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De Peuter S, Dierickx K, Meganck M, Lerouge I, Vandevelde W, Storms G. Mismatch in perceptions of the quality of supervision and research data management as an area of concern: Results from a university-wide survey of the research integrity culture at a Belgian university. Account Res 2024:1-32. [PMID: 38374543 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2024.2318245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Researchers of KU Leuven, a large Belgian university, were invited to complete a bespoke questionnaire assessing their attitudes toward research integrity and the local research culture, with specific emphasis on the supervision of junior researchers. A total of 7,353 invitations were sent via e-mail and 1,866 responses were collected (25.3% response rate), of which 1,723 responses are reported upon here. Some of the findings are relevant to the broader research community. Whereas supervisors evaluated their supervision of junior researchers almost unanimously as positive, fewer supervisees evaluated it as such. Data management emerged as an area of concern, both in terms of reviewing raw data and of data storage. More female than male professors emphasized open communication and supported their supervisees' professional development and personal well-being. At the same time, fewer female professors felt safe to speak up than male professors. Finally, researchers who obtained their master's degree outside Europe evaluated their supervision and KU Leuven's research culture more positively than researchers with a master's degree from KU Leuven. The results of the survey were fed back to the university's board and several bodies and served as input to update the university's research policy. Faculties and departments received a detailed report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven De Peuter
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K Dierickx
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Meganck
- Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I Lerouge
- Research Coordination Office, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Vandevelde
- Research Coordination Office, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - G Storms
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Buedo P, Prieto E, Perek-Białas J, Odziemczyk-Stawarz I, Waligora M. More ethics in the laboratory, please! Scientists' perspectives on ethics in the preclinical phase. Account Res 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38235967 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2023.2294996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In recent years there have been calls to improve ethics in preclinical research. Promoting ethics in preclinical research should consider the perspectives of scientists. Our study aims to explore researchers' perspectives on ethics in the preclinical phase. Using interviews and focus groups, we collected views on ethical issues in preclinical research from experienced (n = 11) and early-stage researchers (ESRs) (n = 14) working in a gene therapy and regenerative medicine consortium. A recurring theme among ESRs was the impact of health-related preclinical research on climate change. They highlighted the importance of strengthening ethics in relations within the scientific community. Experienced researchers were focused on technicalities of methods used in preclinical research. They stressed the need for more safeguards to protect the sensitive personal data they work with. Both groups drew attention to the importance of the social context of research and its social impact. They agreed that it is important to be socially responsible - to be aware of and be sensitive to the needs and views of society. This study helps to identify key ethical challenges and, when combined with more data, can ultimately lead to informed and evidence-based improvements to existing regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Buedo
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Eugenia Prieto
- Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Argentina
| | - Jolanta Perek-Białas
- Institute of Sociology and Center of Evaluation and Public Policy Analysis, Jagiellonian University, Poland and Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Waligora
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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Marshall AG, