Articles tagged with Research Ethics
Researchers at QUT and AusHSI found two widely downloaded health datasets to have unknown origins, raising questions about their authenticity and suitability for clinical research. The study assessed the datasets using the internationally recognized TRIPOD+AI reporting framework and scored 0 out of 9 on essential data-provenance criteria.
Researchers from Fisabio and the Universitat Jaume I developed a set of ten recommendations to promote responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in nursing research. The study warns of potential risks, including hallucination, biases, and oversimplification of complex phenomena.
The journal addresses ethical challenges, best practices, and scientific integrity issues through metascience and evidence-based research standards. Emerging technologies like AI are transforming how researchers conduct, communicate, and disseminate their work.
The rise of AI-generated content threatens authenticity in the clinical landscape, from AI chatbot impersonations to deepfakes of real physicians. Existing laws and regulations are struggling to keep pace with these emerging challenges.
Researchers believe that weaker penalties for misconduct, low investigation likelihood, and minimal perceived consequences contribute to increased misconduct. The study identifies three distinct groups of researchers, each with different perspectives on what drives misconduct.
The new section in JMIR Neurotechnology focuses on the responsible and ethical use of neurotechnology. Submissions welcome for original research, case series, theoretical viewpoints, and data-driven analyses on ethics and policy in neurotechnology.
A study led by UC Riverside highlights the importance of rigorous participant verification procedures in online health research to maintain data quality. Researchers found that combining automated screening, human review, and participant verification can substantially improve confidence in online research findings.
Research waste refers to wasting scientific resources due to poor practices, compromising internal and external validity. JMIR Metascience and Research Integrity publishes metascience articles exploring the shortcomings of published literature and investigating its negative impact on real-world outcomes.
A new PLOS report proposes a 'knowledge stack' publishing model to better support open science. This model connects articles with associated outputs like data, code, and methods to create a structured, open record of research. The report highlights the need for coordinated action beyond publishing to address challenges in existing models.
A survey of over 300 physicians found that one in four believed it was plausible to revive someone after preservation. Neurosurgeons were most optimistic about revival possibilities, while others showed skepticism. The study highlights the need for clear clinical and legal frameworks for preservation as an end-of-life option.
Researchers at Northwestern University and NIH emphasize the need to define plagiarism in AI-assisted research writing, as intellectual theft can occur without proper credit. The commentary recommends revising definitions of research misconduct to include GenAI tool misuse, promoting more responsible use.
The development of digital twins, computational models of people's biological systems, has accelerated, but its ethics hasn't kept pace. Key findings include the need for a balanced approach to predict disease, personalize care, and test treatments while ensuring human rights and dignity.
Recent shifts in federal policy and funding have impacted hundreds of clinical trials designed to study disease burdens in underrepresented populations. The report highlights a systemic crisis in medical research, citing a disruption at scale that has affected over 74,000 participants across 383 trials.
Researchers surveyed in Sweden reveal differing attitudes towards research misconduct and questionable practices across disciplines. Medical scientists hold the strictest views, while social sciences and humanities researchers tend to be more lenient, particularly with regards to open science.
The ISSCR emphasizes that continued investment in hESC research is essential to sustaining scientific progress and advancing life-saving therapies. Human embryonic stem cells remain a cornerstone of modern biomedical research due to their status as a gold standard for human pluripotency.
The Oncotarget Editorial Board discusses the journal's evolving approach to scientific integrity, highlighting the importance of modern image forensics tools. The article emphasizes the need for independent analytical and AI-based tools in journal evaluation.
A proposed embedded ethics approach facilitates ethically responsible research with human stem-cell-based embryo models by integrating continuous dialogue among scientists, ethicists, and regulators. This framework helps build trust and serves as a public policy tool to ensure that research meets both scientific and societal values.
The Synergy Framework aims to support effective research knowledge valorisation by aligning Open Science and Intellectual Property management. The framework identifies key barriers, including limited IP literacy and policy inconsistencies, and provides recommendations for researchers, institutions, and policymakers.
A Virginia Tech scientist emphasizes the importance of preserving the nation's ability to turn discovery into life-saving therapies. He argues that strong transparency and careful oversight are key to making the technology-transfer ecosystem work, and that abandoning it could have unintended consequences.
