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ORI 1/071 The Office of Research Integrity: Responding to Misconduct and Promoting Responsible Research John E. Dahlberg, Ph.D. Director Division of Investigative.

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Presentation on theme: "ORI 1/071 The Office of Research Integrity: Responding to Misconduct and Promoting Responsible Research John E. Dahlberg, Ph.D. Director Division of Investigative."— Presentation transcript:

1 ORI 1/071 The Office of Research Integrity: Responding to Misconduct and Promoting Responsible Research John E. Dahlberg, Ph.D. Director Division of Investigative Oversight

2 ORI 1/072 ORI’s Mission Mission: To promote the integrity of PHS- supported extramural and intramural research programs Respond effectively to allegations Respond effectively to allegations of research misconduct Promote research integrity Promote research integrity

3 ORI 1/073 Definition of Research Misconduct Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record

4 ORI 1/074 Definition of Research Misconduct Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion (42 CFR Part 93.103)

5 ORI 1/075 Proof of Research Misconduct Requires - That there be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community, and That there be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community, and The misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly; and The misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly; and The allegation be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, (42 CFR Part 93.104) The allegation be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, (42 CFR Part 93.104)

6 ORI 1/076 Additional ORI Activities Administer the Assurance program, a database of all institutions eligible to receive PHS funds Administer the Assurance program, a database of all institutions eligible to receive PHS funds Correct or retract research publications to protect the integrity of the scientific literature Correct or retract research publications to protect the integrity of the scientific literature Protect the confidentiality of respondents, complainants, and witnesses Protect the confidentiality of respondents, complainants, and witnesses Protect witnesses from retaliation Protect witnesses from retaliation (42 CFR 93.300 (d) ) (42 CFR 93.300 (d) )

7 ORI 1/077 ORI Activities (cont) Provide education in RCR Provide education in RCR Collaborate with the research community to improve biomedical research Collaborate with the research community to improve biomedical research Exclude dishonest investigators from PHS and Federal agency funded research Exclude dishonest investigators from PHS and Federal agency funded research Make public findings of misconduct so that institutions and individuals will be aware of wrongdoing Make public findings of misconduct so that institutions and individuals will be aware of wrongdoing

8 ORI 1/078 ORI lacks jurisdictions for many types of inappropriate behavior: some are referred to other agencies Misuse of human or animal subjects Misuse of human or animal subjects Misconduct and other complaints involving FDA-regulated research Misconduct and other complaints involving FDA-regulated research Financial mismanagement Financial mismanagement Radiation or biosafety hazards Radiation or biosafety hazards Conflict of interest Conflict of interest

9 ORI 1/079 Other issues not within ORI’s jurisdiction: Honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data Honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data Authorship or credit disputes Authorship or credit disputes Duplicate publication Duplicate publication Collaboration agreements or research- related disputes among collaborators Collaboration agreements or research- related disputes among collaborators Intellectual property Intellectual property

10 ORI 1/0710 Issues not within ORI’s jurisdiction (Continued) Laboratory management Laboratory management Quality control/quality assurance (eg., surveillance data) Quality control/quality assurance (eg., surveillance data) Employment issues such as job changes, promotion, termination, salary, etc. Employment issues such as job changes, promotion, termination, salary, etc. Disputes over space, equipment access, collaborative work Disputes over space, equipment access, collaborative work

11 ORI 1/0711 Research Misconduct in Clinical Research By policy, in clinical trails, certain types of falsifications are not handled by ORI as allegations of research misconduct. These include: By policy, in clinical trails, certain types of falsifications are not handled by ORI as allegations of research misconduct. These include: Falsified or forged consent forms Falsified or forged consent forms Failure to report an adverse event to the IRB or sponsor Failure to report an adverse event to the IRB or sponsor Protocol deviations such as entering ineligible subjects, administering an off-protocol drug, forging a physician’s signature on orders Protocol deviations such as entering ineligible subjects, administering an off-protocol drug, forging a physician’s signature on orders Failure to obtain informed consent Failure to obtain informed consent Breach of patient confidentiality Breach of patient confidentiality Failure to obtain IRB approval for changes to protocol Failure to obtain IRB approval for changes to protocol

