On Tech Ethics with CITI Program CITI Program

Examines the requirements and various considerations for research security training. 
Our guests today are Mike Steele and Emily Bradford. Mike is an Expert in the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy at the National Science Foundation, where he supports efforts to develop research security training and the office’s global outreach efforts. Emily is the Assistant Director of Research Compliance at the University of Kentucky. Under the Office of Sponsored Projects, she oversees conflicts of interest, research security, export controls, and some aspects of clinical trial compliance. 
 
Additional resources: 
CITI Program Research Security Training: https://about.citiprogram.org/series/research-security/ National Science Foundation Research Security (including the JASON studies and resources): https://new.nsf.gov/research-security National Science Foundation Research Security Training: https://new.nsf.gov/research-security/training Council on Governmental Relations Science and Security Resources: https://www.cogr.edu/cogrs-resource-page-science-and-security 

Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate antibiotic discovery. 
Our guest today is César de la Fuente who is a Presidential Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. César’s research focuses on using computational approaches to accelerate discoveries in biology and medicine. Specifically, he pioneered the development of the first computer-designed antibiotic with efficacy in animal models, demonstrating the application of AI for antibiotic discovery and helping launch this emerging field. 
 
Related publications: 
Pioneering study describing an antibiotic designed by AI with efficacy in preclinical mouse models: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03746-3 First exploration of the human proteome as a source of antibiotics, yielding numerous preclinical candidates: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-021-00801-1 First therapeutic molecules (i.e., antibiotics) identified in extinct organisms, launching the field of molecular de-extinction: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/pdfExtended/S1931-3128(23)00296-2 Relevant review in Science with the Collins Lab covering this emerging field: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh1114  
Related media coverage: 
STAT - “Giant sloths and woolly mammoths: Mining past creatures’ DNA for future antibiotics:” https://www.statnews.com/2023/10/25/antibiotics-resistance-ancient-dna-cesar-de-la-fuente/ Vox - “Using AI, scientists bring Neanderthal antibiotics back from extinction:” https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23811682/ai-neanderthal-antibiotics-extinction CNN - “Why ‘resurrection biology’ is gaining traction around the world:” https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/26/world/resurrection-biology-extinct-species-virus-scn/index.html  
Additional resources: 
De La Fuente Lab: http://delafuentelab.seas.upenn.edu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesardelafuentenunez/ X: https://twitter.com/delafuenteupenn CITI Program’s Bioethics course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/bioethics/ CITI Program’s Technology, Ethics, and Regulations course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/technology-ethics-and-regulations/ 

Discusses RealResponse, which is a platform that helps create safe, ethical, and inclusive educational and workplace environments.
Our guest today is David Chadwick who is the Founder and CEO of RealResponse.


Additional resources:
·         RealResponse: https://www.realresponse.com/
·         On Campus with CITI Program: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915
·         CITI Program’s Safe Research Environments course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/safe-research-environments/

Discusses artificial placenta and womb technologies, including some ethical considerations for first-in-human clinical trials. 
Our guest today is Stephanie Kukora who is a neonatologist and bioethicist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where she serves as core faculty in the Certificate Program in Pediatric Bioethics. She conducts research related to shared decision-making, global health, and education targeting communication skills for clinicians. 
 


Additional resources: 
“Ethical challenges in first-in-human trials of the artificial placenta and artificial womb: not all technologies are created equally, ethically:” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-023-01713-5 CITI Program’s Bioethics course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/bioethics/ CITI Program’s Healthcare Ethics Committee course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/healthcare-ethics-committee/ 

Discusses privacy and other ethical considerations for extended reality settings. 
Our guest today is Mihaela Popescu who is a Professor of Digital Media in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and the Faculty Director of CSUSB's Extended Reality for Learning Lab (xREAL). She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. 



Additional resources: 
Educause: https://www.educause.edu/ Electronic Frontier Foundation: https://www.eff.org/ CITI Program’s Technology, Ethics, and Regulations course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/technology-ethics-and-regulations/ 

Discusses considerations for using artificial intelligence in Institutional Review Board operations. 
Our guest is Myra Luna-Lucero, EdD, the Research Compliance Director at Columbia University’s Teachers College. She spearheaded the College’s “Ethics & Safety Amid Uncertainty” initiative and co-chaired the Research Compliance & Safety Committee. She has also recently launched the “Research Writing & Ethics” internship program and oversaw an extensive transformation of the College’s IRB website. She regularly offers seminars and workshops on research compliance and IRB leadership. A researcher and teacher herself, Dr. Luna-Lucero has studied and published on student motivation in STEM fields, barriers to accessing education for students in rural communities, and community activism. 
 
Additional resources: 
CITI Program’s Essentials of Responsible AI course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/essentials-of-responsible-ai/ CITI Program’s Technology, Ethics, and Regulations course: https://about.citiprogram.org/course/technology-ethics-and-regulations/