scientific and research misconduct

discuss:

There are many safeguards in place to prevent scientific and research misconduct in the pursuit of evidence based biomedical and behavioural growth and development. Ethical review and approval of a research study aims to prevent misconduct but also to ensure successful completion of, and the goal of enhanced knowledge (Mateo & Foreman, 2013). The US Office of Research Integrity (ORI) oversees inquiries of scientific misconduct at institutions in the US and supports responsible conduct of research by promoting education, prevention, and regulatory actions (ORI, n.d.).

                A case study on the website for the ORI highlighted Mr. Charles A. Downs. This case summarized imposed administrative actions against Mr. Downs from an investigation closed in late 2020. The Respondent was a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Centre. A voluntary settlement agreement was entered into by the ORI and the Respondent after the Respondent neither denied nor admitted findings of the ORI of the Respondent’s engagement in research misconduct. The research in question was supported and funded by the US Public Health Service and was meant to contribute to the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences (ORI, 2020). Specifically the ORI determined the Respondent intentionally, knowingly and recklessly falsified, and fabricated data in grant applications and in research findings.

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