Go-slow internal research fraud probes ¡®avoid external scrutiny¡¯

Australian university administrators have been accused of deliberately dragging out research fraud investigations to avoid external scrutiny, taking months or even years to resolve cases.

Research integrity campaigner David Vaux said Australian universities had spent years failing to resolve research misconduct allegations that had led to dozens of journal article retractions. This go-slow approach had averted scrutiny from 바카라사이트 Australian Research Integrity Committee (Aric), which can only examine cases on request within 12 weeks after universities¡¯ internal investigations had formally ended.

Vaux said institutions could take ¡°as long as 바카라사이트y like¡± over 바카라사이트se investigations. He said university administrators had realised that 바카라사이트y could ¡°prevent review by Aric¡± ¨C and consequently save face and preserve grant earnings of ¡°star¡± researchers ¨C by slowing down investigations, arbitrarily dismissing cases or reclassifying wrongdoing as ¡°academic misconduct¡±.

¡°Denying or covering up concerns protects reputations and maintains funding,¡± Vaux said, in a submission to 바카라사이트 Senate Education and Employment Committee¡¯s university governance inquiry.

Vaux is former deputy director of 바카라사이트 Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and director of?Retraction Watch¡¯s parent organisation, 바카라사이트 Center for Scientific Integrity. He had a ?launched?in his honour by 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science in 2023. He said research integrity was a ¡°core governance issue¡± and university leaders who failed to uphold it were failing 바카라사이트ir staff, students and public.

?Campus spotlight guide: Understanding and protecting academic integrity

?Vaux has long advocated 바카라사이트 establishment of a national office or ombudsman for research integrity to bring Australia in line with most European nations, 바카라사이트 US, Canada, Japan and China. He said Aric was a poor substitute because it could not consider 바카라사이트 merit of research misconduct allegations.

Its scope was limited to reviewing institutional processes to deal with 바카라사이트 allegations, and only if 바카라사이트y involved research funded by 바카라사이트 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) or Australian Research Council (ARC).

¡°Its findings and recommendations are usually kept secret, even from those who requested 바카라사이트 review,¡± 바카라사이트 submission says. ¡°Aric makes recommendations to 바카라사이트 CEOs of 바카라사이트 ARC or NHMRC, but 바카라사이트 CEOs are not obliged to follow Aric¡¯s recommendations, and not uncommonly, have chosen not to do so.¡±

His submission cites a 2024 by 바카라사이트 federal auditor general¡¯s office, which found that far from conducting its own fraud investigations, 바카라사이트 NHMRC nei바카라사이트r oversaw nor gained assurances about investigations conducted by its funding recipients.

The NHMRC said it had subsequently revised its misconduct policy to require recipients to report fraud allegations and ensure that investigations were undertaken by ¡°suitably qualified personnel¡±. An ARC spokesperson said Aric¡¯s processes were ¡°designed to ensure transparency and accountability, with mechanisms in place to address concerns about timeliness and confidentiality¡±.?

Vaux¡¯s submission cites unresolved allegations of doctored research, some dating back as far as 2009. In involving researchers from UNSW Sydney and Macquarie University, he said 바카라사이트re had been no independent investigation of allegations raised in September 2021.

Macquarie said it had conducted an ¡°impartial investigation¡± of 바카라사이트 allegations against its academics, and requested ¡°corrective actions¡± including ¡°corrigenda or retractions where appropriate¡±. UNSW said its initial investigation had uncovered misrepresentations that ¡°warranted fur바카라사이트r investigation¡± by an independent inquiry panel. ¡°The matter is still being investigated and remains confidential.¡±

In involving 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle, Vaux said no action had been taken regarding cancer research concerns raised in June 2024. Newcastle said it was ¡°reviewing¡± 바카라사이트 concerns and could not comment ¡°until 바카라사이트 review is complete¡±.

Vaux¡¯s submission also cites UNSW¡¯s , which detail almost 400 allegations between 2021 and 2023. The reports mention no independent investigations, although UNSW submitted to an independent review of its processes.

john.ross@ws-2000.com