify varied methods for dealing with incidental findings.
4. Access guidelines and regulations relevant to biobanking.

1 hour(s)

Instruction

Extended Reality: Ethics Issues

The aim of this module is to support students, researchers, and research ethics reviewers in learning about, and reflecting upon, the ethics issues associated with the development and use of extended reality.

Learning outcomes

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

• Consider the primary ethical issues related to the development and use of XR technologies.
• Outline the challenges related to privacy and personal data processing for XR technologies.
• Identify the implications for energy and resource consumption in relation to the development and use of XR technologies.
• Access guidelines and further resources for ethics assessment of XR research and development.

1 hour(s)

Case Studies

Instruction

Role play: AI in Healthcare

This module presents a training activity which can be done with pariticipants to reflect on AI in Healthcare.

2 hour(s)

6 - 30

Blended learning, Role Play

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.

1 hour(s)

Instruction

Biobanking Case Study

This module aims to encourage reflection on the ethical issues involved in biobanking, cross-border collaborations and the need for alignment of practices across countries and between public and private institutions.

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.

Introduction

This case study is based around a research proposal submitted for review by a partnership between an EU research institute and an African medical research centre. It is a hypothetical case but draws inspiration from current discussions regarding the use of biobanking technologies in research. 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 by a research ethics committee.

1 hour(s)

Instruction

AI & Malaria Research

The aim of this module is to facilitate reflection upon the cross-cutting ethics issues associated with a research proposal to use AI-driven analytics to understand malaria transmission patterns in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

Learning outcomes

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

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

1 hour(s)

Instruction

A Case of Non-Human Gene Editing

The aim of this module is to facilitate reflection upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of non-human gene editing in a research project.

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.

1 hour(s)