The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing major research universities, submitted a formal letter to Dr. Kathryn Partin of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), conveying appreciation for collaborative efforts and providing targeted recommendations to enhance research integrity processes. The letter, endorsed by COGR’s Board of Directors and the Research Compliance and Administration Committee, commends ORI’s partnership-based approach, transparency, and valuable guidance in supporting institutions’ research compliance efforts. COGR highlights the positive impact of ORI’s training initiatives, such as Boot Camps, and stresses the importance of further developing advanced training, robust RCR (Responsible Conduct of Research) resources, and the timely dissemination of updated regulatory materials.
COGR’s recommendations address several key areas for improvement. The organization calls for the continued expansion of training, increased data sharing on research misconduct trends, and stronger guidance on data reproducibility in concert with other NIH entities. Additional priorities include clarifying the roles of authors, journals, and institutions in publication retractions; ensuring consistency between ORI’s consultative advice and its formal actions; and emphasizing the independence of institutional procedures when ORI declines to pursue specific cases. COGR also urges ORI to explicitly include self-plagiarism in its definitions and offer clearer standards for determining “recklessness” in research misconduct, referencing international best practices. The letter concludes with a commitment to ongoing cooperation and support for ORI’s strategic endeavors, expressing interest in continued dialogue and future collaboration to advance research integrity nationwide.
