UKRIO welcomes announcement of new UKRI Research Integrity Committee
UKRIO welcomes the announcement from Chris Skidmore MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, that UK Research and Innovation will establish a Research Integrity Committee to provide additional oversight of research integrity in the UK.
In a letter to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, the Minister stated that the new Research Integrity Committee will:
“…check that institutions have complied with terms and conditions of UKRI funding when investigating research misconduct, and provide oversight of UKRI research grant funding by reviewing investigations undertaken by individual research institutions and providing an annual assurance statement. It would apply sanctions if deemed necessary.”
The new body is being established in response to a report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, which also recommended that “UKRIO should continue its work in providing advice on research integrity and sharing best practice.” We look forward to working with the new Committee.
The oversight and review roles of the new Research Integrity Committee will complement UKRIO’s long-established work programme of publishing key guidance and providing practical advice on matters of research integrity, including how to address poor practice and respond to allegations of research misconduct.
As stated in the Minister’s letter, UK Research and Innovation has liaised extensively with UKRIO in developing the proposal for the Research Integrity Committee and we will continue to work with them, using our unique expertise to inform and support this new initiative.
Norman Lamb MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, has welcomed the announcement from the Minister:
“The establishment of this committee would be a massive success for the Science and Technology Committee. My Committee will continue to scrutinise the Government’s and UKRI’s work in this area and ensure that momentum is not lost.”