Module 2: Responsible Research Culture for Organ-Chip Technology

This module will teach concepts of responsible research, innovation and design, and address the regulatory landscape governing safe, ethical use of organ-chips in human therapeutic discovery.

It will begin with a workshop on ‘Getting started on your PhD’ provided by QMUL’s Doctoral College which will cover research project management, important skills in high quality accurate and unbiased data collection, processing and analysis, and set the framework for the rest of this module.

Content will be delivered through 4 ORBIT on-line training packages to be taken in year 1 (Ethics by Design, Responsible Organisations, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainable Research) then a 1-day face-to-face ORBIT workshop in which students will develop an AREA framework to ensure the acceptability, desirability and sustainability of research and innovation. In years 2 & 3, ORBIT will follow up with Research Integrity and Data Governance training. COaCT staff will deliver 2 ‘case study days, putting responsible research concepts to practical consideration. EDI and unconscious bias training will be provided though this module, identifying their importance in achieving an ethically and morally strong supportive research culture.

The module will additionally provide training seminars and workshops in the 3Rs, clinical trials, the human tissue act and the regulation associated with the therapeutic discovery pipeline. Our partners including MHRA, NPL, FRAME, RSPCA, Animal Free Research, will help to deliver this part of the training providing an understanding of the regulatory framework in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.