The Journal's Role in Scientific Misconduct

What is the scientific journal's role in detecting and dealing with scientific misconduct? How should journals respond to misconduct allegations and correct the literature? The Council of Science Editors, with funding from the Office of Research Integrity, sponsored a 2-day educational retreat to examine these controversial topics.

The retreat was held November 7-9, 2003, at the Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center, Leesburg, VA (near Washington's Dulles Airport). The event was open to all, particularly professionals who work with scientific publications such as scientific editors, editors-in-chief, managing editors, and manuscript editors. Participants had a chance to explore the ethical, legal, and pragmatic implications of scientific misconduct cases in discussions with a roster of experts that included editors of preeminent scientific journals, officers of academic institutions, and representatives of oversight agencies.

The retreat faculty included:
Martin Blume, Editor-in-chief of the American Physical Society
Catherine DeAngelis, Editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association
C. K. Gunsalus, Office of University Counsel, University of Illinois
Richard Horton, Editor of The Lancet
Sheldon Kotzin, National Library of Medicine
Jim Kroll, Head, Administrative Investigations, National Science Foundation
Harvey Marcovitch, BMJ Journals
Alan Price, Associate Director, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity
Mary Scheetz, Office of Research Integrity

Schedule

Friday, November 7
5:00 - 6 p.m.	Dealing with suspected misconduct from the journal editor's perspective Cathy DeAngelis, editor, JAMA Richard Horton, editor, The Lancet
6:00 - 6:45 p.m.	Discussion of agenda and goals Moderated by Faith McLellan, The Lancet
7:00 p.m.	Dinner
Saturday, November 8
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
9 - 10:30 a.m.	Dealing with suspected misconduct: Responses from academe, oversight and advisory bodies, and regulatory agencies C.K. Gunsalus, University of Illinois Alan Price, Office of Research Integrity Harvey Marcovitch, BMJ Journals Jim Kroll, National Science Foundation
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.	Small group discussion of case studies (first set)
11:15 - 12:15 p.m.	Facilitated large group discussion of case studies
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:45 - 2:15 p.m.	Small group discussion of case studies (second set)
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.	Facilitated large group discussion of case studies
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.	Scientific misconduct in the physical sciences Martin Blume, editor-in-chief, American Physical Society
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.	Group questions and concerns Moderated by Faith McLellan, The Lancet
Sunday, November 9
7:30 - 8:15 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.	Cleaning up: What to do in the aftermath of misconduct Sheldon Kotzin, National Library of Medicine Martin Blume, editor-in-chief, American Physical Society
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.	Coming full circle: Can misconduct be prevented? Alan Price and Mary Scheetz, Office of Research Integrity Harvey Marcovitch, BMJ Journals
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.	Wrap-up and concluding remarks Richard Horton, editor, The Lancet Faith McLellan, The Lancet Jessica Ancker, Dept. of Biostatistics, Columbia University and retreat co-organizer
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.	Farewell lunch