ORI HOT TOPIC - PHS Research Misconduct Policy

The Department of Health and Human Services' Public Health Service (PHS) has issued a new policy to respond to research misconduct that occurs on PHS-funded activities. Northwestern University also has a responsibility to ensure compliance with this and other policies for research activities at NU. We have prepared this Feature to inform you of the new PHS policy.

PHS new policy on research misconduct

The Department of Health and Human Services' Public Health Service (PHS) has published a final rule revising its research misconduct policies. Effective June 16, 2005, 42 CFR Part 93 replaces the former 42 CFR Part 50. The full policy can be reviewed on-line at http://ori.dhhs.gov/documents/FR_Doc_05-9643.shtml

What does this mean for you?

This policy applies to applications, proposals, related activities, and related programs that have requested or currently use PHS support for:

• Biomedical or behavioral extramural or intramural research
• Research training
• Activities related to that research or research training, such as the operation of tissue or data banks or the dissemination of research information

This policy defines research misconduct and outlines the steps Northwestern must follow when reviewing allegations of research misconduct.

Main points

• Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research or in reporting research results.
• To be considered misconduct, the actions must be:
  • Committed intentionally, knowingly or recklessly;
  • Be a significant departure from accepted practices in the scientific community; and
  • Be proven by a preponderance of evidence.
• The policy now also applies to plagiarism of publications resulting from PHS-supported research, even if the accused individual is not a recipient of the federal funding.

If you have questions about how this policy applies to Northwestern, please contact ORI.

Northwestern's ORI will be clarifying its own procedures for reviewing alleged misconduct based the new federal policy. Northwestern's current procedures can be reviewed on-line.