integrity in science

Integrity in Science

Science ethic lecture for the PhD students of the CNZ

December 3rd, 2010

Prof. Ulrich HübscherInstitute of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

«The two basic problems of ethics» (1841)

Arthur Schopenhauer (German Philosopher 1788 - 1860)

1. You can do what you want, but in each moment of your life you can only want a certain issue.

2. To pray moral is an issue of each religion. One talks about the moral and has the intention to educate those you want to control.

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry and

Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences has created guidelines for the integrity in science in Medical and Biomedical Science. In what follows are the most important points that must be followed by all members of the IVBMB.

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

1. Quality over quantity

2. Data recording

3. Publications

4. Fraud in Science4.1 General4.2 Behavior as a scientist4.3 Behavior against other scientists4.4 Publication4.5 Refereeing

5. Declaration

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

It is better to have a few outstanding papers than to dilute out publications in medium or even low ranked journals.

1. Quality over quantity

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

The data must be recorded in full, in a clear and accurate way, so that manipulations can be minimized. This means that the protocol in lab books contain pages, dates and the full name ot the researcher on each page. The protocol books (either hard copy or on the Institute server) have to be stored at the IVBMB for 10 years.

2. Data recording

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

An author has to contribute an essential part by personal work. This includes planing, analysis and control of research data. No one should be an author due to a leading position. There is no honorary authorship! The group leader (senior author) and not the Institute Director is responsible for the content of a publication.

3. Publications

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

4.1 General

There are the possibilities of intentional fraud or simple negligence.

4. Fraud in Science

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

4.2 Behavior as a scientist

• Fabrication of data• Falsifiction of primary data (e.g. false

description, leave out data points, manipulate data)

• To throw away primary data before ten years

• To refuse legitimate persons to view primary data

• To withhold primary data

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

4.3 Behavior against other scientists during the work

• To copy primary and other data without the

agreement of the respective group leader• Sabotage of any kind to another member of

the IVBMB or another Institute• Confidentiality violence

• To publish data from someone else in or outside the IVBMB

• To insist in an authorship without an essential contribution (see publications above)

• Not to include collaborators in publications when they have made essential contributions (see publications above)

• Intentional non-citations of other authors• Intentional false citations• Untrue statements about own work (e.g.

«manuscript submitted» when not yet done, or «manuscript in press», if a paper has not yet obained the official acceptance note)

4.4 Publication

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

• Intentional hiding of conflict of interest

• Violence of confidentiality• Intentional or negligent false estimation

of projects, grants or manuscripts• False estimations to create advantages for

himself or others

4.5 Refereeing

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

Each existing member of the IVBMB and all new members have to sign this "Integrity of Science" paper and have to declare that they understood it completely.In case of violation of this "Integrity of Science" points the Director of the IVBMB can together with the group leader decide about the consequences. In heavy cases a collaborator can be fired immediately and this does not exclude even a private investigation and a lawsuit.These guidelines have to be followed starting from October 1st 2002 by all members of the IVBMB. The group leaders have to control their group members. In case of differences the Director of the Institute will decide.

Zürich, DateProf. Ulrich Hübscher Director of the Institute

Understood: Place, date, name

5. Declaration

Integrity in Science at the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (IVBMB)

Repairing research integrity

The US National Academy of Sciences has asserted that scientists share an «obligation to act» when suspected research misconduct is observed.

www.nap.edu/html/obas

Nature 453, (19th June) 980-982, 2008

Repairing research integrity

More than 2,300 observations of potential misconduct are made every year.

Repairing research integrity

US federal definition of research misconduct fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in proposing, performing or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

Repairing research integrity

Suspected misconduct was observed at all scientific ranks including postdocs, students, and tenured faculty members.

Repairing research integrity

Example 1:

Repairing research integrity

A post doc changed the numbers in assays in order to «improve» the data.

Example 2:

Repairing research integrity

A colleague duplicated results between three different papers but differently labelled data in each paper.

Example 3:

Repairing research integrity

A co-investigator on a large, interdisciplinary grant application reported that a postdoctoral fellow in his laboratory falsified data submitted as preliminary data in the grant. As principal investigator of the grant, I submitted supplementary data to correct the application.

Example 4:

Repairing research integrity

A colleague used Photoshop to eliminate background bands on a western blot to make the data look more specific than they were.

Recommendations

Adopt zero tolerance

To create a zero-tolerance culture, we think it is essential that an institution specifies and implements the requirements that all suspected misconduct must be reported, and all allegations must be thoroughly and fairly investigated.

Recommendations

Protect whistleblowers

Careful attention must be paid to the creation and dissemination of measures to protect whistleblowers.

Recommendations

Clarify how to report

Establishing a reporting system that clearly identifies the individuals to whom allegations should be brought, and establishing clear policies, procedures and guidelines related to misconduct and responsible conduct.

Recommendations

Train the mentors

If we want to build a stronger culture of integrity, then the current generation of researchers has to be educated to pay more attention to how they work with their junior team members.

Recommendations

Type of misconduct Number of cases

Fabrication or falsification 120 (59.7%)

Plagiarism only 73 (36.3%)

Unknown 8 (4.0%)

Suspected misconduct: 201 Cases observed by 164 Scientists

Suspected misconduct: 201 Cases observed by 164 Scientists

Rank of those suspected

Professor or senior scientist 44 (21.9%)

Associate professor or scientist 28 (13.9%)

Assistant professor or scientist 34 (16.9%)

Postdoctoral fellow 50 (24.9%)

Graduate student 29 (14.4%)

Other (includes unknown) 24 (11.9%)

Suspected misconduct: 201 Cases observed by 164 Scientists

How it was discovered

Directly observed 23 (11.4%)

Observed products 53 (26.4%)

Told first, then observed 60 (29.9%)

Other direct evidence 30 (14.9%)

Other 30 (14.9%)

Don‘t recall 1 (0.5%)

No answer 4 (2.0%)

Suspected misconduct: 201 Cases observed by 164 Scientists

Was it reported?

Yes, reported by responder 49 (24.4%)

Yes, reported by someone else 67 (33.3%)

No, not reported 75 (37.3%)

Don‘t know 5 (2.5%)

No answer 5 (2.5%)

The European Charter for Reserarchers

The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Reserarchers

Interested in European research?RTD info is our quarterly magazine keeping you in touch with main developments (results, programmes, events, etc.) It is available in English, French and German. A free sample copy or free subscription can be obtained from:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Research

Information and Communication Unit

B-1049 Brussels

Fax: (32-2) 29 - 58220

Mail: research@cec.eu.int

Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/rfesearch/rtdinfo/index:en.html

What to do when you have a problem and you can or want not discuss this with your

PI or professor?

Contact the Dean of your Faculty and ask him to forward your request

to the “Vertrauensperson” of this Faculty

UNI: http://www.researchers.uzh.ach/vertrauenspersonen.html

ETHZ: http://www.vpf.ethz.ch/services/researchethics/index

THANK YOU !