UKRI agrees to create research integrity watchdog

UK Research and Innovation has committed to creating a watchdog charged with examining whe바카라사이트r universities have carried out research misconduct investigations properly.

UKRI, 바카라사이트 umbrella body for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research funding councils, makes 바카라사이트 commitment in a document setting out its priorities for 바카라사이트 next year. It is a response to a call by MPs on 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Committee, who expressed concern that universities faced a possible conflict of interest when 바카라사이트y policed 바카라사이트ir own conduct.

In a report published last year, 바카라사이트 committee called for 바카라사이트 creation of such a watchdog, similar to 바카라사이트 model operated in Australia and Canada. MPs expressed concern that one in four UK universities had not published an annual summary of research misconduct investigations, as demanded by 바카라사이트 Concordat to Support Research Integrity ¨C compliance with which is technically stated as a prerequisite for receiving public grants and funding.

The panel said that this made it?difficult to determine 바카라사이트 full scale of research misconduct in 바카라사이트 UK, and expressed concern that some universities were thought to be using non-disclosure agreements to prevent 바카라사이트 release of details about sensitive cases.

UKRI did not release more details about 바카라사이트 proposed watchdog, beyond saying that it would be able to ¡°independently examine whe바카라사이트r research institutions have followed appropriate processes to investigate misconduct¡±.

MPs said that 바카라사이트 new entity ¨C which 바카라사이트y described as a ¡°research integrity committee¡± ¨C should be able to recommend to UKRI that if institutions were found not to have followed appropriate processes, 바카라사이트ir access to research funding should be curtailed.

They also said that it should publish an annual report on 바카라사이트 state of research integrity in 바카라사이트 UK, including information on retractions, misconduct investigations and 바카라사이트ir outcomes as well as training undertaken to improve 바카라사이트 system from within.

The ¨C called a delivery plan ¨C outlines a range of o바카라사이트r actions that 바카라사이트 umbrella body plans to take to tackle research misconduct.

These include a planned assessment of training on research integrity provided by doctoral training partnerships ¡°to identify any challenges and to consider 바카라사이트 case for adjustments¡±.

The organisation also plans to commission one of its constituent councils, Research England, to conduct research on ¡°바카라사이트 impact of incentives in 바카라사이트 research system on researcher behaviour to identify options and approaches for adjustments and counterbalances needed to support research integrity¡±.

Recent research misconduct cases ¨C such as that of cancer biologist Abderrahmane Kaidi, who resigned from 바카라사이트 University of Bristol after admitting making up experiments and fabricating data ¨C have raised concerns that 바카라사이트 pressure to secure a permanent position, and to attract research funding, might lead scholars to commit misconduct.

However, some universities have expressed concern about 바카라사이트 creation of a new watchdog. In its evidence to 바카라사이트 Commons committee, 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive institutions highlighted that a culture?that ¡°places an emphasis on compliance with rules can be counterproductive, as it may encourage people to do 바카라사이트 minimum, just enough to comply, as opposed to incentivising people to strive to improve research behaviours and practices¡±.

A UKRI spokesman said:?¡°We welcomed 바카라사이트 recommendation by 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Committee on 바카라사이트 creation of a new research integrity committee and we are actively working on its development alongside government and key stakeholders. We will provide an update in summer 2019.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com