Research Ethics and Scientific Misconduct in Biomedical Research

Scientific research is based upon values such as integrity, honesty, trust and respect for academic, scientific and intellectual achievement. An integrity of the research study reflects the obeyence by scientists to honest and reproducible methods in proposing, performing, evaluating and reporting research. Scientific misconduct is defined as "any practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting or reporting research and ultimately damage the integrity of the research process". "Sloppy research" or questionable research practices include activities which can violate traditions of science, waste time and resources. Scientific misconduct and "fraud" includes mainly deliberate work or action during the application, performing research studies, presentation and/or publication process. The reasons for scientific misconduct or fraud are inadequate or lack of research discipline training and research ethics, Pressure to publish by the department and/or institution, personal ambition for rapid career advancement and academic promotion and desire for acknowledgement or financial gain. There are mainly three categories of approaches for prevention of scientific misconduct: a) education, training and establishment of ethical standards, b) encouraging practices to reduce the pressures predisposing to misconduct and c) investigation of alleged misconduct regarding the management of conflict. None of the sponsors can assure that a grant or contract will yield discoveries or a specific "desired outcome". All the research institutions and academic agencies should establish policies and regulatory guidelines to ensure a prompt organization to allegations of misconduct in science. All inquiries should be conducted within the institution. Whole inquiry should be arranged to ensure the confidentiality of process and investigations should be completed as rapidly as possible, preferably within 3 months.