Operating Policy and Procedure
HSC OP: 73.07, Honesty in Research and Allegations of Scientific Misconduct
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Health Sciences Center Operating Policy and Procedure (HSC OP) is to establish the guidelines and procedures to be followed concerning honesty in research and allegations of scientific misconduct.
REVIEW: This HSC OP will be reviewed on February 1 of every odd-numbered year (ONY) by the Research Integrity Officer and the Office of General Counsel, with recommendations for revisions forwarded to the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation.
POLICY/PROCEDURE:
This operating policy sets forth Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC)’s responsibilities under Public Health Service (PHS) regulations codified at 42 C.F.R. 93 and National Science Foundation (NSF) Policy on research misconduct, 45 CFR 689.4. This policy applies to all individuals at TTUHSC who are engaged in research including any person paid by, under the control of, or affiliated with TTUHSC, such as scientists, trainees, technicians, and other staff members, students, fellows, residents, researchers or collaborators at TTUHSC.
This policy is implemented through Attachment A, Guidelines and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct.
The committees, and any sub-committees, established under this HSC OP and Attachment A hereto, shall each be considered a “medical committee” as defined under Texas Health & Safety Code, §161.031, and/or other applicable state and federal statutes. All documents generated by the committees, submitted to the committees, or created for the purposes of fulfilling committee duties are confidential and privileged and shall be identified as a “Confidential – Medical Committee Document”.
This operating policy and attached guidelines do not apply to the following:
1. Authorship or collaboration disputes. These will be addressed by the Dean of the School of appointment of the person who is the subject of the dispute.
2. Allegations of research misconduct that occurred more than six years prior to the date TTUHSC or the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) received the allegation, subject to the subsequent use, health or safety of the public, and grandfather exceptions in 42 CFR 93.105(b).
3. Allegations of research non-compliance which do not meet the level of research misconduct as defined in Section II of the attached Guidelines. Allegations of research non-compliance which are not covered by this policy will be reviewed in accordance with policies and procedures in effect for the relevant funding agency, HSC OP 73.14 (Research Compliance) and/or the relevant department.
4. Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
TTUHSC reserves the right to interpret, change, modify, amend or rescind this policy in whole or in part at any time without the consent of employees.