12 ORI 1/0712 Research Misconduct in Clinical Research, (Continued) Behaviors that are considered research misconduct: Falsifications: Falsifications: Substitutions of one subject’s record for another’s Substitutions of one subject’s record for another’s Changing research record to favor the study’s hypothesis Changing research record to favor the study’s hypothesis Altering eligibility dates and eligibility test results Altering eligibility dates and eligibility test results Falsifying dates on patient screening logs Falsifying dates on patient screening logs Fabrications: Fabrications: Not conducting interviews with subjects and creating records of the interview Not conducting interviews with subjects and creating records of the interview Making up patient visits and inserting that record into the medical chart Making up patient visits and inserting that record into the medical chart Recording the results of follow-up visits with deceased subjects Recording the results of follow-up visits with deceased subjects

13 ORI 1/0713 Types of data that have been falsified or fabricated in clinical studies Interviews Interviews Entry criteria Entry criteria Screening logs Screening logs Approval forms Approval forms Follow-up exams/data Follow-up exams/data Consent forms Consent forms Test scores Test scores Laboratory results Patient data Number of subjects Dates of procedures Protocol Study results

14 ORI 1/0714 ORI’s Handling of Cases Allegation – at institution or at ORI Allegation – at institution or at ORI Allegation Assessment – if at ORI, referred to institution Allegation Assessment – if at ORI, referred to institution Institution Inquiry Institution Inquiry Institution Investigation – institutional actions Institution Investigation – institutional actions DIO Review of Institution’s Investigation DIO Review of Institution’s Investigation ORI Director’s Decision on proposed administrative actions ORI Director’s Decision on proposed administrative actions If misconduct, seek settlement or send charge letter followed by hearing If misconduct, seek settlement or send charge letter followed by hearing If misconduct found, possible appeal If misconduct found, possible appeal With final departmental finding, impose administrative actions With final departmental finding, impose administrative actions

15 ORI 1/0715 Some ORI Statistics 1992 to July 2007 statistics: Total misconduct findings 189 Total misconduct findings 189 Misconduct findings that involve clinical research 27% Misconduct findings that involve clinical research 27% Findings leading to debarment 119 Findings leading to debarment 119 Total cases opened from 1992 501 Total cases opened from 1992 501 Total cases closed from 1992 531 Total cases closed from 1992 531

16 ORI 1/0716 Statistics (cont) Total cases pending 43 Total cases pending 43 Total allegations from 1992 3,084 Total allegations from 1992 3,084 Allegations per year ~225 Allegations per year ~225 Retracted papers114 Retracted papers114 Corrected papers 31 Corrected papers 31 Withdrawn papers 4 Withdrawn papers 4 Total of correct, retracted, and withdrawn journal articles 149 Total of correct, retracted, and withdrawn journal articles 149

17 ORI 1/0717 Major misconduct case: Eric Poehlman, Ph.D. University of Vermont

18 ORI 1/0718 The initial allegations arose when Dr. Poehlman provided a colleague, about a week apart, two versions of a spreadsheet containing physical, dietary, energetic, and metabolic data on elderly men and women seen twice, on average, about six years apart. In the complainant’s own words: Initial Allegations

19 ORI 1/0719 The incident that triggered my suspicions occurred in late September, 2000 - I was asked by Dr. Poehlman to write a paper from a longitudinal database (Protocol #678). The paper was to examine the effects of age on lipids in men and women… When I presented him with the data, he was not satisfied with the results and asked for the database in order to verify data entries and check for what he described as "reversed" datapoints, … It was my belief that I was mistakenly given a “true” version of the dataset originally and then given the manipulated version the second time… The incident that triggered my suspicions occurred in late September, 2000 - I was asked by Dr. Poehlman to write a paper from a longitudinal database (Protocol #678). The paper was to examine the effects of age on lipids in men and women… When I presented him with the data, he was not satisfied with the results and asked for the database in order to verify data entries and check for what he described as "reversed" datapoints, … It was my belief that I was mistakenly given a “true” version of the dataset originally and then given the manipulated version the second time… Initial allegations (cont)

20 ORI 1/0720 The Scope of the Misconduct The following two slides provide a glimpse of the massive scope of Dr. Poehlman’s alterations in the data base for the longitudinal study of aging, protocol #678. The following two slides provide a glimpse of the massive scope of Dr. Poehlman’s alterations in the data base for the longitudinal study of aging, protocol #678.

21 ORI 1/0721 Dr. Poehlman’s changes to total energy expenditure values included many fabrications (blue) and reversals of visit one and visit two values (red) The net effects were to greatly inflate the number of subjects and to reverse the apparent effect of aging. Correct TEE values Dr. Poehlman’s TEE values

22 ORI 1/0722 Dr. Poehlman’s changes to glucose involved near complete reversal of T1 and T2 values, allowing him to claim that glucose levels rose with age when the real data showed the opposite.

