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Allison M. McCarthy, PhD

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society


This course is a systematic examination of the ethical concepts and standards of responsible conduct of research in biomedical science and clinical investigation. Its aim is to provide students with a framework in which to anticipate, identify, analyze, navigate, and resolve ethical questions and conflicts in their professional work and support them in preparing for and conducting independent research and mentoring of others.

Primary objectives: Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Recognize, identify, and analyze questions central to issues in biomedical science and research using established ethical theories and frameworks, relevant professional standards, and law, regulation, and policy on human subjects research; animal research; conflict of interest; data collection, management, and sharing; authorship and publication; peer review; collaboration; and mentor-trainee relations;
  2. Formulate recommendations for promoting responsible conduct and preventing and/or resolving ethical conflict in biomedical science and research, reflecting regulations, formal codes, professional standards, and ethical theories and frameworks as appropriate; and
  3. Identify the appropriate institutional resources for addressing questions related to ethics and integrity in biomedical science and research in academic and nonacademic settings.

Summer [1]