Ethics Training Options

This page lists recent, upcoming, and ongoing options for meeting ethics training requirements for the San Diego Research Ethics Consortium. Options for each of the three requirements (initial, first year, and subsequent years) are listed below.

1. Initial Training Requirement

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

• Core course in Stem Cell Biology, Medicine, and Ethics CMM 250 (UCSD winter 2007 & 2008)
• Basic Training session at the Burnham Institute (April 11, 2007)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (October 29, 2007, noon-1pm)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (March 6, 2008, noon-1pm)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (April 1, 2008, noon-1pm)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (May 1, 2008, noon-1pm, Leichtag 2A05) (Register at ethics@ucsd.edu)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (June 2, 2008, noon-1pm, Leichtag 205) (Register at ethics@ucsd.edu)
• Initial Training session at UC San Diego (September 3, 2008, 1-2pm, CMME 2044) (Register at ethics@ucsd.edu)
• Online training program (under development for Fall 2008)
• Individual meeting (scheduled with the approval of the institutional ESCRO or SCRO Committee, ongoing)
• Any other equivalent experience (with the approval of the institutional ESCRO or SCRO Committee, ongoing)

2. First Year Continuing Education Requirement

For the first year approval for continued use of human embryonic stem cells, it is necessary for each individual to complete the "first year continuing education requirement." This requirement is met by participating in at least four hours of stem cell ethics training during the preceding year. 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. For this reason, 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 the ESCRO or SCRO Committee to be exempt from this requirement.

Recent, upcoming, and ongoing options for meeting this requirement are:

• Any of the options listed for the "initial training requirement"
• Stem Cell Ethics Conference sponsored by the San Diego Research Ethics Consortium (April 6, 2007)
• Seminars in the Stem Cell Ethics Training Program, Burnham Institute (April 25, 2007 – June 6, 2007)
• Preparing for Clinical Trials: Ethical and Regulatory Considerations part of the second annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (October 19, 2007)
• UCSD Interinstitutional Core Course in Stem Cell Biology, Medicine, and Ethics CMM 250 (UCSD winter 2008)
• Introduction to Bioethics BIOL 40071, UC San Diego University Extension, (April 1 - May 6, 2008), Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Instructor: Mary Devereaux. Register here.
• Are All Pluripotent Stem Cells Created Equal? sponsored by the San Diego Research Ethics Consortium, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, (May 2, 2008, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.).
• Stem Cells: New Sources and New Questions sponsored by the Center for Ethics in Science & Technology,Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, (May 7, 2008, 5:30 - 7 pm). Contact ethicscenter@ucsd.edu for information & to register.)
• The stem cell ethics components of research ethics courses at UCSD:
  • Scientific Ethics (each Spring), http://ethics.ucsd.edu/courses/ethics
  • Ethics and Survival Skills in Academia (each Winter), http://ethics.ucsd.edu/courses/survival
• The stem cell ethics components of stem cell research conferences
• Individual meetings (scheduled with the approval of the ESCRO Committee, ongoing)
• Any other equivalent experience (with the approval of the ESCRO Committee, ongoing)

3. Subsequent Year Continuing Education Requirement

For subsequent annual approvals to continue use of human embryonic stem cells, it is necessary for each individual to complete the "subsequent year continuing education requirement." The requirement is met by participating in at least two hours of stem cell ethics or research ethics training during the preceding year. The primary purpose of this requirement is to promote a culture in which the ethics of this research continues to be a part of what we all do. For this reason, 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 the ESCRO or SCRO Committee to be exempt from this requirement.

Recent, upcoming, and ongoing options for meeting this requirement are:

• Any of the options listed for the "initial training requirement" or the "first year requirement"
• Any research ethics course at UC San Diego (options can be found at http://ethics.ucsd.edu)
• Any of the ethics seminars in the UC San Diego Biomedical Ethics Seminar Series, the Tough Cases Seminar Series, or the Research Ethics Journal Club, http://ethics.ucsd.edu/seminars
• The Ethics in Scientific Research course (PHAR 219) (each Spring)
• Summer Research Ethics Workshop for UC San Diego medical students (each Summer)
• Individual meetings (scheduled with the approval of the ESCRO Committee, ongoing)
• Any other equivalent experience (with the approval of the ESCRO Committee, ongoing)