23 Tip of the iceberg The total number of reversals, falsifications and fabrications made by Dr. Poehlman to the 678 database was greater than 4000, all in a small fraction of the hundreds of fields of data. Although he had reported data from this study in three unfunded grant applications, almost nothing was published, and the “harm done,” by itself, was not extensive. However, much more was subsequently revealed….

24 ORI 1/0724 Additional Issues Dr. Poehlman claimed to have conducted a longitudinal study of the menopause transition involving 35 women seen twice six years apart. Dr. Poehlman claimed to have conducted a longitudinal study of the menopause transition involving 35 women seen twice six years apart. This study was reported in a 1995 paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine and five follow-up papers as well as in many grant applications. This study was reported in a 1995 paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine and five follow-up papers as well as in many grant applications. The study was not conducted: Dr. Poehlman falsified the number of subjects at T1 and never saw the women a second time. The study was not conducted: Dr. Poehlman falsified the number of subjects at T1 and never saw the women a second time.

25 The data from the Annals paper claimed to show that the menopause transition quickly leads to undesirable changes in weight, fat mass, resting metabolic rate, leisure time activity, and waist-to-hip ratio. None of these conclusions were legitimate (although cross-sectional studies have suggested that changes do occur eventually). Additional fabricated results from this study were reported in later papers and grant applications.

26 ORI 1/0726 Additional Issues (cont) The UVM investigation, ORI, and the U.S. Attorney’s office determined that Dr. Poehlman falsified data in additional papers and grant applications in areas as wide ranging as Alzheimer’s disease, the effect of endurance training on RMR, and the effects of hormone replacement therapy on post-menopausal women. The UVM investigation, ORI, and the U.S. Attorney’s office determined that Dr. Poehlman falsified data in additional papers and grant applications in areas as wide ranging as Alzheimer’s disease, the effect of endurance training on RMR, and the effects of hormone replacement therapy on post-menopausal women. Many of these false claims were also made in talks given by Dr. Poehlman, some of which were documented, allowing additional findings of scientific misconduct to be made. Many of these false claims were also made in talks given by Dr. Poehlman, some of which were documented, allowing additional findings of scientific misconduct to be made.

27 ORI 1/0727 Dr. Poehlman’s obstruction efforts Starting immediately after being accused of misconduct, Dr. Poehlman aggressively attempted to obstruct the University investigation, and subsequently the Government’s review. Starting immediately after being accused of misconduct, Dr. Poehlman aggressively attempted to obstruct the University investigation, and subsequently the Government’s review. He accused his young colleagues of having falsified the 678 database. He accused his young colleagues of having falsified the 678 database. He went to Federal court to attempt to block UVM from notifying ORI of the pending investigation. He went to Federal court to attempt to block UVM from notifying ORI of the pending investigation.

28 ORI 1/0728 Obstruction (cont) During the investigation, he solicited letters of support from collaborators and former technicians who claimed that they had helped with the longitudinal menopause study; these claims resulted from Dr. Poehlman’s false assurances and edits of the letters, and they placed these witnesses in legal jeopardy. During the investigation, he solicited letters of support from collaborators and former technicians who claimed that they had helped with the longitudinal menopause study; these claims resulted from Dr. Poehlman’s false assurances and edits of the letters, and they placed these witnesses in legal jeopardy. Dr. Poehlman submitted falsified and fabricated documents to the UVM committee in an effort to show that the 35 women in the menopause study had visited the GCRC a second time. Dr. Poehlman submitted falsified and fabricated documents to the UVM committee in an effort to show that the 35 women in the menopause study had visited the GCRC a second time.

29 ORI 1/0729 Why did it take so long to discover? “The reality is that an established and renowned principal investigator with this volume of complex data could easily generate and propagate false values for months, even years, without anyone catching on” (UVM Report, p. 19) “The reality is that an established and renowned principal investigator with this volume of complex data could easily generate and propagate false values for months, even years, without anyone catching on” (UVM Report, p. 19)

30 ORI 1/0730 Summary Dr. Poehlman falsified and fabricated data in NIH grant applications and in published articles over a 10 year period with NIH funding of almost $3 million Dr. Poehlman falsified and fabricated data in NIH grant applications and in published articles over a 10 year period with NIH funding of almost $3 million Counting two USDA applications, he provided falsified and fabricated preliminary data to government agencies in 17 different competitive and non-competitive applications. Counting two USDA applications, he provided falsified and fabricated preliminary data to government agencies in 17 different competitive and non-competitive applications. Falsifications and fabrications were made in applications worth over $11,000,000 if funding would have been approved. Falsifications and fabrications were made in applications worth over $11,000,000 if funding would have been approved.

