The Canadian Research Integrity Committee (CRIC)

1. The Canadian Research Integrity Committee (CRIC) A presentation to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Board of Directors November 14, 2008

2. Purpose of the Presentation • History of the CRIC • 2007 Workshop on Research Integrity • CRIC Research Proposal

3. History of the CRIC • In June 2006, the Office of the Chief Scientist at Health Canada hosted a meeting of key organizations representing the Canadian health research community to discuss issues of scientific integrity and misconduct. • It was agreed that a formal committee be established to develop an approach to research integrity/misconduct for the Canadian research community.

4. CRIC History (continued) • The CRIC also aims to assist organizations, individual scientists and researchers in the avoidance and resolution of instances of research misconduct. • The Committee is comprised of representatives of senior management from organizations in Canada concerned with research.

5. CRIC Workshop on Research Integrity • Held in January 2007, this event engaged approximately 90 participants from across Canada's research community in discussions dealing with research misconduct and promoting research integrity. • International experts from Norway, Denmark and the United States provided a comparative perspective.

6. Workshop (continued) • At the workshop, there was consensus that Canada needs to do better in addressing research misconduct and promoting research integrity across the country. • A need was identified for definitions, standards and guidelines that would be applied across the country. • Participants also called for the CRIC to continue its leadership role by taking the results of the workshop forward to address the issues and needs that were raised in the form of a national project.

7. CRIC Research Proposal • In late 2007, CRIC members agreed to raise the necessary finances to develop and issue a contract to undertake a policy review of Canadian and foreign research integrity policies and to identify and assess potential models for a pan-Canadian research integrity/misconduct system.

8. Research Proposal (continued) • The objective of the study is to undertake a comprehensive analysis and produce a research report of representative existing research integrity policies employed in Canada by universities and colleges, research institutes, hospitals/health authorities, funding bodies and government departments and agencies. • The research report will identify the commonalities, differences, strengths and weaknesses of these policies and best practices.

9. Research Proposal (continued) • The study will include a comparative analysis of similar research integrity policies employed in advanced countries with membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). • The study will also describe the current prevalence of research integrity and misconduct in Canada.

10. Next Steps Upon receiving the study, the CRIC would: • Disseminate the results of the research; • Identify options on possible approaches to scientific integrity for Canada; • Encourage stakeholders to take steps to foster scientific integrity.

11. Health Canada’s Perspective • Health Canada involvement in the CRIC stems from its roles as a national leader in health and science policy. • Health Canada’s involvement also stems from its role as a science and research-based department. • Health Canada faces different research integrity challenges than universities: • Health Canada must link its research work to its mandate. • Health Canada must maintain public trust and accountability.

12. Health Canada’s Perspective (continued) • In addition to involvement in the CRIC and the CRIC research proposal, Health Canada is taking other steps to strengthen research integrity in the department. • Health Canada is currently developing a scientific integrity framework for the department that will address any gaps in the oversight of the research being conducted at Health Canada.

13. Thank you