Getting Started

Everything you need to know to get started

Included on this page

How to start using CHIRON

What exactly is CHIRON?

Who is CHIRON for?

How to use CHIRON by role

Tips for facilitation

How to Start Using CHIRON (The Essentials)

01

Decide how you’ll use CHIRON

For group discussion or reflecting on your own?
In person or over video call?
In what setting?

We recommend groups of 2-5 people. Larger groups can be broken into smaller ones for discussion.

02

Decide which exercises you want to do

We recommend working through every exercise, but you don’t have to – each exercise can stand on its own.

Browse the Exercises page to see the options. If in doubt, do all of them!

03

Schedule time to do the exercises

We recommend at least one exercise per week. For all of the exercises, this will take 10 weeks.

Most exercises can be done in one hour, with exception. (Lengths are listed on the Exercises page).

04

Start with Exercise 0

The 30-minute intro exercise will give you the context you need to get the most out of the main exercises.

View the Exercises →

What exactly is CHIRON?

CHIRON is a series of ten “discussion exercises” designed to help research and oversight teams engage with the ethical complexities of biorepository research.

We designed these for small group discussion (2-5 people), but you can also use them on your own.

Each exercise includes…

1-2 light readings to provide context for the discussion.

Discussion Prompts to discuss a project you are working on (or an imaginary one).

A Reflection Worksheet to document takeaways and ground the discussion in your day-to-day work.

Who is CHIRON for?

CHIRON was built with three main audiences in mind:

Researchers

Researchers reusing existing data from biomedical repositories

Ethics Committees

Members of committees that review research per ethics regulations

Data Access Committees

Members of committees that oversee access to data repositories

However, CHIRON may be relevant to you even if you don’t fit neatly into one of these categories.

How to use CHIRON by role

How you might use CHIRON, by role:

Researchers

Use the exercises while actively working on a project, or make up a hypothetical project to discuss. Each exercise will help you think through your decisions with regard to a certain topic, such as choosing a research question, lumping or splitting variables, sharing results, etc.

Ethics Committee Members

Use CHIRON as a resource to guide your review process. You might adapt questions or prompts for inclusion in your application materials or discussion checklists. Choose a real research submission to discuss, or make up an imaginary one.

Data Access Committee Members

CHIRON can support your role as a safeguard against potential harms. You might integrate it into your review workflow or use specific exercises to inform your deliberations. You might also adapt questions or prompts for inclusion in your application materials or discussion checklists. Choose a real research submission to discuss, or make up an imaginary one.

💡 CHIRON is flexible. You can use it for individual reflection, team discussions, journal clubs, or professional training. We encourage you to adapt and remix it to suit your needs.

Tips for facilitation

Here are some tips to help groups get the most out of each session:

Choose a “driver.” Select someone to move things along, keep time, and share their screen (if meeting virtually). Switch “drivers” between each session.

Break up large groups. CHIRON works best in small groups of 2–5 people, but it can be adapted. Larger groups might consider breaking into smaller clusters for discussion.

Keep power dynamics in mind. Differences in career stage, experience, or identity can shape how people participate.

Be generous with each other’s perspectives. People will bring different experiences, and that’s a strength. Listen actively and ask questions with curiosity.

Get Started

Explore the exercises