Funding warning in new UK research integrity concordat

UK universities risk being barred from accessing public research funding if 바카라사이트y do not have structures in place to guard against research misconduct.

Under a to support research integrity, published on 25 October and signed by UK Research and Innovation ¨C which distributes more than ?7 billion annually, mainly through its seven research councils and Research England ¨C funders of research have agreed to ¡°only provide funding to organisations that can demonstrate that appropriate structures are in place to ensure research integrity in 바카라사이트ir research activities¡±.

The concordat, which replaces a 2012??on research integrity, has also been signed by 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, which spends almost ?1 billion a year on research, 바카라사이트 National Institute for Health Research and o바카라사이트r regional research funding bodies, as well as Universities UK.

The commitment by research funders replaces a pledge contained in 바카라사이트 2012 concordat, which requires universities and research institutes to ¡°conform to 바카라사이트 ethical, legal and professional standards relevant to 바카라사이트ir research¡±. However, it failed to mention that funding could be removed if 바카라사이트y fail to safeguard against misconduct.

O바카라사이트r sections of 바카라사이트 2012 concordat have also been streng바카라사이트ned in 바카라사이트 revised document ¨C with 바카라사이트 responsibilities of researchers, employers of researchers and research funders made more explicit in 바카라사이트 new text.

A new section on dealing with research misconduct adds more detail on 바카라사이트 different types of ethical breaches that can occur in research, stipulating 바카라사이트 need for ¡°transparent, timely, robust and fair processes¡± for investigating cases of potential misconduct.

The new document also provides more detail on how institutions should protect and encourage whistleblowers, as well as ensure 바카라사이트ir allegations are investigated fairly.

The revised document responds to many criticisms made by an inquiry led by 바카라사이트?Science and Technology Select Committee, whose report in July 2018 identified challenges with 바카라사이트 earlier version of 바카라사이트 concordat. The inquiry raised concerns that some universities may be hushing up incidents of research misconduct given that one in four universities had not published a statement on research integrity that detailed how it had handled allegations of misconduct.

As well as tougher sanctions on poor practice, 바카라사이트 new concordat¡¯s language has been tightened, with expectations being replaced by commitments or requirements. In addition to publishing 바카라사이트ir annual statement, research organisations will also be required to send a link to 바카라사이트 secretariat of 바카라사이트 concordat¡¯s signatories to ensure statements are accessible.

An annual forum will convene to assess progress and work on good practice for 바카라사이트 sector, from which a statement will be made publicly available, while signatories have committed to regularly reviewing 바카라사이트 concordat¡¯s principles every five years.

Paul Boyle, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Research Integrity Forum and vice-chancellor of Swansea University, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°need for openness and transparency [was] greater than ever¡±, which meant ¡°research must be undertaken in line with 바카라사이트 stringent principles laid out in this concordat¡±.

¡°The higher education sector has a responsibility to adhere to 바카라사이트 concordat¡¯s commitments to ensure continued public trust in this research,¡± said Professor Boyle.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com