Research Integrity

WesternU’s Roles and Responsibilities

Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) holds primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, and investigation of research misconduct. This is achieved through the diligence of all administrative officials. The funding agencies require the University to actively ensure the integrity of research, protect the rights of research subjects and the public, and adhere to legal requirements related to research funding.

Principal investigators (PIs) have the primary responsibility for designing, implementing, and managing the research projects they oversee. They must ensure that standards of professional and ethical conduct are upheld throughout all phases of their projects. Additionally, they are tasked with the effective management of their resources.

 WesternU defines Research Misconduct as:

• Fabrication, Falsification, or Plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or
reporting of Research data;

• Violations of applicable law (including but not limited to federal, state or local
regulations);

• Failure to comply with requirements for the protection of human or animal
subjects or the public; see also (IACUC Protocol Noncompliance, IRB Manual (
Section 4.12 Non-compliance))

• Examples include, but are not limited to (refer to the related polices linked within the Research Misconduct Policy
  for a comprehensive list):
  ▪ Conducting Research that is not ethical.
  ▪ Conducting Research activities (initial or modifications to an
  approved protocol) without prior approval from the relevant
  Research Regulatory Committee
  ▪ Continuing Research-related activities beyond the protocol
  expiration date.
  ▪ Conducting research-related activities by individuals not listed on an approved protocol for that activity
  ▪ Failure to appropriately obtain informed consent/assent
  ▪ Fabricating or falsifying clinical and/or basic science research data.
  ▪ Failing to obtain or falsely attesting to having obtained IRB, IACUC, IBC or other research-related oversight as required by both WesternU and any external institution at which research is conducted under the applicable regulations.

• Misappropriation of the University’s and/or sponsors’ property or resources

• Violation of University’s rules or policies governing Research or sponsors’ rules or regulations related to Research.

• Failure to follow financial disclosure regulations as required under WesternU Conflict of Interest policies