31 ORI 1/0731 Summary The misconduct affected studies related to disease prevention, including research on the health of older men and women, the effect of diet, exercise, menopause status, hormone replacement, and disease status. The misconduct affected studies related to disease prevention, including research on the health of older men and women, the effect of diet, exercise, menopause status, hormone replacement, and disease status. The University of Vermont made 22 findings of scientific misconduct in areas represented by 3 GCRC protocols. The University of Vermont made 22 findings of scientific misconduct in areas represented by 3 GCRC protocols. ORI confirmed 21 of the findings made by UVM and made 35 additional findings in the same plus 2 additional areas ( 5 protocols). ORI confirmed 21 of the findings made by UVM and made 35 additional findings in the same plus 2 additional areas ( 5 protocols).

32 ORI 1/0732 The role of the Justice Department: ORI Assurance Assurance on application form PHS 398, #15 Assurance on application form PHS 398, #15 Principal Investigator/Program Director Assurance: I certify that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. I agree to accept responsibility for the scientific conduct of the project and to provide the required progress reports if a grant is awarded as a result of this application. Principal Investigator/Program Director Assurance: I certify that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. I agree to accept responsibility for the scientific conduct of the project and to provide the required progress reports if a grant is awarded as a result of this application.

33 ORI 1/0733 This is what led to Dr. Poehlman pleading guilty to a felony

34 ORI 1/0734 What Was the involvement of the Vermont U.S. Attorney Defended civil litigation brought by Dr. Poehlman to prevent mandatory reporting of misconduct investigation to ORI Defended civil litigation brought by Dr. Poehlman to prevent mandatory reporting of misconduct investigation to ORI Opened civil and criminal fraud investigations into Dr. Poehlman’s research activities, assisted by ORI and HHS OIG Opened civil and criminal fraud investigations into Dr. Poehlman’s research activities, assisted by ORI and HHS OIG Decided that false claims of Dr. Poehlman warranted a criminal charge and personal monetary settlement of $180,000 Decided that false claims of Dr. Poehlman warranted a criminal charge and personal monetary settlement of $180,000 Dr. Poehlman sentenced to jail term of one year and a day based on admission to one felony count and ordered to a federal prison work camp in Maryland Dr. Poehlman sentenced to jail term of one year and a day based on admission to one felony count and ordered to a federal prison work camp in Maryland

35 ORI 1/0735 ORI actions and the Whistleblower’s role ORI/ASH actions against Dr. Poehlman include lifetime debarment from Federal research funding and retraction/correction of ten published papers ORI/ASH actions against Dr. Poehlman include lifetime debarment from Federal research funding and retraction/correction of ten published papers The whistleblower in this case later filed a qui tam suit under Federal fraud laws and received a relator’s share of 12% ($22,000) of the Federal recovery of $180,000 The whistleblower in this case later filed a qui tam suit under Federal fraud laws and received a relator’s share of 12% ($22,000) of the Federal recovery of $180,000

36 ORI 1/0736 Impact of Dr. Poehlman’s Actions in the Scientific Community Millions of dollars in Federal grant money have been mis-spent. Millions of dollars in Federal grant money have been mis-spent. The careers of Dr. Poehlman’s students and collaborators have been damaged or impaired. The careers of Dr. Poehlman’s students and collaborators have been damaged or impaired. Other researchers have wasted their time and laboratory resources trying to reproduce and extend the false claims made by Dr. Poehlman. Other researchers have wasted their time and laboratory resources trying to reproduce and extend the false claims made by Dr. Poehlman.

37 ORI 1/0737 Impact of Dr. Poehlman’s Actions on the General Public Dr. Poehlman’s research attempted to identify ways to modify life style to lengthen life and improve its quality. Dr. Poehlman’s research attempted to identify ways to modify life style to lengthen life and improve its quality. The loyal and dedicated volunteers in the Vermont community felt betrayed and may be reluctant to continue volunteering for studies at UVM. The loyal and dedicated volunteers in the Vermont community felt betrayed and may be reluctant to continue volunteering for studies at UVM. Dr. Poehlman’s actions had a negative impact on the level of trust in science for health care consumers who rely on honest research results for improved health care. Dr. Poehlman’s actions had a negative impact on the level of trust in science for health care consumers who rely on honest research results for improved health care.

