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Science Forum Index » Medicine - Nutrition Forum » Create national agency to monitor scientific misconduct, rep
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| TC |
 Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:55 pm |
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http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/070122/x01229A.html
Create national agency to monitor scientific misconduct, report
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Published: Monday, January 22, 2007 | 5:29 PM ET
Canadian Press: TARA BRAUTIGAM
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. (CP) - Canada may be missing dozens of cases of
scientific misconduct because it lacks a national body to investigate
suspected research fraud, says an independent report that examined how
a Newfoundland university handled allegations of questionable work by
one of its professors.
An academic uproar ensued at Memorial University after scientific
reviewers questioned Ranjit Chandra's research stemming from a study
he published in 2001 on multivitamins, which he later used to promote
his own nutritional supplement.
That paper, which concluded that a specific multivitamin and mineral
formulation greatly enhanced the memories of seniors, was later
retracted by the journal Nutrition after its editors said he had
ignored or failed to adequately respond to questions about its
scientific validity.
An independent review led by world-renowned Toronto physician Paul
Pencharz was launched to examine Memorial's policies on research
integrity from the early 1990s until the present.
Pencharz concluded that the school had sound policies in place, but
called for the creation of a national organization that universities
and research institutes could consult when faced with questions about
the work of staff.
Such national agencies exist in Denmark and the United States, and
Japan and Australia are currently setting up similar ones
"Based on the experience gained by countries with national
organizations monitoring scientific misconduct, the prevalence of such
cases is one or three incidents per million of the population,"
Pencharz wrote in his 15-page report released Monday.
"Hence there might be 30 to 60 cases per year in Canada, yet far fewer
are reported."
The agency should oversee all aspects of science, irrespective of
funding sources, and would ideally have links with scientific journal
editors "since both would be concerned with ensuring that the written
record is accurate," said Pencharz, a gastroenterologist at Toronto's
Hospital for Sick Children.
It should also be independent of the federal government much like
national granting councils are, but should be partially funded by
Ottawa, Pencharz added.
Pencharz was unavailable for comment Monday, but Chris Loomis,
Memorial's vice-president of research, said he would welcome a
national body that oversees research integrity.
"As the employers of researchers, we are inherently in a conflict of
interest in terms of doing the investigation," Loomis said.
"Having a third party help us with that process and provide an
independent, third-party perspective to the investigation of such
allegations would help us. It would help the other stakeholders
involved in the research enterprise, such as the funders of the
research, the journals that publish the research, and of course
provide confidence in the minds of the public."
Shortly after Chandra's 2001 paper was published, two American
academics began to doubt his work because of inconsistencies over his
use of statistics.
The immunologist, a member of the Order of Canada, moved to India in
2002 after 27 years at Memorial. The school tried repeatedly but
failed to get Chandra to supply the data pertaining to his study.
"Without his co-operation and access to raw data, it is going to be
extremely difficult to be able to reach a final conclusion, one way or
the other," Loomis said.
Nonetheless, Pencharz said the university should investigate all
allegations of scientific misconduct by Chandra, a recommendation that
the school is considering, Loomis said.
Pencharz also recommended that the school set up a data repository
into which all scientists would be required to submit their data.
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TC |
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