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This page lists recent, upcoming, and ongoing options for meeting ethics training requirements for the San Diego Research Ethics Consortium. Click on this link, Past education options, and see a list of events held prior to this month.

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1. Initial Training Requirement
To be approved for any use of human embryonic stem cells, each individual must first complete an "initial training requirement." Topics covered by this introductory training must include the following:

1. Stem Cell Research: Promise, Controversy, and Scrutiny
2. Prohibitions on research
3. Funding limitations
4. Training requirements
5. Requirements for review and approval
6. Some challenging ethical issues
7. Responsibilities of scientists
8. Resources

Upcoming and ongoing options to meet this requirement are listed below:

General Options:
	Online training program: An online course titled “Introduction to Stem Cell Ethics” has now been launched.  This course is available at no charge, it can be accessed 24 hours a day, and completion of the course will meet the initial ethics education requirement for stem cell researchers.  If you are a student, staff, or faculty member at UCSD, then you can access the course by signing in to Enrollment Central:   https://enrollmentcentral.ucsd.edu/sed_course.cfm?cdcrs=SCETHICS If you are at the Burnham, Salk, or Scripps, then please contact Shannon Prior <sdrec@ucsd.edu>  to request that you be provided with an affiliate status that will allow you to access the course. Completion of this course will typically require no more than a half hour.  A certificate is issued after successful completion of a brief, multiple choice quiz. Individual meetings (contact the SDREC for further information) Any other equivalent experience
Specific Options:
	To be Announced...

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2. First Year Continuing Education Requirement
To be certified for use of human embryonic stem cells in a second year, an additional four hours of stem cell ethics training must have been completed within the preceding two years. Because the primary purpose of this requirement is to promote a culture in which the ethics of this research is a part of what we all do, all researchers are encouraged to take advantage of ongoing opportunities for education and discussion about the ethical dimensions of human embryonic stem cell research. However, individuals who anticipate that their research responsibilities raise minimal ethical concerns may petition their institution’s ESCRO or SCRO Committee to be exempt from this requirement.

Recent, upcoming, and ongoing options to meet this requirement are listed below:

General Options:
	The stem cell ethics components of stem cell research conferences Individual meetings Any other equivalent experience
Specific Options:
	for printable version Date Time Location Topic Wed, February 3 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 2A05 Early hES Cell Clinical Trials Th, February 11 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 205 Ethical Issues in Working with hES Cells in the Obama Era Th, March 11 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 205 Ethical Issues in Working with hES Cells in the Obama Era Th, March 25 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 3A05 Early hES Cell Clinical Trials Th, April 22 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 2A05 Embryos, Clones, & Chimeras: Understanding and Responding to Public Fears about Stem Cell Research Th, April 29 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 2A05 Early hES Cell Clinical Trials Th, May 6 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 2A05 Ethical Issues in Working with hES Cells in the Obama Era Th, May 13 12-2 UCSD, Leichtag, 2A05 Embryos, Clones, & Chimeras: Understanding and Responding to Public Fears about Stem Cell Research

To register for any of these classes please click here. * Please bring a lunch!

DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES:

1. Early hES Cell Clinical Trials

• This workshop focuses on ethical issues in bringing stem cell research from the lab to the clinic. The Geron spinal cord injury trial recently approved by the FDA will serve as a case study.
• Audience: MDs and other clinicians or researchers who anticipate moving research to clinical trials; scientists working on treatments for spinal cord injury or related topics; anyone interested in the Geron trial.
• Questions include: How much pre-clinical data is enough? What are the risks and benefits of early hES cell trials? How do investigators balance the need for good scientific data with the ethical obligation to protect human subjects?  With media hype? What role should patient advocates play in decisions about early clinical trials for diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? What potential conflicts of interest do stem cell researchers  face and how are such conflicts avoided or managed?

2 . Ethical Issues in Working with hES Cells in the Obama Era

• This workshop focuses on changes in stem cell research brought about by the Obama administration. We will look at changes in regulation at NIH, ethical issues posed by the new NIH Registry restrictions on some previously approved lines, and the general issue of ensuring acceptable derivation and proper informed consent.
• Audience: Graduate students, Ph.D.s, and fellows working with or expecting to work with hES cells, applying for federal funding; anyone interested in the policies and politics of stem cell research.

3. Embryos, Clones, & Chimeras: Understanding and Responding to Public Fears about Stem Cell Research

• This workshop examines public concerns about the safety, efficacy, and cost of stem cell science. In particular, we will look at the biological, cultural, and ethical basis of objections to crossing species boundaries, human genetic manipulation, and cloning technology. The aim will be to understand the grounds of such concerns, discuss the legitimate ethical, social, and legal issues involved, and distinguish effective from non-effective responses by scientists, regulators, and educators.
• Audience: Graduate students, Ph.D.s, MD's, and fellows working with or expecting to work with hES cells, applying for federal funding; anyone interested in the policies and politics of stem cell research.

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3. Subsequent Year Continuing Education Requirement
To be certified for use of human embryonic stem cells in each subsequent year, an additional two hours of stem cell ethics training must have been completed within the preceding two years. Because the primary purpose of this requirement is to promote a culture in which the ethics of this research is a part of what we all do, all researchers are encouraged to take advantage of ongoing opportunities for education and discussion about the ethical dimensions of human embryonic stem cell research. However, individuals who anticipate that their research responsibilities raise minimal ethical concerns may petition their institution’s ESCRO or SCRO Committee to be exempt from this requirement.

Recent, upcoming, and ongoing options to meet this requirement are:

• Any of the options listed for the "first year requirement"
• The UC San Diego Ethics and Survival Skills in Academia course (COGS/NEUR/PATH 241) (Winter)
• The UC San Diego Ethics in Scientific Research course (PHAR 219) (Spring)
• The UC San Diego Scientific Ethics course (SOMI 226) (Spring)
• The UC San Diego Summer Research Ethics Workshop for medical students (Summer)
• The TSRI Ethics in Science course (Summer)