Inserm is deploying LORIER, a bilingual application designed with Fasfox to help early-career researchers explore the ethical questions they face in their work

Inserm, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, wanted to give early-career researchers a practical way to engage with research ethics. Fasfox designed and built LORIER, a bilingual web application based on real-world dilemmas rather than abstract instruction.

The challenge

Questions of research integrity rarely have a single obvious answer. Reproducibility, transparency, supervision, environmental impact and the use of artificial intelligence all involve choices shaped by context.

The application therefore needed to encourage reflection without reducing complex situations to a score or a list of prescribed answers. It also had to support French and English, protect personal data and remain easy to manage as the programme evolved.

What Fasfox built

LORIER presents researchers with interactive dilemmas inspired by situations they may encounter in their work. Users examine the context, weigh different courses of action and see the implications of each choice.

The platform includes:

• themed learning journeys covering research integrity, supervision, reproducibility, ecological transition and AI ethics;
• individual profiles, progress tracking and notifications;
• a way for users to submit dilemmas drawn from their own experience;
• an administration area for managing content and monitoring use;
• a responsive interface designed for both desktop and mobile use.

Technology designed around the programme

Fasfox designed a modular architecture so that Inserm can add themes, dilemmas and learning formats over time. The application is hosted in Europe and designed to meet GDPR requirements.

AI is used selectively, where it can help structure or explore content without taking the place of expert review. The underlying architecture also allows further AI-assisted features to be introduced as the programme develops.

Current status

LORIER is currently being deployed. Fasfox continues to support Inserm as the platform is introduced to its first users and the programme moves into operation.