Transcript The Responsible Conduct of Research: Research Misconduct Prevention & Investigation Daniel R. Vasgird, PhD, CIP Office of Research Responsibility University of Nebraska, Lincoln [email protected] www.unl.edu/research/orr/ 1

The Responsible Conduct of
Research:
Research Misconduct
Prevention & Investigation
Daniel R. Vasgird, PhD, CIP
Office of Research Responsibility
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
[email protected]
www.unl.edu/research/orr/
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The Fundamental
Proposition
Rules are just a small part of the
picture. The alpha and the omega
has to be integrity from which all
else will follow, including
compliance.
“One is apt to think of
moral failure as due to
weakness of character:
more often it is due to an
inadequate ideal.”
Richard Livingstone
“Ethics primarily concerns
the effects of our actions
on others.”
Randy Cohen
Robert K. Merton
Stated that the disinterested pursuit of
truth is the norm of science, expressed
as:
– Universalism
– Communalism
– Disinterestedness
– Organized skepticism
“Fakery at a Top Research
Lab”
NY Times, 10/1/02:
J. Hendrik Schön of Bell Labs
 Published in Science and Nature (peer review)
 Falsified Data
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Bell Labs: no Research Misconduct policy
(“Can’t happen here”)
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Afterword: PhD at U of Konstanz revoked
UNL ORR Mission
Foster a culture of integrity and
compliance within the University
directed at ensuring that
participants in the University of
Nebraska, Lincoln research
enterprise internalize and pursue
the goal of self-directed responsible
conduct of research.
ORR Core Areas
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Human research protections
Animal research protections
Research misconduct
Conflict of interest and commitment
Data acquisition, management, sharing,
and ownership
Mentor/trainee relationships
Authorship and publication
Peer review
Collaborative science
Privacy (HIPAA)
UNL RCR Program
UNL RCR Online Training Series
RCR Research Misconduct
Resources
FSGO Compliance Elements
Implementing written policies & procedures;
 Designating a compliance officer and
compliance committee;
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Conducting effective training and education;
Developing effective lines of communication;
Conducting internal monitoring and auditing;
 Enforcing standards through well-publicized
disciplinary guidelines; and
 Responding promptly to detected problems.
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HHS
th
8
Element
‘‘Defining roles and
responsibilities and
assigning oversight
responsibility’’
National Academy of
Sciences
To maintain (public) confidence and trust
in this (the scientific) enterprise,
researchers must protect the empirical
objectivity of research, the unbiased
reporting of results and the open sharing
of that information for the good of society.
NAS Report Primary
Recommendations
Research institutions should offer effective
educational programs that enhance RCR.
 Research institutions should promote integrity
in research through top-down commitment
to RCR through strong supervision,
communication, socialization, etc.
 Research institutions should perform selfassessments to determine areas of need.
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HHS Research Misconduct
Final Rule (June, 2005)
Universities must:
– Foster an environment
that promotes RCR
– Have research misconduct
P&P’s
– Deal with allegations or
possible evidence of research
misconduct promptly