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Introduction to Health Research Ethics

Explore key ethical issues around human subjects in biomedical research, and learn how to conduct the studies responsibly.

1,810 enrolled on this course

Introduction to Health Research Ethics

1,810 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn everything biomedical investigators need to know about research ethics

However groundbreaking biomedical research is, it should never come at the price of subjects’ health, privacy, or other rights. This three-week course offers practical insights, to make sure that it never does.

Funded by Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s Medical Research Ethics Committee, the course will help you ensure human subjects are protected as you conduct important research.

Unpack research ethics fundamentals

The course gives you an excellent foundation in research ethics, explaining the three basic principles of ethical research, and giving you the opportunity into both the pros and cons of using human subjects.

You’ll also learn about research design, protocols, data management, and reviews, which are all important in ensuring not only a study’s success, but also its ethics committee approval.

Get practical experience conducting ethical research

After developing your knowledge on responsible biomedical research, you’ll have the chance to practice your skills with case studies and realistic exercises.

Informed consent, participant selection, risk-benefit analysis, confidentiality, scientific rigour, and data integrity are all covered in the materials.

You’ll also explore how conflicts of interest and adverse events are handled. This knowledge will prepare you to conduct effective, ethical research in any situation.

Learn from biomedical research experts

Universiti Malaya is a top-ranked institution, and its Medical Centre is Malaysia’s oldest teaching hospital. At the same time, its rigorous Medical Research Ethics Committee oversees the research design and execution of many national and international projects. With both experience and expertise, the University is able to offer a course of the highest calibre.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 16 seconds Research ethics governs the standards of conducting scientific research. It is important for researchers to adhere to ethical principles in order to ensure the dignity, welfare and rights of research participants Research ethics has its origin in the World War II, during the Nuremberg’s Trial (also called the Doctor’s trial) where Nazi physicians were sentenced for performing inhumane medical experimentations on prisoners in concentration camps. Since then, research ethics particularly in the context of biomedical research has evolved rapidly. and this together with heightened society awareness about research, poses new ethical challenges and questions when it comes to conducting medical research. And that’s why it makes health research ethics even more important and interesting.

Skip to 1 minute and 8 seconds In this 3-week course, we will introduce you to the basic principles and key topics of health research ethics then bring you through a number of interesting case studies, activities and discussions to challenge you to apply what you have learnt. You will also be introduced to the roles of a research ethics committee and learn the practicalities of a research ethics review. This will be especially useful to students or new researchers who are preparing to make an ethics application. Whether you are a clinician, a researcher, or both, we hope that by the end of the course, you will feel more empowered to advocate for safe and ethical research in your field of practice. Come onboard and join us!

What topics will you cover?

Over this comprehensive course, you’ll cover:

Week 1. Introduction to health research ethics
- Research ethics
- Research protocol

Week 2. Recruiting subjects and managing data
- Recruiting and getting informed consent
- Handling research data and biological samples

Week 3. Adverse events, conflicts of interest, study closures and ethics reviews
- Managing adverse events
- Handling conflicts of interest
- Closing a study
- Going through an ethics review

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply the three basic principles of research ethics.
  • Assess and manage the risks of research to human subjects.
  • Apply the principles of informed consent.
  • Explain the importance of responsible management of research data.
  • Explain the concept of conflict of interests in research.
  • Describe the responsibilities of the research ethics committee.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for individuals conducting health and biomedical studies. All researchers will benefit, but those who are new and unfamiliar with research design and applying for ethics clearance will find it especially useful.

Who will you learn with?

Hi Everyone! I am a Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Malaya.

Hi, I am May. I am a medical doctor working under the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Hi, I'm Nisha. I'm a Senior Lecturer teaching various courses and programmes on ethics at the Medical Humanities and Ethics Unit (MedHEU), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.

Who developed the course?

Universiti Malaya

Universiti Malaya is the premier research university in Malaysia, committed to advancing knowledge and learning through quality research and education for the nation and for humanity.

  • Established

    1905
  • Location

    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • World ranking

    Top 60Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$104/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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