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NOTE: This Syllabus is being revised for Spring 2009

Syllabus: Spring 2009

Instructors
Michael Kalichman, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Pathology
Director, UCSD Research Ethics Program, 0612, ext. 22027
kalichman@ucsd.edu

Dena Plemmons, Ph.D.
Research Ethicist, Research Ethics Program, 0612, ext. 22647
dplemmons@ucsd.edu

Time and Location
This course is being taught with three sections, each of which meets seven times. Please show up for any section on the first day and we will divide people evenly between the sections at the end of that week.
All meetings are 9:30-11:30 am.

Section 1 meets on Wednesdays.
Section # Location Dates
1 3500 Pacific Hall April 1
April 15
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
June 3


Sections 2 and 3 both meet on Thursdays, with the exception of Tuesday, May 12.
Section # Location Dates
2 2130 Bonner Hall April 2
April 16
May 7
Tuesday, May 12
May 21
May 28
June 4
3 4211 Natural Sciences Building

Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to engage research trainees in reading, considering, and discussing the responsible conduct of science. The course is designed as an option for meeting current federal regulations, which require that all NIH training grants provide training in the responsible conduct of research. Specific learning objectives with respect to research ethics include:

  1. To know rules, issues, options, and resources for research ethics

  2. To understand the purpose and value of ethical decision-making

  3. To have a positive disposition toward research ethics

Required Reading
Required Reading: Allegra Goodman (2006): Intuition. Dial Press, New York 352 pages.
Available through the UCSD bookstore and other online book providers.
Note: This book must be read in advance of the second class meeting. It will be a basis for discussion on the dates noted in the schedule below.

Course Format
Course topics will be covered by a combination of lectures, readings accessible on the Web, discussion in class, written assignments, and Web-based assignments. In addition to those readings linked below, additional required readings may be sent out in advance of some class meetings. Attendance, participation in discussion groups and completion of assignments will be the basis for credit. NOTE: The course schedule or organization may be changed if necessary to better achieve the course objectives.

Credit
This course is available for credit (i.e., pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory or a certificate of completion), not for a letter grade. To receive credit for the course or for the purpose of NIH or NSF training requirements, you must attend all 7 class meetings, complete assigned readings and participate in class discussions, and contribute to group assignments. If you need credit for this course, but find that you cannot meet these requirements, then you should contact the instructor as soon as possible.

For a complete listing of assignments and due dates, please check the Assignments page.


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

LECTURE TOPICS REQUIRED READINGS
1

Introduction and
Overview

Research Misconduct

2

Data Management and Bias

Data Management
Bias, Conflicts of Interest
Intuition

3

Ethics to Regulation:
Animal and Human subjects,
Stem Cells

Animal subjects
Human subjects
Stem Cells

4

Publication and Peer Review

Publication
Peer Review

5

Collaboration, Authorship,
and Mentoring

Collaboration
Authorship
Mentoring
Intuition

6

Social Responsibility

Social Responsibility

7

Asking Questions and
Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing
Gunsalus, 1998
Intuition