FASEB Responds to HHS NPRM on Research Misconduct

Thursday, November 30, 2023
On November 30, FASEB submitted comments in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Research Integrity's (ORI) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding updates to the Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct. Revisions stem from the office's experience since implementing the regulation in 2005 and largely aim to both improve clarity and alleviate the administrative burden for institutions. 

In its comments, FASEB concurs with many of the language and guidance clarifications included in the proposed revisions. Additionally, FASEB commends HHS for providing flexibility to institutions on ways to handle inquiries without full investigative measures. FASEB offers suggested changes, including providing supplementary guidance to institutions on generating, maintaining, and submitting the newly required Institutional Records and clarifying how ORI will protect researcher confidentiality when such records are shared with ORI or other entities.