Specific Research Ethics and Integrity Considerations for Crisis Research
ModulesSpecific Research Ethics and Integrity Considerations for Crisis Research
What is this about?
Research – Who Benefits?
Humans have been hooked on learning for millennia. From Darwin’s curiosity about evolution to our desire for self-improvement, knowledge fuels our world. But it’s not just about personal growth; it's also about solving global problems and making the world a better place. Researchers use everything from ancient wisdom to cutting-edge technology to uncover new insights. But unless their findings are actually used to solve problems, the vast majority of benefits from research lie only with researchers themselves.
Benefit Sharing
This clip explains the basics of benefit sharing, which is an instrument to increase justice in international research and cross-border access to resources. In the context of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, benefit sharing is contribution-based, i.e. those who contribute to a project or research should benefit from its outcomes. In the context of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, the benefits of research should be shared with all of society, independent of contribution.
AI Ethics in 5 Minutes
AI ethics is a pressing global concern. Some view AI ethics as a subset of general technology ethics, whilst others argue for its distinct nature. For instance, AI-driven automation raises concerns about unemployment which aligns with fears expressed over past technological advancements. On the other hand, what distinguishes AI ethics from general technology ethics is the demand for regulation that goes beyond previous demand, in particular dedicated ethics committees and impact assessments. The scale of AI's deployment also contributes to the heightened global focus on its ethical implications. Addressing AI ethics challenges is crucial for responsible AI development. Thanks to Prof. Bernd Stahl and Dr Kate Chatfield for comments on the script.
Ethics Dumping
When researchers from privileged circumstances conduct ethically questionable studies in lower-income settings, it's known as 'ethics dumping.' Ethics dumping can create significant challenges and is a growing concern. It is therefore essential that researchers work as closely as possible with local collaborators and reflect together on ways to prevent it. This video explores six different ways ethics dumping can occur, from intentional disregard to unintentional cultural misunderstandings.
Ethics and You
Ever wondered about the ethical compass guiding scientific discovery? This video highlights the long history of teaching and learning, tracing it all the way back to Plato's Academy. While the specific subjects taught have evolved over time, the underlying ethical questions remain relevant. Ethics in research is not merely about compliance but also about moral reflection. Drawing on real-world examples, our training module aims to provide guidance and support for researchers in navigating ethical considerations.
Ethical Controversies around Human Challenge Studies
Is it ethical to intentionally infect healthy volunteers with a deadly virus? This video discusses the ethical controversy surrounding human challenge studies, particularly those involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. While these studies can be valuable for scientific progress, they raise concerns about the Hippocratic Oath, which states "first do no harm." Human challenge studies have been used in the development of other vaccines, such as malaria. However, the comparison between malaria and COVID-19 is problematic, as there are approved treatment options for malaria, while at the time of the early COVID-19 human challenge studies, there were no treatment options. Additionally, COVID-19 can cause potentially severe long-term complications.
Healthy Volunteers and Human Challenge Studies
During the COVID pandemic, a London-based programme was the first in the world to intentionally expose 36 healthy volunteers to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 18 of whom developed the infection. The participants spent two weeks in strict isolation, their only in-person contact being medical staff. This video features quotes from interviews with volunteers from both SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus human challenge trials. Their primary motivation for joining these studies was a desire to contribute to scientific research and potentially help others.
Scientific Collaboration During War
The war in Ukraine has sparked a debate about the future of scientific collaboration with Russia. Some support a boycott, while others argue that collaboration should continue. The German Ministry of Education and Research says that the decision lies with science itself. These different views show the complexity of the issue.
The TRUST Values of Fairness, Respect, Care and Honesty
Through a collaborative analysis of real-world exploitation risks with vulnerable populations, the TRUST project developed a code of ethics grounded in four fundamental values: fairness, respect, care, and honesty. The PREPARED project has shown that these four values also apply to research in global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Through literature reviews in eight languages and by investigating the experiences of marginalised populations during the pandemic, the team identified 144 challenges to research ethics and integrity, which can all be linked to a lack of fairness, respect, care, and honesty.
The TRUST values of Fairness, Respect, Care and Honesty_Vid9
AI Ethics - Helicopter Research
Helicopter research occurs when researchers from affluent countries extract data or resources from lower-income regions without considering local needs or ethical concerns. A notable example occurred during the Ebola crisis in 2014. Researchers from high-income countries requested access to vast amounts of mobile phone data from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia to track population movements, claiming that it would provide significant insights into Ebola transmission. The contrast between the handling of mobile phone data during the Ebola crisis and the German floods of 2021 underscores the double standards often present in helicopter research.
AI and the Sustainable Development Goals
Is it ethical to intentionally infect healthy volunteers with a deadly virus? This video discusses the ethical controversy surrounding human challenge studies, particularly those involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. While these studies can be valuable for scientific progress, they raise concerns about the Hippocratic Oath, which states "first do no harm." On the other hand, human challenge studies have been used in the development of other vaccines, such as malaria.
Lockdown - The Experience of Nairobi Sex Workers
In Nairobi, an estimated 30,000 sex workers face significant challenges, including extreme poverty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of lockdown measures, while potentially justified in high-income countries, had a devastating impact on this marginalized community. In this short documentary, Nairobi sex workers share their stories about the impact of lockdown on their lives and on their physical and mental health.
