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Address Ethical Issues

Discover resources for addressing ethical issues in research.

Research ethics

Core Commitments
The University is committed to protecting research participants, upholding the highest ethical standards, and improving our practice at every step of our work. These Core Commitments represent our shared responsibility to protect research participants, uphold the highest ethical standards and improve our practice at every step.

Education

Research Ethics Training Module
A self-paced course designed to help research professionals learn and review regulations and best practices for biomedical and behavioral science research ethics. This free course is administered by CTSI. 

Center for Bioethics 
The Center for Bioethics offers three programs to suit graduate and professional students as well as working professionals, including a Clinical Ethics Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program.

Resources

Literature Reviews Regarding Ethical Issues
The Center for Bioethics can assist researchers with conducting literature review on any ethics matter pertaining to innovative or unusual research designs that use human subjects. Please contact Dr. Steven Miles at [email protected] to access assistance.

Research and Innovation Office Ethics & Compliance
These Research and Innovation Office resources include information on common topics for ethical consideration, including:

  • Conflict of interest;
  • Investigator Manual
    Designed to guide you through policies, procedures, and resources related to the conduct of Human Research that are specific to the University of Minnesota. Covers topics such as:
    • Informed Consent Process
    • Exempt research;
    • International and cross-cultural research;
    • Vulnerable populations (including, but not limited to research with pregnant women, children, University students or employees).
  • Human Research Protection Programs ToolKit Library
    A set of documents primarily for use and reference by the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), IRB staff, and IRB members
  • IRB New Study resources

Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences
The Consortium conducts research and fosters dialogue about important issues at the intersection of science and society, including events that provide the opportunity to hear from experts in bioethics, public policy, health care, and the life sciences.

NIH Bioethics Resources on the Web
This NIH website aims to help individuals and groups explore the vast array of issues in bioethics; the content spans a wide range of topics, including human subjects and animal research, institutional review boards, clinical ethics, international research ethics issues, genetics, and neuroethics, among others.

The Belmont Report
The Belmont Report summarizes ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects; this content is hosted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Reporting a violation

UReport
The University community can use this tool to confidentially report any law or policy violations in research practice.

Contact

For questions or to schedule a consultation:

CTSI Research Navigator