Week 2.3: Institutional Review Process#
The schedule for this week includes:
Monday:
Workshop: Institutional Review Process
Science Spotlights
Wednesday:
Workshop: Critical Thinking as a Scientist
Friday:
Friday Symposium
Workshop: Institutional Review Process#
Many research projects, especially in biomedical sciences will have an institutional review process for ethical and safety considerations. This includes reviews for human and animal research to make sure it’s done ethically and humanely, it also includes biological safety depending on the materials you’ll be working with, especially if it includes virus, bacteria, radiation and others.
Understanding why these reviews are done, what the review boards are typically looking for, and the timelines and constraints can greatly reduce project planning frustration. It will also give you things to look for when joining a new project to ensure it’s one that you ethically want to be part of.
Key concepts#
The process of obtaining a license for animal research
Training of the responsible personnel who can work with research animals
Reporting of animal research
Why do we need animal research in biomedical research?
Alternatives to animal research
Relevant Learning Goals#
Understanding the legal requiremnts for performing animal reserach in NL
Being able to describe achievemnts in medicine and research that were possible because of the use of animal models
Being able to explain alternatives to animal research – their advantages and shortcomings
Workshop: Critical Thinking as a Scientist#
Critical thinking is often about problem solving. Why isn’t this thing you’ve planned out working? What are some of the factors that can contribute to failures, better known as unexpected results? How do you take advantage of unexpected results and learn from them?
It can also be speculation of what could go wrong, how does this fit or not fit in the big picture? What are the ramifications of what we’re doing? This will build on the previous week’s workshop on troubleshooting.
Key Concepts#
Taking the time
Conflicts in it
Emotions in it
Relevant Learning Goals#
Critical thinking
Research process
Collaboration
Group Activity of the Week#
Students will begin work on their research project. They should continue to read articles that will help inform their project as they go. Beginning to gather data, consider necessary changes.
They will also need to decide what journal publication their future article could be submitted to, and find the submission requirements.
Discussion Questions#
Why do we do animal research? Why shouldn’t we?
What are things to consider when using animal models?
Can we do all research using computational models instead of animals (including humans)?
Who should be on review committees?
When being a reviewer, what things should you consider? What things shouldn’t you consider?
What is your process in reviewing something from someone else to find the flaws, find points of improvement, and designing your future experiments?
How do you think about your own work? How do you think about others works? How is that different?
What are the implications of this research?
What are potential problems in the future?
How might this research be used by others?
Does the method and analysis make sense?
How does this project connect with other projects?
Weekly Submitted Assignments#
Group#
Does your project potentially need any institutional review? What kind?
What could change in your project to change that answer?
Assignment 2: submit the name of the journal you have identified for publication, and the submission guidelines (This can be a URL).
Individual#
What do you think is important in the institutional review process? Why is it necessary?