Difference between revisions of "Resource:3cadb4be-b312-4afa-a723-4e12c4a801f3"

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|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Title=Research Problems at Australian University Hit the News
 
|Title=Research Problems at Australian University Hit the News
|Is About=This is a factual case about the University of Queensland, Australia, where a paper has been retracted after the authors discovered that data was missing, and alleged “undeclared conflicts of interest” in at least three other papers were investigated.
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|Is About=This factual case reports a failure to declare a conflict of interest by researchers of experimental interventions at a university. The researchers studied a disputed therapy that is endorsed by a controversial organization. According to the university and the publisher, the researchers failed to declare that they had affiliations with the organization. However, the authors stated in a press release on the situation that they did declare their conflicts of interest in all instances.
|Important Because=This was not the first time the university had been in the news regarding allegations of research misconduct, and demonstrates the importance of remaining critical and maintaining transparency and accountability in order to handle actual and alleged research misconduct. More specifically, this case highlights the importance of good data management and code version control, as well as clarity and transparency with regards to affiliations and potential conflicts of interest.
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|Important Because=Conflicts of interest may lead to the introduction of biases in research studies. This is especially the case when the product or drugs under investigation are produced by a company, as this may lead to corruption. Recent research shows that more favourable results are obtained for company-sponsored than non-company-sponsored studies.<ref>Lundh A, Lexchin J, Mintzes B, Schroll JB, Bero L. Industry sponsorship and research outcome: systematic review with meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med. 2018 Oct;44(10):1603-1612. doi: 10.1007/s00134-018-5293-7. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30132025.</ref> Therefore, it is important for researchers to declare all potential conflicts of interest. Undeclared conflicts of interests, such as in the present case, may cast considerable doubt on the objectivity of the researchers.
|Important For=Researchers; Universities
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<references />
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|Important For=Researchers; Universities; Journal editors; Journals; Journal publishers
 
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{{Link
 
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{{Tags
 
{{Tags
|Involves=Christoph Schnelle; Retraction Watch; University of Queensland
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|Involves=Retraction Watch
 
|Has Timepoint=19-4-2018
 
|Has Timepoint=19-4-2018
 
|Has Location=Australia
 
|Has Location=Australia

Latest revision as of 15:59, 19 August 2021

Cases

Research Problems at Australian University Hit the News

What is this about?

This factual case reports a failure to declare a conflict of interest by researchers of experimental interventions at a university. The researchers studied a disputed therapy that is endorsed by a controversial organization. According to the university and the publisher, the researchers failed to declare that they had affiliations with the organization. However, the authors stated in a press release on the situation that they did declare their conflicts of interest in all instances.

Why is this important?

Conflicts of interest may lead to the introduction of biases in research studies. This is especially the case when the product or drugs under investigation are produced by a company, as this may lead to corruption. Recent research shows that more favourable results are obtained for company-sponsored than non-company-sponsored studies.[1] Therefore, it is important for researchers to declare all potential conflicts of interest. Undeclared conflicts of interests, such as in the present case, may cast considerable doubt on the objectivity of the researchers.

  1. Lundh A, Lexchin J, Mintzes B, Schroll JB, Bero L. Industry sponsorship and research outcome: systematic review with meta-analysis. Intensive Care Med. 2018 Oct;44(10):1603-1612. doi: 10.1007/s00134-018-5293-7. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30132025.

For whom is this important?

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