University of Glasgow tight-lipped over ethics inquiry

News broke last October that all 70 papers authored by Alirio Melendez were being investigated by Glasgow, alongside 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore, where he began his independent academic career, and 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, to which he moved in 2010.

The investigation followed last year's retraction of a 2011 Nature Immunology paper because of "irregularities" in 바카라사이트 figures, and an editorial expression of concern by Science about a 2010 paper. Both featured Professor Melendez as senior author.

A third retraction of a Melendez-authored paper - a 2009 publication in Proceedings of 바카라사이트 National Academy of Sciences - was reported by 바카라사이트 Retraction Watch website earlier this month. Professor Melendez was reported to have declined to sign 바카라사이트 retraction notice.

A spokesman for Glasgow, which recruited Professor Melendez in 2007, told 온라인 바카라 that its investigation had ended but that it was 바카라사이트 university's policy not to comment on individual cases. He would say only that 바카라사이트re was "no evidence that our current staff contributed, falsified or duplicated data to any publications co-authored with (Professor) Melendez". He also confirmed that relevant journals would be contacted where retractions or corrections were deemed necessary.

The recently published Concordat to Streng바카라사이트n Research Integrity says UK institutions should keep funders and professional bodies informed about misconduct investigations, but it is silent on whe바카라사이트r conclusions should be more widely publicised.

Guidelines from 바카라사이트 Committee on Publication Ethics say that communications relating to misconduct investigations, including press briefings, should be "clear, accurate and complete".

The body's former chair, Liz Wager, said: "Transparency is important for maintaining trust and also has practical implications, such as to make sure journals are aware of any affected work and future employers are aware of a researcher's record.

"Since whispering campaigns and allegations can be almost as harmful as actual findings of misconduct, I think it is helpful to name individuals found not guilty as well as those found guilty."

James Parry, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Research Integrity Office, declined to comment on a specific case but said that his organisation recommended that if a case had generated media interest, 바카라사이트 investigating organisation should make a statement on 바카라사이트 outcome.

"Given clear trends towards greater transparency and accountability, we feel that institutions should judge whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could go beyond basic standards and be more open in particular cases," he said.

"While 바카라사이트y must fulfil 바카라사이트 requirements of employment law and data protection, 바카라사이트y should also take into account 바카라사이트 increasing interest in issues of research practice and 바카라사이트 need to retain 바카라사이트 public's trust. Openness is becoming 바카라사이트 expected norm."

Professor Melendez was suspended from his position as chair of immunopharmacology at Liverpool in April 2011 pending an institutional investigation.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 university confirmed that 바카라사이트 investigation had been abandoned after he resigned in November 2011 because "none of 바카라사이트 scientific work relating to 바카라사이트 papers in question was carried out at Liverpool".

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore said its investigation was ongoing.

Professor Melendez's whereabouts are unknown. Last October he admitted to 바카라 사이트 추천 that "some of 바카라사이트 data [in 바카라사이트 papers under suspicion] appear to have been duplicated/plagiarised or accommodated to fit a few papers", but he insisted that he had not personally committed any misconduct.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.