The document is a formal letter from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), an organization representing research universities, addressed to Dr. Kathryn Partin of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) at the US Department of Health and Human Services. The letter, sent on May 9, 2016, conveys appreciation for ORI's partnership approach and recent engagement with COGR’s Research Compliance and Administration Committee, particularly in supporting clarity, consistency, and efficiency in research oversight. The authors commend ORI staff for their professionalism, candor, and practical assistance in navigating complex research integrity issues.
COGR then presents a series of substantive recommendations aimed at further improving ORI policies and practices. Key suggestions include the continued provision and expansion of training programs (such as Boot Camps), enhanced availability of resources and updated guidance, routine reporting of research misconduct case metrics, and increased emphasis on issues like data reproducibility and clearer obligations around publication retractions. Additional requests include ensuring consistency between ORI’s consultative advice and formal decisions, establishing clearer definitions for key terms (such as “recklessness” and the scope of “self-plagiarism”), and clarifying the relationship between ORI determinations and institutional actions in misconduct cases. The letter concludes with support for ORI’s ongoing outreach initiatives and emphasizes COGR’s commitment to collaborative efforts that advance research integrity across the academic sector.