The partnership integrates Dimensions Author Check API into ScholarOne Manuscripts, providing publishers with reliable insights into authors' and reviewers' publishing histories. This integration enables quick detection of unusual activities, such as retractions or atypical collaboration patterns.
Researchers found that male fish exposed to vitamin C and potassium perchlorate showed improved fertility and less damage to their testes compared to those exposed only to the chemical. The study suggests a potential safeguard for individuals regularly exposed to these chemicals, including military personnel.
The new research integrity toolkit, created with and for early career researchers, addresses common questions and provides practical advice to avoid integrity pitfalls. The comprehensive guide covers the principles of research integrity, including determining authorship credit, understanding plagiarism, and handling integrity concerns.
Approximately 1 in 30 clinical trials were disrupted due to grant funding terminations, disproportionately affecting infectious disease and prevention studies. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable financial support to ensure trial operations and participant safety.
A Japanese government panel has backed a report allowing research on human embryos created from stem cell-derived sperm and eggs. Professor Tsutomu Sawai of Hiroshima University emphasizes the need for an anticipatory, rather than reactive, approach to ethics in this rapidly advancing field.
Researchers developed a 'humanized' model of aortic valve calcification, enabling testing of potential treatments. The breakthrough could lead to new therapies to stop or reverse calcium buildup, improving outcomes for people with heart disease.
A new study reveals that widely cited statistics on global water and food security are based on weak evidence and poorly connected to current data. The findings suggest that irrigation's role in global food and water security is highly ambiguous, ranging from 18% to 50%, and its share of global freshwater withdrawals is uncertain.
Researchers can utilize a combination of automated and manual actions to quickly identify suspicious behavior and prevent fraudulent actors from enrolling in online studies. A comprehensive checklist of indicators helps researchers spot potential fraud, such as similar patterns in email addresses or predictable responses.
A Michigan State University-led study examines how well AI personas can detect human deception and compares their performance to humans. The results show that AI is more lie-biased and less accurate than humans, highlighting the need for improvement before generative AI can be used for deception detection.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are exploring the use of extracellular vesicles to target lung cancer. By manipulating these tiny messenger particles, scientists can deliver specific instructions to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
Engineers at Duke University have constructed an 'agentic system' of AI bots that can solve complex design problems nearly as well as a fully trained scientist. The researchers created large language model (LLM) AI agents to complete all the legwork, allowing them to automate straightforward but niche design problems.
The termination of thousands of federal grants has raised ethical concerns about clinical trial closures, particularly among children and adolescents. Researchers argue that sudden stops can break trust and harm participants, violating long-standing principles.
University of Missouri researchers are helping farmers prevent disease outbreaks by teaching biosecurity practices, such as hand sanitizing and wearing farm-dedicated shoes. They also provide guidance on safe composting methods to dispose of dead livestock, reducing the risk of disease spread.
The ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting will bring together academic and industry leaders to explore advances in stem cell science and regenerative medicine. Scientists can submit abstracts by February 25, 2026, for oral presentations and Travel and Merit Awards.
Researchers developed a framework for building trust-based partnerships with Indigenous communities to study microbiomes. They worked closely with Matsés leaders and community members, incorporating cultural differences and transparency into their methods.
The new API helps compliance teams quickly identify potential areas of concern and streamline reviews, strengthening oversight and safeguarding funding and reputations. It enables the review of researchers and collaborators with structured data that supports efficient workflows.
A study on apple cider vinegar's effectiveness in weight loss was retracted by BMJ Group due to significant methodological flaws, including implausible statistical values and inadequate reporting. The retraction was prompted by concerns raised by statisticians and experts who were unable to replicate the results.
A new Canadian guideline sets out 75 core elements for participant consent forms to ensure transparency and understanding. The guidance aims to simplify the approval process for all involved in clinical research across Canada.
The ISSCR and NCOB will conduct an international horizon scan on stem cell research, gathering insights into the field's future and its ethical implications. The analysis will inform the ISSCR Guidelines and support researchers, clinicians, and regulators worldwide.
A 2012 paper by Max Bazerman claimed 'signing first' increased honesty, but two experiments were later found to be fraudulent. The book tells the story of how this scandal upended academic careers and faith in research.
