Courses and Workshops

• Introduction to the ethics of international research
• Population and public health ethics
• Ethical issues in research with ‘vulnerable’ groups
• Ethics in vaccine research
• Ethics of data sharing in research

The ethics module is led by Dr Patricia Kingori and Professor Michael Parker. More information about the MSc in Global Health Science can be obtained from the Nuffield Department of Population Health website. If you would like more information about the ethics content of this course contact admin@ethox.ox.c.uk 

RESEARCH ETHICS AND RESEARCH INTEGRITY FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCHERS

The Ethox Centre regularly runs a short course in research ethics and research integrity for biomedical researchers in Oxford. This course is led by Dr Mark Sheehan. Each session is based around case studies designed to elicit discussion and to stimulate reflection.  There is an element of small group work, and time at the end for participants to raise cases and issues within their own research.

The course includes sessions on the following topics:

• Introduction to Research Ethics - to encourage participants to articulate and reflect on the ethical concerns faced by researchers. Participants will leave with a general grasp of the kinds of reasoning that is involved in the ethical consideration of research involving human beings. Although it is not the primary focus of the session, there will be some discussion of the structures and procedures in place in the university and the NHS for the scrutiny of research. Researchers carrying out research involving humans are encouraged to attend one of these introductory sessions.

• Designing Ethical Research: Harms and Benefits - to introduce students to the main ethical questions that arise when designing a biomedical research study. Particular focus will be given at thinking and evaluating the harms and benefits that biomedical research can bring to the various stakeholders, e.g. the researchers, the research participants, the institution, as well as the responsibilities of researchers towards other researchers, research participants and institutions. The principles of equipoise and fairness will be discussed. During the seminar, students will be presented with case-studies that would help highlight the particular issues at question. Students will also be encouraged to think how institutional processes can help safeguard ethical practice and promote research integrity.

• Conducting Ethical Research: Consent and Confidentiality - to introduce students to the main ethical problems of conducting biomedical research in developed and developing countries. The main focus of this seminar will be on the issues of consent and confidentiality, data management and data sharing, and falsification of data. Case-studies will be used to prompt discussion and to help students to engage in ethical thinking. Students will also be encouraged to think how institutional processes can help safeguard ethical practice and promote research integrity.

• Reporting Research: Promoting and Publishing - all researchers are expected to report the outcome of their research to their peers, institution, funders and participants. This seminar is going to focus on publication ethics and the ethics of peer reviewing. It will also look at the post-study obligations researchers have towards their research participants, e.g. informing them about research findings and incidental findings.  Once again, the presenters will draw from the institutional policies and guidelines regarding these issues and discuss how processes and institutional accountability can promote good practice.

More information about all the sessions in this course, as well as details of dates and booking can be found on the Medical Sciences Skills Training website

E-LEARNING MATERIALS

Together with Global Health Reviewers, the Ethox Centre is developing free e-learning materials for members of research ethics committees, particularly those in low income country settings. The first e-learning module is on the ethics of genomics research in such settings. The course can be accessed free by following this link and logging in. http://globalhealthreviewers.tghn.org/elearning/

CLINICAL ETHICS WORKSHOPS

The Ethox Centre runs workshops for members of clinical ethics committees and those considering setting up a committee. These workshops can be designed for the needs of a particular committee. These might include, for example:sessions focussing on the role of the clinical ethics committee in providing education, policy development and case consultation and/or sessions which aim to provide delegates with skills for identifying and analysing ethical issues arising in health care practice and management. If you would like to speak to someone at the Ethox Centre about organising or attending a workshop, please contact Centre Administrator on admin@ethox.ox.ac.uk

OTHER WORKSHOPS AND COURSES

In addition to the above, the Ethox Centre also runs occasional seminars and workshops on other topics. These are announced as events on the Ethox Centre homepage.