Page 12 - PULSE@UM 2nd Issue 2019

research spotlight research spotlight

to foster research integrity. lovingly applying strokes of water-colours on ‘GETTING THE ETHICS OF GENOME EDITING RIGHT: ENGAGING MULTIPLE
our first ‘draft’ of a painting, but then we had PERSPECTIVES’ - FACULTY OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA AND
A distinct feature of this workshop is the to pass around our ‘masterpiece’ to another JOHNS HOPKINS BERMAN INSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS
active learning pedagogy that engaged even colleague who was then instructed to add on
the sceptics amongst us, with case studies, to the painting. Surprisingly, some of us turned
team-based learning, peer-instruction and role- into ‘Monets’ out of the ‘collaboration’ – hidden
play being employed to the hilt. With senior talents coming to the fore! However, it was
professors mingling with junior lecturers, one not just watercolours and fun – the painting
of the role-plays tackled topics pertaining to activity brought home the consequences of
mentor-mentee relationship and authorship in a collaborative research, reiterating the importance
hilarious manner, while making us contemplate of choosing the right collaborators as they can
the serious undertones that although the role- either safeguard or jeopardise our research.
play may be fictional, the situation can be
real and causes dire consequences when left The final curtain was on the reflection of
unchecked. This is the case with research strategies to foster research integrity, and to
misconduct arising from poor supervision and put in place the best practices, principles and
questionable practices. This is particularly guidelines on conducting research responsibly.
important as the incidence of reported cases Chair of YSN, Dr. Chai Lay Ching prompted
of research misconduct has been increasing us by saying that “change in mindsets and
in academic settings nowadays. Apart questionable practices will not happen if we
from that, case studies also teased out our simply wait for it; rather we should be the DR TEO CHIN HAI to counter human disease is one of the most
perception of certain grey areas in publication agents of change”. It was indeed a workshop DEPT OF PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE compelling potential applications capturing
and conflicts of interest. Many times, the where one entered on Day 1 and left by Day research funding and scientists’ attention.
actions of researchers are led by their intentions 3 with a kindled sense of purpose. It is cience and technology permeate every On 16 April 2019, over 150 people attended the
as appropriate references and guidance are not imperative that such workshops be extended Saspect of today’s world from the life- public conference entitled “Getting the Ethics
available. to UM’s campus community and that on a saving drugs and devices to the research in of Genome Editing Right: Engaging Multiple
regular basis to cultivate research integrity as new technologies and the cure for cancer. Perspectives” hosted by the the Faculty of
We even dabbled in painting, with each of us the very foundation of good science. The innovations that emerge from these fields Medicine, University of Malaya, together
continue to change the way we live today but with the Berman Institute of Bioethics,
are also accompanied by the emerging ethical Johns Hopkins University at the TJ Danaraj
issues particularly on the topic of gene editing. Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Gene editing, the technology that enable DNA Malaya. The signing of the Memorandum of
sequence alteration by adding, removing or Understanding (MoU) between the Faculty of
replacing sections of DNA, in theory, has almost Medicine, University of Malaya and the Berman
a limitless range of possible applications in Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University
improving the functions of living things. The marked a historic international collaboration
CRISPR technique, which is at the forefront in healthcare, bioethics and research that
of gene editing technology, is theorised to be launched the public conference.
much faster, cheaper, accurate and efficient
compared to any other existing genome editing As the world’s most renowned centre in
methods. The use of gene editing technology bioethics, the Berman Institute of Bioethics,

12 13