David Vaux is an honorary fellow of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI). He graduated in medicine from the University of Melbourne and completed a PhD at WEHI. His research was concerned with the molecular mechanisms of cell death. He is a member of the board of directors of The Centre for Scientific Integrity, the parent organization of the Retraction Watch blog. For the last 20 years he has advocated establishment of an office or ombudsman for research integrity in Australia (without success).

ABSTRACT:

An Office for Research Integrity in Australia – What are the barriers?

Australia is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a national office for research integrity, but persists with a self-regulation model, in which those at an institution must investigate, pass judgement upon, and possibly sanction, their own colleagues. Reasons raised for not establishing an independent ORI include empowering vigilantes, cost, delay, and loss of public confidence in science. In this talk I will provide examples to support my opinion that the risks of persisting with the self-regulation model are far outweighed by the benefits from having an independent office with qualified personnel who do not have conflicts of interest.