Research Newsletter - Issue 95: Information and Updates

Please note that the Research Ethics Committee (REC) will close from 5th July to 9th August 2024.  The next REC meeting will take place on Friday, 30th August 2024.  The deadline for submission of applications for that meeting is 5pm on Friday, 9th August 2024.

Find below some important updates from the Research Ethics Committee.

Guidelines for the Use of GEN AI in Research

The Research Ethics Committee has developed Guidelines for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in Research which will be uploaded to the Research Ethics webpage by 1st August, 2024.  The Guidelines are designed to help researchers reflect on the possible ethical dilemmas that may arise when using Gen AI in research.  They should be consulted prior to submitting applications to REC to ensure transparency in the use of GEN AI in research. 

Updates to Application Form

The Research Ethics Committee application form will be updated over the Summer to include some changes:

1. A question on the use of AI in research.  If AI will be used in a significant manner, the applicant will be guided to complete a separate template which should be included in the appendix of the REC submission. 
2. A question guiding applicants to ensure they advise research participants not to include potentially identifiable data in free text questions on surveys that otherwise do not collect any personal data.  This is to ensure that anonymous data collection is actually totally anonymous and leaves no room for unintentional inclusion of potentially identifiable data by participants.  
3. In Section 3.6 of the REC application form, the applicant is required to indicate their source of funding.  From 1st August 2024, a line will be added stating that, if the research is externally funded, the applicant should include this information in the Participant Information Sheet.

Updates to Templates

The following changes will be made to the REC templates: 

1. In the Introductory Section of the Participant Information Sheet, the applicant will be required to include any details about external funding of the research where relevant.
2. A new template for completion if AI will be used to a significant extent in the research will be available on the Research Ethics webpage and the Research Ethics Portal on Loop from 1st August, 2024. 

From 1st August 2024, the Research Ethics Committee will only accept applications that use the REC templates provided on the Research webpage and the Research Ethics Portal on Loop.  These include templates for the Participant Information Sheet, Informed Consent Form, Child Assent form and Child Participant Information Sheet.  This measure is to ensure that all required information is included in the applicant’s submission for REC review, easing the process for both applicant and committee.  Please note that submissions that do not use the approved REC templates will be returned to applicants at the point of triage.  

How to avoid delays in REC approval

The Research Ethics Committee has observed the following common issues which lead to delays in the review and approval process:

1. Some applicants complete the REC application form inaccurately regarding data protection issues.  Please note that, if data is potentially identifiable at the point of collection and if informed consent forms are to be signed, then personal data is being collected.  This should be acknowledged and addressed in Section 4 of the REC application form.  If inconsistencies regarding data protection are noted at the point of triage, the submission will be returned to the applicant for further clarification (which the applicant may do in liaison with the DPU if necessary).
2. In several recent cases, applicants have put text in various sections of the REC application form that significantly exceeds the total word count for the section as stated in the application form.  Please note that the ethics review and approval of applications that exceed the word count for sections of the form will be delayed as applicants will be asked to rework the texts to meet the word count criteria. 

DCU Research Development and Support is pleased to announce the launch of a Google calendar containing details of upcoming internal webinars and info sessions accessible to DCU staff. 

The calendar contains upcoming event descriptions and registration links, and will allow you to see everything in one place. It will be updated as new information sessions and workshops are planned, and we hope that you will find this new service useful. You can access the calendar here. 

Feedback on Ireland’s first national guidelines for open-access publishing is invited.

The guidelines, developed by the RIA and Trinity in consultation with publishers and authors as part of a project called PublishOA, provide practical support for Irish scholarly publishers and authors to transition to Open Access.

There are numerous benefits for society in ensuring that research is open to all. It can increase the transparency around research findings and broaden access to timely knowledge. The guidelines show how open access can also help researchers and publishers to increase the citation and discoverability of their research.

See here the guidelines for authors. 

