Research Integrity Policy

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The primary objective of the HSFC’s Research Integrity Policy is to protect and defend the integrity of the research process and to deal with allegations of scientific misconduct in a timely and open fashion. The HSFC agrees with and has adopted the basic policies and recommendations outlined in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Integrity in Research and Scholarship¹. As a condition of funding, all HSFC grant and award recipients agree to comply with the Principles and Responsibilities set out in that policy, and the research misconduct provisions below.

The HSFC defines research misconduct to include actions that are inconsistent with “integrity” as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement, and to include such actions as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reporting research, or in reporting research results.²

The HSFC will deal with allegations of scientific misconduct in the following manner:

• Any allegation of scientific misconduct will be initially reviewed by HSFC to determine whether an investigation is warranted. If it is felt that an investigation is required, HSFC may request that this be conducted by the host institution of the individual considered to have performed the alleged misconduct. In allegations specifically related to the peer review process, the investigation may be conducted jointly by the institution and HSFC.
  


• HSFC will not act on oral allegations of misconduct. All allegations must be submitted in writing. Although the confidentiality of persons who submit an allegation of scientific misconduct will be protected as much as possible, it must be recognized that due process will often result in the identity of this person being released to the investigating institution.
  


• The institution will be required to submit a written report upon conclusion of the investigation. This report will summarize the findings of the investigation and any future actions that will be undertaken by the institute as a result of the findings.
  


• In cases where misconduct is concluded to have occurred, the HSFC may apply sanctions against the individual(s) implicated. These sanctions will range from a reprimand letter to a ban from applying for or holding Foundation funds for a set period of time.

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¹ Available from http://www.nserc.gc.ca/sf_e.asp?nav=sfnav&lbi=p9. The Tri-council Policy Statement: Integrity in Research and Scholarship was produced by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

² Wording adopted from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct, Final Rule. May 17, 2005. Available from http://ori.dhhs.gov/documents/FR_Doc_05-9643.shtml.