Foundations in Research Ethics (FIRE)
Overview
Foundations in Research Ethics (FIRE) is a fully online, self-paced course developed by CENTRES at the NUS Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE). It is designed to provide a structured introduction to the core concepts and frameworks that shape ethical research in Singapore, and equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfil your ethical and legal responsibilities.
In Singapore’s research landscape, ethics and the law are fundamental to responsible research and maintaining public trust.
Research involving human participants, human tissue, and health-related data often raises complex ethical, legal, and governance issues. It is therefore essential for researchers and reviewers to be able to identify these challenges early, respond appropriately, and know when to seek further institutional or regulatory guidance.
In Singapore’s research landscape, ethics and the law are fundamental to responsible research and maintaining public trust.
Research involving human participants, human tissue, and health-related data often raises complex ethical, legal, and governance issues. It is therefore essential for researchers and reviewers to be able to identify these challenges early, respond appropriately, and know when to seek further institutional or regulatory guidance.
Who this course is for
FIRE is intended for:
- Members and administrators of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
- Researchers and investigators conducting human participant, clinical, translational, public health, or academic research in Singapore
- Research support staff involved in protocol development, consent processes, data governance, or regulatory submissions
- Graduate students and trainees who require foundational training before participating in human research
What you’ll learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify ethical issues that commonly arise in research involving human participants, human tissue, and health-related data
- Understand key research ethics principles, including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice
- Recognise which governance frameworks may apply to different kinds of research in Singapore
- Apply good practices relating to consent, confidentiality, data management, research integrity, inclusivity, and participant protection
- Use ethical reasoning to reflect on practical research scenarios and seek appropriate guidance where needed
7 Self-Paced Units
Each unit covers a broad research ethics topic and includes 2–4 lectures on specific issues, along with supporting resources. A short quiz follows each lecture to reinforce learning and track completion.
We recommend completing the units in sequence, as later units build on concepts introduced earlier in the course. However, you can revisit specific units at any time based on your learning needs.
We recommend completing the units in sequence, as later units build on concepts introduced earlier in the course. However, you can revisit specific units at any time based on your learning needs.
Mode:
Fully online, self-paced course on Canvas
Through short video lectures, supporting resources, and unit-level quizzes, this course guides you through key areas of research ethics, including ethical analysis, informed consent, Singapore laws and guidelines, research integrity, inclusivity, research with particular populations, and emerging issues in science and technology.
Through short video lectures, supporting resources, and unit-level quizzes, this course guides you through key areas of research ethics, including ethical analysis, informed consent, Singapore laws and guidelines, research integrity, inclusivity, research with particular populations, and emerging issues in science and technology.
Continuing Professional Education:
All participating doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are eligible for 1 CME/CPE points respectively per unit.
Registration:
Fee: Free of charge
Launching soon!
Launching soon!
Contact Persons:
If you have questions about the course, please contact Luna (sn.luna@nus.edu.sg).
We will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
For study-specific or institution-specific questions, please also consult your institution’s IRB, research office, or relevant regulatory guidance, as applicable.
We will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
For study-specific or institution-specific questions, please also consult your institution’s IRB, research office, or relevant regulatory guidance, as applicable.
Unit A: Ethical Analysis
Lecturer: Dr Owen Schaefer, CBmE
This unit introduces the background and basics of research ethics. It explores how historical research abuses and governance failures shaped modern research ethics, before turning to the principles and values that guide ethical research today. You will also learn how to conduct a basic risk-benefit assessment when evaluating research protocols.
Unit B: Informed Consent
Lecturer: Dr Sumytra Menon, CBmE
This unit examines informed consent as both an ethical requirement and a legal/regulatory process. It covers the core elements of valid consent, common threats to voluntariness and comprehension, consent requirements under Singapore law, and practical safeguards for special situations, including research involving minors, adults lacking decision-making capacity, deceased persons, and remote or electronic consent processes.
Unit C: Researchers’ Responsibilities, Laws and Guidelines
Lecturers: Prof Jerry Menikoff, Dr Sumytra Menon, CBmE
This unit provides an overview of the responsibilities of researchers, institutions, IRBs, and sponsors. It introduces major international ethics guidance and explains key Singapore governance frameworks, including the Human Biomedical Research Act, the Human Tissue Framework, clinical trial regulations, HSA guidance, data protection obligations, and institutional IRB/SOP requirements.
Unit D: Research Integrity and Data Management
Lecturers: Dr Harisan Unais Nasir, Prof Jerry Menikoff, CBmE
This unit focuses on responsible conduct throughout the research lifecycle. It covers good practices in data management, confidentiality, and record-keeping, as well as ethical issues relating to deception, incomplete disclosure, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, authorship, conflicts of interest, peer review, whistleblowing, and dissemination of research findings.
Unit E: Inclusivity and Participation in Research
Lecturers: A/Prof Michael Dunn, Dr Shalom Chalson, CBmE
This unit considers why diversity, equality, advocacy, and public participation matter in research ethics. It explores barriers to inclusion, the risks of under-representation, and practical approaches to strengthening research design and accountability through participatory methods, patient/public involvement, communication, remuneration, privacy safeguards, and respectful partnership.
Unit F: Research with Particular Populations
Lecturers: Ms Mathavi Senguttuvan, CBmE
This unit examines vulnerability as a context-sensitive issue in research. It considers how researchers and reviewers should identify what participants may be vulnerable to in a specific study and develop proportionate protections. It also addresses research involving particular populations, including minors, persons lacking decision-making capacity, pregnant persons, prisoners or institutionalised persons, and minority groups who may face heightened risks of harm or disadvantage.
Unit G: Emerging Technologies and Developments
Lecturers: Prof Barnaby Young, Joel, Dr Sumytra Menon, CBmE
This unit introduces ethical and governance challenges arising from emerging technologies and research contexts. Topics include artificial intelligence and generative AI, big data, genomic data, pandemics and emergency research, healthy longevity medicine, telehealth, and digital therapeutics. The unit invites learners to consider how core research ethics principles apply in fast-moving and data-intensive fields.