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  4. Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices

Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices

Virtual PreCon Event: October 14, 2022 / 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices: Overview & Case Studies

What is research misconduct and what are some detrimental research practices? Research Integrity Officers from the HHS Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and NIH will help answer these questions and more, as they discuss Public Health Service (PHS) regulations on handling research misconduct allegations, responsibilities of an institution receiving PHS funds, and red flags that may help to avoid misconduct in research. Experts will explore interpersonal, institutional, and professional responsibilities in the overall ethical conduct of research during presentations, case studies, and discussions with the audience.


Friday, October 14, 2022 – This event has concluded.

PAST EVENT: Resources available below.

 
three scientists conducting research

Virtual Event Overview

Friday, October 14, 2022
Time:  2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET

One-Time Registration Required: NIHGrantsConference.vfairs.com
(If you have already registered on the NIH Grants Conference & PreCon Events website, then you do not need to register again!)

Log In: Once registered, you can join live events and explore the NIH Exhibit Hall with additional resources at Institute, Center, & Office Booths.

During this event, participants will learn about:
  • Public Health Service (PHS) Regulations on handling research misconduct allegations;
  • Responsibilities of an institution receiving PHS funds;
  • Red flags that may help to avoid misconduct in research.

Event Resources:

Upcoming Events

Past PreCon Events

Recording available 5-7 business days following the event.

Agenda

*This event is scheduled in the Eastern Time Zone.

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM

Welcome & Overview


Moderator: Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D.
Communications Strategist
NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER), NIH
2:10 PM – 3:15 PM

Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices

Presenter: Patricia Valdez, Ph.D.
Chief Extramural Research Integrity Officer
Office of Extramural Research (OER), NIH

Presenter: Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D.
Scientist Investigator
Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
Health and Human Services (HHS) 

Topics of Discussion:
  • PHS definition of research misconduct
  • Community Responsibility
  • Research misconduct and regulations
  • The role of HHS ORI in research misconduct cases
  • Examples of data falsification and/or fabrication
  • Process for identifying and dealing with research misconduct allegations
  • When to contact the funding agency
  • Red flags and how to avoid misconduct
  • Other integrity concerns and detrimental research practices that negatively impact research and PHS funding
3:15 PM – 3:55 PM

ORI & NIH Case Studies: What Do You Think?

Presenter: Patricia Valdez, Ph.D.
Chief Extramural Research Integrity Officer
Office of Extramural Research (OER), NIH

Presenter: Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D.
Scientist Investigator
Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
Health and Human Services (HHS)

Potential Topics of Discussion:

  • Research Misconduct Proceedings
  • ORI and NIH Administrative Actions
  • Research Misconduct with Additional Compliance Concerns
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM

Acknowledgments & Closing

Moderator: Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D.
Communications Strategist
Office of Extramural Research (OER), NIH
Varied Hours

"Office Hours" - Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 

  •   9:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET  ORI Expert Hours
  • 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET  NIH Expert Hours

In addition to the Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices PreCon Event, you have the opportunity to schedule a 1:1 meeting with the presenters during specified Office Hours on Monday, October 17. During these 20-minute chats, you can interact and connect with experts who can provide additional guidance and answers to your questions. Limited availability! Visit the "See Something, Say Something!" Booth to schedule your appointment! Note: Only 1 appointment per person.

Presenters

Click the image to view bios of each presenter.

Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D.
Scientist-Investigator, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, HHS

Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D., is a Scientist-Investigator in the Division of Investigative Oversight (DIO), Office of Research Integrity (ORI). She conducts oversight reviews of cases of Research misconduct in Public Health Service (PHS)-funded research at US institutions. ORI promotes integrity in biomedical research supported by the PHS and oversees investigations of research misconduct cases.

Prior to joining the ORI in May 2009, Dr. Ambalavanar was a faculty member at the University of Maryland Dental School (UMd). She received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Liverpool, UK, her postdoctoral training at Cambridge University, UK, and NINDS, NIH, (Bethesda, MD, USA). Dr. Ambalavanar was interested in the mechanisms of chronic cutaneous and deep tissue pain involving muscles and joints. She explored the neural mechanisms of chronic craniofacial pain disorders and provided creative directions in science through her unique contributions to the field. She has published many peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters in her field of research.

Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D.
Communications Strategist, Content Development Team Lead, Division of Communications and Outreach, Office of Extramural Research, NIH

Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D., is a communications strategist and the Content Development Team Lead in the Division of Communications and Outreach (DCO) within the Office of Extramural Research (OER). She works with subject-matter experts to disseminate important grants process and policy information for both external and internal audiences by developing websites, blogs, newsletters, and multimedia training tools. Dr. Sullivan received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she studied translational electrophysiological biomarkers in schizophrenia.

Patricia Valdez, Ph.D.
NIH Extramural Research Integrity Officer, Office of Extramural Programs, NIH

Patricia Valdez, Ph.D., serves as the NIH Extramural Research Integrity Officer in the Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), in the Office of Extramural Research (OER). In this role, she is responsible for training NIH Extramural staff and Research Integrity Officers on handling allegations of research misconduct in NIH-funded extramural activities and for performing the initial review and referral of allegations to the appropriate oversight agencies.

Prior to joining the OER, Dr. Valdez was the Manager of Publication Ethics for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) where she handled all allegations of scientific misconduct in ASBMB journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Dr. Valdez received her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley where she studied T cell development. She carried out her Postdoctoral training in the Immunology Discovery department at Genentech, where she focused on both basic research and pre-clinical drug development. Dr. Valdez continued her research as an NIH Intramural Staff Scientist in the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Disease.

Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D.
Scientist-Investigator, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, HHS

Ranjini Ambalavanar, Ph.D., is a Scientist-Investigator in the Division of Investigative Oversight (DIO), Office of Research Integrity (ORI). She conducts oversight reviews of cases of Research misconduct in Public Health Service (PHS)-funded research at US institutions. ORI promotes integrity in biomedical research supported by the PHS and oversees investigations of research misconduct cases.

Prior to joining the ORI in May 2009, Dr. Ambalavanar was a faculty member at the University of Maryland Dental School (UMd). She received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Liverpool, UK, her postdoctoral training at Cambridge University, UK, and NINDS, NIH, (Bethesda, MD, USA). Dr. Ambalavanar was interested in the mechanisms of chronic cutaneous and deep tissue pain involving muscles and joints. She explored the neural mechanisms of chronic craniofacial pain disorders and provided creative directions in science through her unique contributions to the field. She has published many peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters in her field of research.

Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D.
Communications Strategist, Content Development Team Lead, Division of Communications and Outreach, Office of Extramural Research, NIH

Elyse Sullivan, Ph.D., is a communications strategist and the Content Development Team Lead in the Division of Communications and Outreach (DCO) within the Office of Extramural Research (OER). She works with subject-matter experts to disseminate important grants process and policy information for both external and internal audiences by developing websites, blogs, newsletters, and multimedia training tools. Dr. Sullivan received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she studied translational electrophysiological biomarkers in schizophrenia.

Patricia Valdez, Ph.D.
NIH Extramural Research Integrity Officer, Office of Extramural Programs, NIH

Patricia Valdez, Ph.D., serves as the NIH Extramural Research Integrity Officer in the Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), in the Office of Extramural Research (OER). In this role, she is responsible for training NIH Extramural staff and Research Integrity Officers on handling allegations of research misconduct in NIH-funded extramural activities and for performing the initial review and referral of allegations to the appropriate oversight agencies.

Prior to joining the OER, Dr. Valdez was the Manager of Publication Ethics for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) where she handled all allegations of scientific misconduct in ASBMB journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Dr. Valdez received her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley where she studied T cell development. She carried out her Postdoctoral training in the Immunology Discovery department at Genentech, where she focused on both basic research and pre-clinical drug development. Dr. Valdez continued her research as an NIH Intramural Staff Scientist in the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Disease.

Engage and Connect

Want to learn more about Research Misconduct and Integrity before attending the conference?

Websites:

Podcasts:

Videos:

  • Coming Soon!

Documents:

integrity and confidentiality in NIH Peer Review booth screenshot
Be sure to stop by the Exhibit Hall and visit the "See Something, Say Something!" booth for the opportunity to schedule a 20-minute personal 1:1 meeting with the presenters during specified Office Hours on Monday, October 17. Appointments are limited, so don't wait!

You may also be interested in the booth, “ Integrity and Confidentiality in NIH Peer Review," for additional resources related to this event. View, save, and download all related resources!

During the 2-day NIH Grants Conference, February 1-2, 2023, many of the institute, center, and office booths will be staffed with NIH experts to help get your questions answered.
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This page last updated on: November 29, 2022

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