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Hello everyone, I'm Mary Gower. Today we're here with our experts Carla McCain, research compliance officer in ��ū�컨��F's Office of Research Integrity, and Andy Harrington, ��ū�컨��'s associate general counsel, to chat about ethical research conduct at the University of Alaska,.

00:19

Research ethics are all about maintaining integrity, being transparent, and taking responsibility in every discipline.

Ethical research drives research forward, supports collaboration among scientists, and helps build public trust in science.

A few key areas of ethical research conduct, and how they may appear in the research world, are shown here on the screen.

• Transparency & Accountability
  • Conflicts of interest and commitment
• Social and Environmental Responsibility
  • Considering the impact of your work
• Responsible Publication
  • Authorship, peer review & abiding by publication guidelines 
• Responsible Mentoring
  • Provide guidance, advice, feedback and support
• Respect for Colleagues
  • Fair treatment & non-discrimination
• Scientific validity
  • Honesty, objectivity, integrity & carefulness
• Animal care
  • Replacement, reduction, and refinement
• Respect for potential and enrolled participants
  • Beneficence, justice, informed consent & risk/benefit assessment

All research faculty and students at the University of Alaska undergo various trainings throughout their career on these topics and many more to make sure they meet all ethical standards.

Today we're going to focus on some of the less familiar areas of ethical research conduct.

00:53

Carla let's start with responsible publication practices.

What's an ethical issue that often comes up?

At the University of Alaska, the ethical conduct of research is guided by the foundational principle of "do no harm."

This principle is central to our approach, particularly in research involving human participants, and extends to ethical treatment of animals and plant life.

It ensures that all research activities are carried out responsibly, with the highest standards of integrity and care.

Beyond adherence to ethical standards, collaboration plays a critical role in the research enterprise at the university. Many research efforts involve multiple contributors.

01:35

Ethical collaboration requires a commitment to honesty, transparency, and the appropriate acknowledgement of each individual's contributions.

A common challenge that can arise in a collaborative work is the issue of authorship, where fair recognition for contributions is sometimes overlooked. Disputes often stem from the failure to properly recognize significant contributions.

For instance, excluding a graduate student who conducted the majority of data analysis and writing from authorship, in favor of a more senior researcher, is not only unethical, it compromises the integrity of the research process, and negatively affects early career researchers.

02:20

To address and prevent such issues, professional journals and academic societies have established clear authorship guidelines. These standards should be consistently applied to ensure fair and equitable recognition for all contributors.

Upholding these practices fosters a more respectful and collaborative research environment, and reinforces the credibility of our scholarly work.

By adhering to these standards we can maintain the trust and credibility of the scientific community. Ultimately ethical research practices benefit everyone involved from research to the public.

Thanks Carla.

02:59

Andy, scientific validity includes data management and is often highlighted as a critical aspect of ethical research.

Can you explain why it's so important, and what researchers should be mindful of to ensure that they handle the data responsibly?

Ethical research conduct and data management requires careful collection, storage and sharing of data, while protecting sensitive information.

Proper data management is not just important -- it's vital.

03:24

For example, a researcher collects years of clinical data but fails to properly document storage requirements and access procedures. When the researcher leaves the university, permitted colleagues attempt to verify findings, but find the data inaccessible, undermining research integrity.

Additionally, poor data management can lead to breaches where sensitive information is exposed, potentially harming subjects, and damaging the institution's reputation.

Researchers must ensure that the data is securely stored, properly documented, and accessible only to authorized individuals in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.

Thanks Andy.

04:04

Carla, how does intellectual property factor into ethical research?

Intellectual Property, also known as IP rights, represents a critical area of ethical responsibility in research.

Researchers are expected to fully disclose all funding sources, honor confidentiality agreements, appropriately credit contributions, and avoid the misuse or misappropriation of ideas.

04:30

For example consider a scenario in which a ��ū�컨�� researcher collaborates with an external organization on cold climate research. If that researcher publishes findings on a new technology developed through the partnership without notifying or crediting the external organization, it constitutes a breach of agreement, and erodes professional trust.

To prevent such situations, researchers should clarify ownership before even beginning research.

05:01

It is essential to establish and document ownership rights and responsibilities before research begins -- get it in writing.

Failing to properly attribute ideas or data to their original sources can lead to accusations of plagiarism, IP theft, copyright, and trademark infringements, all of which can severely damage a researcher's career and the institution's reputation.

05:28

Clear communication on expectations and adherence to IP agreements are essential to maintaining ethical standards.

These practices protect both the individual researchers and the institution, and they foster an environment of integrity and mutual respect.

05:46

Andy, name an ethical challenge that researchers face today. How do they navigate this challenge effectively?

Absolutely Mary. One of the most significant ethical concerns in research is conflicts of interest. These occur when financial or professional relationships have the potential to influence research outcomes.

Transparency is paramount in these situations.

06:08

For instance imagine, a faculty member conducting a study on Arctic biology who is also consulting for a private company that develops some of the same field research equipment used for this type of research.

If this is not disclosed so that best practices can be put into place -- such as a conflict of interest management plan -- the researcher's dual involvement would constitute a serious ethical violation, and undermines the credibility of the research.

06:36

Conflicts of interest can lead to biased research results, which can mislead both the scientific community and the public.

This is particularly problematic because it can skew the direction of future research and policy decisions based on flawed data.

Researchers must disclose all potential conflicts of interest to maintain the integrity of their work. This includes financial ties, personal relationships, and any other factors that could compromise objectivity.

07:04

And bear in mind that University of Alaska researchers have to abide by two sets of conflict of interest principles: one through the Executive Branch Ethics Act, and another set by the agency providing the funding for the research. And while those will have a lot of overlap, you cannot assume they will be identical.

07:23

Can you give me an example of what you mean?

One that comes up from time to time is that of having an immediate family member of the principal investigator working on the project.

The Executive Branch Ethics Act and Regent's policy allow immediate family members to both work for the university, as long as one is not supervising the other in any way. And even if one family member would ordinarily be supervising the other, the Executive Branch Ethics Act allows that supervisory authority to be reassigned away from the supervisory position to another ��ū�컨�� official. And that reassignment -- whenever it is feasible -- adequately addresses that particular conflict.

08:06

But with respect to research ethics, that reassignment of authority may not be consistent with the responsibilities of a principal investigator who holds the ultimate responsibility for the overall direction, conduct and reporting of that research project.

So in most cases it is not feasible to use that reassignment tool to address this category of conflict in the research ethics arena, even though it would work for purposes of the EBEA and Regent's policy.

08:36

Our researchers have to comply with both sets of principles, so addressing just one of the two sets will not suffice.

We work to ensure the research remains objective and unbiased, ultimately advancing scientific knowledge and maintaining public trust.

08:53

In summary, by following principles like "do no harm," recognizing authorship fairly, managing data securely, respecting intellectual property, and being transparent about conflicts of interest, researchers uphold the trust and the credibility of the scientific community.

Thanks to Carla and Andy for their insights, and thanks to you for joining today's chat.

You can visit these university offices for more information.

• ��ū�컨��A: ��ū�컨��A Research Integrity and Compliance
• ��ū�컨��F: ��ū�컨��F Office of Research Integrity
• ��ū�컨��S: ��ū�컨��S Research