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Ethics and integrity

Ethics are an integral part of good scientific practice.

Scientific integrity

We seek to:

  • Promote the integrity of scientific literature by correcting errors whether they are accidental or deliberate.
  • Foster integrity in the practice of science by taking appropriate remedial action in cases of scientific misconduct.

Good scientific practice

Statements on research practice have been developed to foster scientific integrity at WEHI. All staff, students and visiting scientists are required to adhere to all policies and guidelines relating to research practice and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Code).

Advisors

Research Integrity Advisors play a key role in research integrity and responsible research practices at WEHI.

WEHI staff and students can speak with a WEHI Research Integrity Advisor if they have questions or concerns about the conduct of research and researcher responsibilities under the Code.

Scientific misconduct

WEHI is committed to ethical and responsible conduct of research. Staff and students at WEHI, as well as concerned members of the public, are able to raise a concern relating to any element of research conduct under the Code.

Concerns and complaints about research conducted at WEHI or by our researchers will be managed in accordance with procedural fairness and requirements set out in the Code. This includes complaints made anonymously.

To raise a concern about research conduct at WEHI, please contact the Designated Officer, Associate Professor Ian Majewski at designatedofficer@wehi.edu.au. Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Research Integrity Team via email: researchintegrity@wehi.edu.au or lodge a written complaint to our postal address: 1G Royal Parade, Parkville VICTORIA 3052, Australia.

When submitting a complaint, please include all relevant details and your expected outcome/s. We may reach out to request additional information or for clarification. Unless the complaint is anonymous, we would expect to update you as and when key decisions are made regarding the progress of the complaint.

Further information

Research ethics

We consider ethics to be an integral part of good scientific practice.

For us, ethical conduct in human research and research using animals begins with the values and principles set out by the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) and the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, respectively.

First and foremost, we ensure our work complies with these standards. In addition, we understand that it is important to further consider ethical principles as we apply these. Robust ethical review ensures that research at WEHI is designed and conducted with respect for human participants and animals involved.

Ethical review process

Researchers and committee members can discuss any complex ethical issues that may arise. This conversation is conducted throughout the life of a research project: scientists continually reflect on ethical research as related to their project.

The ethical review process through the WEHI’s Research Ethics Committees ensures that research conducted complies with ethical obligations and support individual researchers to maintain the highest ethical and integrity standards.

If you have any concerns or queries about human research projects or research projects using animals at WEHI, please contact ethics@wehi.edu.au on +61 3 9345 2188.

Human Research Ethics Committee

The Committee comprises scientific, medical, pastoral, legal, community and consumer representatives. All human research conducted at WEHI must be approved by the committee.

The role of the Committee is to consider ethical implications of all proposed research projects and to determine whether the projects are acceptable on both scientific and ethical grounds.

The Committee also monitors the progress of research projects, maintains a register of ongoing human research projects and regularly reports to the WEHI board and regulatory bodies, such as the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Contact us

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