Good scientific practice
(i) arc expects the highest standards of integrity to be adhered to by the researchers whom it funds. Institutions are expected to have in place their own published standards of good research practice and formal written procedures for the investigation of allegations of scientific misconduct. Such standards must, as a minimum, comply with the Association of Medical Research Charities' 'Guidelines on Good Research Practice'.
(ii) In the event of any ongoing investigation of scientific misconduct involving arc funded research or researchers, the following conditions will apply:
- arc must be informed within 1 month of the host institution initiating any investigation of scientific misconduct involving arc grants or grant holders. arc reserves the right to suspend funding in the event of any suspension of staff paid from an arc grant whilst the investigations are ongoing.
- arc must be informed immediately of the outcome and reserves the right to take any further action it may feel appropriate.
- If publications have been produced where academic fraud has been established, the institution must ensure that appropriate errata and/or retractions are published and that arc is kept fully informed.
(iii) Local ethical committee approval must be obtained for research which involves clinical trials or investigations involving human subjects.
(iv) All Home Office, general or local regulations about the use of experimental animals must be observed. arc's support for a particular grant does not exempt the investigator from personal responsibility.
(v) The host institution has a general duty to ensure that the useful results of the research are disseminated. It must accept responsibility for the proper evaluation of the research before it is published and, if the results are to be published in a reputable scientific or medical journal, it may rely on an evaluation of quality by the journal concerned.