Comments are welcome until 31st August 2024. Contact publishoa@ria.ie

The Net4Society Networking Platform is open all year round and offers you the chance to find partners for all upcoming Cluster 2 calls. 

• Are you looking for additional partners for your already existing project consortium to apply for funding in Cluster 2? 
• Are you interested in a specific Cluster 2 topic and would like to join forces with other partners to build up your consortium? 

The networking platform brings together participants from all over Europe and beyond. It is the unique opportunity to generate new contacts and to build up project consortia. Participants have the opportunity to pre-arrange meetings with other participants in order to identify possible collaborators and to facilitate the setup of Horizon Europe project consortia.

Why participate?

• Present, discuss and develop new project ideas at international level
• Acquire new cross-border contacts and initiate collaborations
• Facilitate the setup of quality partnerships in view of the open Horizon Europe calls
• Immerse in networking and consortium building opportunities

How can you benefit?

• Publish and showcase your project idea in our dedicated flash presentation session
• Discuss your proposal with experienced evaluators and gain valuable feedback in our Pre-Proposal Check
• Initiate and arrange promising pre-scheduled meetings at the event
• Generate fresh leads and meet new contacts in a time and cost-efficient way

Interested? Click here to see how it works and here to register to participate in the Networking Platform. 

In the LSRF, the microscopy suite has had upgrades to existing fluorescence microscopes along with the purchase of two new systems, meaning that there is now a range of fluorescence microscopes to support research across many disciplines in DCU.  These microscopes are situated in a dedicated microscopy lab and all instrumentation is supported by technical officers who ensure that the microscopes are working to the highest possible standard. The officers also provide training for new users, and they assist with consultations on techniques and methods to get the most out of the instruments.  The tender process is currently underway for the purchase of a new flow cytometer analyser for the core. 

More information on the facilities available can be found here.

Please email research.facilities@dcu.ie if you have any questions or queries.

The I-Corps@SFI Academy provides introductory training for researchers in evidence-based entrepreneurship and provides training for research translation professionals (e.g. Technology Transfer Office staff) based at Irish Research Bodies that enables them to support researchers in the application of this evidence-based methodology. The Academy is delivered in partnership with I-Corps South and Georgia Tech Venture Lab.

The Academy is a cohort-based programme that is delivered virtually over a number of weeks to train researchers in evidence-based entrepreneurship using the NSF I-Corps methodology. It provides researchers with training in innovation and entrepreneurship and provides access to mentoring that enables exploration of impact opportunities for their research. As part of this training experience, researchers can expect to undertake real-world interviews with potential beneficiaries and end-users of their research. This training also prepares researchers to apply to the SFI/NSF I-Corps@SFI Entrepreneurial Training Programme and other funding programmes.

Who can apply?

Under a programme cohort there can be up to two application streams:

• Research Teams (Researcher Stream)

Applications can be submitted by teams comprising two researchers (at any career stage), working on a technical innovation based on STEM research or AHSS discipline, with the ambition to translate their work for impact. Both researchers must be based at an eligible Research Body. However, both researchers do not need to be based at the same Research Body, nor do both researchers need to be at the same career stage. Both researchers must work on the same problem during training.

• Non-academic Research Body Staff (Instructor Trainee Stream)

Non-academic Research Body staff members responsible for translation or commercialisation of research (e.g. a member of Technology Transfer Office staff) can apply to participate as instructor trainees. To apply, non-academic Research Body staff must recruit a research team (see above) to work with throughout the training programme.

Application involves completion of a short form submitted online. The form requests details on the applicants and a brief description of the problem you are trying to solve. Submissions under the Researcher Stream must be endorsed by the DCU Invent - relevant contact details here .

For more details please download the SFI’s call notification or contact i-corps@sfi.ie 

DCU Qualtrics will soon be available to staff and students. 

This is a powerful and user-friendly web-based survey tool. With Qualtrics, you can effortlessly create, build, and distribute your own surveys and forms, and analyse the results, all through a single sign-on using your DCU credentials. ISS will provide further details to the DCU community in the coming days.