38 ORI 1/0738 Lessons Learned Research misconduct can go undetected for years, even when the misconduct is massive Research misconduct can go undetected for years, even when the misconduct is massive A determined cheater can mislead collaborators indefinitely A determined cheater can mislead collaborators indefinitely Institutional commitment and careful adherence to policies and procedures are needed for successful investigations Institutional commitment and careful adherence to policies and procedures are needed for successful investigations ORI and the research community rely heavily on honest scientists in the lab to come forward with evidence of misconduct ORI and the research community rely heavily on honest scientists in the lab to come forward with evidence of misconduct

39 DIO Oversight: Forensics During the 20 years that OSI/ORI have existed, investigators have developed a number of computer-assisted tools and approaches to help strengthen institutional findings. The following slides will provide a few examples of this.

40 ORI 4/0540 Detection of Fabricated Numbers If sets of transcribed are provided as “raw data” rather than instrument printouts, consider whether the numbers might have been fabricated. If sets of transcribed numbers are provided as “raw data” rather than instrument printouts, consider whether the numbers might have been fabricated. Research by ORI and others shows that insignificant (right-most) digits in numbers, if real, e.g. from instruments, are uniformly distributed while numbers made up by people often are non- uniform.

41 ORI 4/0541 Here is a DIO scan of a spreadsheet submitted by a respondent that was unaccompanied by an instrument printout. Under pressure, he subsequently provided similar data that was accompanied by printouts from a scintillation counter.

42 ORI 4/0542 The tool used by DIO

43 ORI 4/0543 The DigiProbe Screen Start with the numbers copied into a text file

44 ORI 4/0544 Bar graphs effectively illustrate the distribution of digits for the two right most positions for the data sets without counter tapes (left) and those with counter tapes (right).

45 Probabilities obtained with DigiProbe for the 11 assays and for the assays with and without counter tapes grouped together.

46 ORI 4/0546 Observations The most compelling evidence for misconduct in this case was obtained from the fabricated data sets not examined by the university. This conclusion is made significantly stronger by the presence of “control data” from companion assays for which counter tapes were available. In no instance was the distribution of non-leading digits non-uniform when tapes were available, and in each of the three assays without tapes, digits were non-uniform at both positions.

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48 Examples of analyzing images Several examples follow which illustrate how ORI can examine images provided by institutions during their investigation. Many of ORI’s cases involve images that are duplicated from paper to paper or paper to grant application. This may be duplicate publication, but when such images are said to be the result of different experiments, one of the images, at minimum, has been potentially falsified. The first example, however, is a little different.

49 ORI 4/0549

50 ORI 4/0550 Screen shot from Photoshop showing analysis under way – the small circle in the Color Picker is the brush size moved to a color approximately matching the image’s background.

51 ORI 4/0551 The result of removing most of the “scribbling.”

52 Moving to the digital age The next examples illustrate the importance of the eye to detect evidence of inappropriate image manipulation. In addition, many ORI cases rely on prompt sequestration of evidence, including hard drives and portable storage media, to ensure that manipulated images can be shown to have originated with a particular individual. Time-date stamps are often probative with respect to how and when the manipulations occurred.

53 A Slippery Slope The next few slides show how difficult it can be to determine if a manipulation is appropriate, possibly inappropriate, or obviously fraudulent. Generally, ORI is reluctant to make findings of misconduct when an image has been “beautified” by altering background, or by reuse of loading controls, when the actual data verifies the factual findings claimed in the grant or paper. However, adding or removing important elements of a figure can often be considered evidence for intentional falsification.

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57 An example of unique images that alerted the institution to apparent falsification. The original images were of all positive or all negative cells positive for a gene different from HIV DNA or RNA.

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60 How to detect non-obvious changes Some of the following slides will illustrate how Photoshop can be used to help our eyes visualize alterations to images, and verify suspected duplications, through the use of specific tools such as the gradient map, contours, and various enhancements such as contrast and intensity.