The ISSCR will host its 2028 Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and policymakers from over 80 countries. The event will support new frontiers in stem cell science and regenerative medicine, fostering global collaboration and discovery of cutting-edge scientific advances.
A new study finds reported conflicts of interest on CDC vaccine panels had been at historic lows for years before Kennedy's dismissal. The type of conflict typically considered most concerning, income from vaccine makers, was virtually eliminated among panel members.
Colorado State University has shut down a nutrition study on the impact of consuming beans on gut health after pressure from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The study, which claimed to investigate the effect of legumes on human gut microbiome, used 17,766 animals and was funded by the US Department of Agriculture.
A new study provides a framework for researchers to make their work more equitable and representative of local communities. The guidance highlights the importance of community-based research, where community members are actively involved in identifying research priorities and designing studies.
The ISSCR has released an updated set of guidelines for stem cell research and clinical translation, incorporating advances in human stem cell-based embryo models. The new guidelines aim to provide clear guidance on the development and application of these innovative models.
The Hastings Center has released recommendations and practical tools for conducting ethical first-in-human pig kidney xenotransplant clinical trials. The guidelines focus on eligibility for participation, monitoring for infectious diseases, and metrics for evaluating the success of the trials.
A new study highlights major hurdles for multinational clinical trials in Europe, including differences in timelines and processing times between countries. Researchers found that the UK made significant gains in efficiency during the pandemic, while non-UK countries lagged behind.
The study identifies the need for more widely adopted non-animal methods to identify endocrine-disrupting substances in the EU. The researchers advocate a balanced approach that includes both developing and validating alternative methods and refining animal testing.
A new article by University of Bath academics highlights the urgent need to address conflicts of interest with industries causing harm, such as tobacco and ultra-processed food. The authors argue that excluding these industries from policy-making is essential to restore trust in public institutions and prevent ill health.
Researchers will examine forensic methods, aesthetic practices, and issues of restitution in the context of archival investigation. They will explore how to critically engage with archives of colonial and political violence.
The study reviews international trends in regulating stem cell-based embryo model (SCBEM) research, highlighting areas for improvement such as citizen participation, coordination, and informed consent. The authors propose a framework to alleviate complexities, treating fertilized embryos distinctly from SCBEMs and relying on committees...
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has filed a complaint with the National Institutes of Health and USDA, requesting an investigation into decades-long alcohol-related experiments on nonhuman primates at Oregon Health & Science University. The ongoing experiments have cost over $70 million and involve inducing binge-drin...
The study found that almost half of researchers have experienced the Gollum effect, with two-thirds reporting repeated encounters. The phenomenon undermines scientific progress and disproportionately affects early-career and less established researchers.
New indicators have been introduced to Taylor & Francis journal articles to inform readers when cited research has been retracted or updated. These updates ensure researchers are fully informed about the status of the research and can make informed decisions.
Combining AI with traditional mathematical modeling can improve cancer treatment outcomes by providing specificity and accuracy. The researchers emphasize the importance of ethically sharing health data to create reproducible science, protecting patient privacy while promoting scientific integrity.
Philip Kitcher, a renowned Anglo-American philosopher, has received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Humanities category. He is recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to philosophy, particularly in the areas of biology and democracy.
The Tinker Tots project enables participants to engage with ethical dilemmas in embryo selection, providing valuable insights into human values and decision-making. By navigating rounds of embryo selection dilemmas, users weigh and prioritize traits and conditions, revealing patterns in their thought processes.
A new study by Aston University found that self-efficacy significantly influences both positive and counterproductive workplace behaviors. Employees with higher self-efficacy are more likely to engage in citizenship performance and resist unethical actions.
A national computing research agenda prioritizes ethical development practices, inclusive resources, and accountability measures to prevent technology harm. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world social impact for vulnerable populations.
The article presents guidelines for designing consent materials and procedures for autistic adults and people with intellectual disability, highlighting the importance of multiple modes to deliver content. These guidelines aim to improve accessibility and respectfulness in research with individuals on the autism spectrum.
A new review paper published in Addiction found 'very low-certainty evidence' to support the claim that nicotine vaping causes young people to start smoking. However, the study also suggests that vaping may contribute to declines in youth smoking rates, particularly in the US.