MUSC College of Graduate Studies Postdoctoral Retreat on the Responsible Conduct of Research “Misconduct & Whistleblower Protection” Ed Krug 12/11/09

“An experiment is a question which science poses to Nature, and a measurement is the recording of Nature’s answer.” Max Planck

“Misconduct or Misconduct in Science means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data.” According to the US HHS Office of Research Integrity …

Most cases of scientific misconduct arise from a transitory lapse in judgment out of expediency or when alternatives seem unavailable to achieve the necessary end. Individual Integrity public/society community of science institution department lab mates PI

Someone with integrity is: TrustworthyTrustworthy HonestHonest AccountableAccountable Moral consciousnessMoral consciousness commitment to common goodcommitment to common good intelligent & defensible actionsintelligent & defensible actions respect for othersrespect for others

Scientific fraud is more often found when … “the perpetrators were working in a field where individual experiments are not expected to be precisely reproducible.” D. Goodstein

A. Gawrylewski (2009) The Scientist 23:67. Why types of misconduct are reported?

A. Gawrylewski (2009) The Scientist 23:67. Who commits scientific misconduct?

Actual incidence of Misconduct (FFP) is rather low – about 20 findings per year nationally – but occurrence of at least one “questionable” practices quite high – about 25% of investigators

Martinson et al. (2005). Nature 435: Questionable Research Practices

A. Gawrylewski (2009) The Scientist 23:67. What do I do if I suspect misconduct?

1) whistleblowers are free to disclose lawfully whatever information supports a reasonable belief of research misconduct as it is defined by PHS policy, 2) institutions have a duty not to tolerate or engage in retaliation against good-faith whistleblowers, 3) institutions have a duty to provide fair and objective procedures for examining and resolving complaints, disputes and allegations of research misconduct, 4) institutions have a duty to follow procedures that are not tainted by partiality arising from personal or institutional conflict of interest or other sources of bias, 5) institutions have a duty to elicit and evaluate fully and objectively information about concerns raised by whistleblower, 6) institutions have a duty to handle cases involving alleged research misconduct as expeditiously as possible without compromising responsible resolutions, and 7) at the conclusion of proceedings, institutions have a responsibility to credit promptly, in public or private as appropriate, those whose allegations are substantiated. Principles of ORI Whistleblower’s Bill of Rights MUSC Compliance Hotline

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“How to Succeed in Science” Work hardWork hard Work efficientlyWork efficiently Have a plan A and plan B - with full understanding of good and bad of eachHave a plan A and plan B - with full understanding of good and bad of each Adopt a life-long learner’s attitudeAdopt a life-long learner’s attitude Discuss science (all aspects) with peersDiscuss science (all aspects) with peers Write “intellectually” minutes each dayWrite “intellectually” minutes each day Read the literature minutes each dayRead the literature minutes each day Ask questionsAsk questions Seek a healthy balance between professional and personal lifeSeek a healthy balance between professional and personal life Establish an effective mentoring networkEstablish an effective mentoring network

Take home messages: Knowledge of key regulationsKnowledge of key regulations Seek to understand the reasons for those regulationsSeek to understand the reasons for those regulations Awareness of conflictsAwareness of conflicts Tools for approaching conflicts – moral reasoning skillsTools for approaching conflicts – moral reasoning skills Develop supplemental activities that allow you to maintain your enthusiasm for scienceDevelop supplemental activities that allow you to maintain your enthusiasm for science Use stress to go forward - avoid distressUse stress to go forward - avoid distress Don’t be your own worst enemy!Don’t be your own worst enemy!

If problems arise… FIRST: “May I speak with you confidentially?” LAST: “Thank you for letting me speak with you confidentially.”