61 DETECTION Increase Visibility of “Hidden” Details Principles/Methods

62 Scope of Falsified Images Portion of On-Line Journal Image Bulk of Falsified Images are ‘Blots’ Note Multiple Inconsistencies rotated duplicated

63 Author “tells” us where to look Note: * denotes key metabolic gene But It’s Not Just Blots Examples

64 On-Line Journal Image: Increase contrast Remap Intensities Visualize with Gradient Map: Add False-Color Methods

65 ORI 1/0765 What can you do at your institution? You can help set the tone for the institution and make integrity a high priority You can help set the tone for the institution and make integrity a high priority As an administrator, you can develop and implement policies that support integrity As an administrator, you can develop and implement policies that support integrity As a principal investigator, you can establish specific standards for your staff on recording, retaining, reporting, and publishing data As a principal investigator, you can establish specific standards for your staff on recording, retaining, reporting, and publishing data As a junior scientist in the lab, you can make a personal commitment to integrity and practice it on a daily basis As a junior scientist in the lab, you can make a personal commitment to integrity and practice it on a daily basis

66 ORI 1/0766 Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) What can ORI and institutions do to help prevent research misconduct?

67 ORI 1/0767 The Nine Elements of RCR 1. Acquisition, management, sharing and ownership of data 2. Conflict of interest and commitment 3. Research misconduct (plagiarism, falsification & fabrication) 4. Publication practices and responsible authorship 5. Mentor/mentee responsibilities 6. Peer review 7. Collaborative scholarship 8. Human subjects 9. Animal subjects

68 ORI 1/0768 RCR at the Individual Level encompasses: Intellectual honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research Intellectual honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research Accuracy in representing contributions Accuracy in representing contributions Fairness in peer review Fairness in peer review Transparency in conflicts of interest Transparency in conflicts of interest

69 ORI 1/0769 RCR at the Individual Level also entails: Assuming personal responsibility for avoiding or managing conflicts Assuming personal responsibility for avoiding or managing conflicts Taking responsibility for protecting human subjects and for the humane care of animals Taking responsibility for protecting human subjects and for the humane care of animals Appropriately recording research results and retaining research records Appropriately recording research results and retaining research records Careful and thoughtful mentoring of students and junior scientists Careful and thoughtful mentoring of students and junior scientists

70 ORI 1/0770 How can RCR be implemented at the institutional level? Provide leadership in RCR Provide leadership in RCR Facilitate productive interactions between trainees and mentors Facilitate productive interactions between trainees and mentors Advocate adherence to rules regarding the conduct of research Advocate adherence to rules regarding the conduct of research Provide training to both mentors, junior scientists, and students tailored to their respective needs Provide training to both mentors, junior scientists, and students tailored to their respective needs

71 ORI 1/0771 RCR at the Institutional level (cont.) Conduct inquiries and investigations into alleged misconduct Conduct inquiries and investigations into alleged misconduct RCR training should include discussions of misconduct cases and their adverse consequences to respondents RCR training should include discussions of misconduct cases and their adverse consequences to respondents Consider publicizing your cases (suitably redacted) to ensure that staff realize that you take misconduct seriously and act on allegations Consider publicizing your cases (suitably redacted) to ensure that staff realize that you take misconduct seriously and act on allegations

72 ORI 1/0772 A few key issues that DIO has found contribute most significantly to allowing misconduct 1. Inadequate record keeping and lack of guidance from mentors on how to record and retain research data; 2. Failure of mentors to regularly review raw data; overreliance on derivative data (PowerPoint presentations) at lab meetings 3. Unquestioning acceptance of data that others consider “too good to be true”

73 More issues that facilitate misconduct 4. Lack of transparency within the laboratory and among the staff 4. Lack of transparency within the laboratory and among the staff 5. Labs so large that authority becomes diffuse 5. Labs so large that authority becomes diffuse 6. P.I.s are spread too thin, and do not provide adequate training and guidance to students 6. P.I.s are spread too thin, and do not provide adequate training and guidance to students The bottom line – good mentorship and the constant review of raw data can profoundly reduce the likelihood of a mentee committing research misconduct. ORI 1/0773

74 ORI 1/0774 ORI can provide assistance 240 453 8800; AskORI@hhs.gov AskORI@hhs.gov Telephone or on site assistance available Telephone or on site assistance available Allegation assessment Allegation assessment Advice on policies and procedures, for example : Advice on policies and procedures, for example : Sequestration of evidence Sequestration of evidence Acquisition of digital information (forensic imaging of hard drives) Acquisition of digital information (forensic imaging of hard drives) Properly getting an inquiry or investigation under way Properly getting an inquiry or investigation under way Analysis of the evidence, such as assisting with analysis of questioned images Analysis of the evidence, such as assisting with analysis of questioned images Investigative strategy and legal problems Investigative strategy and legal problems

75 ORI 1/0775 Conclusion DEVELOP AN RCR PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR YOU! http://ori.hhs.gov


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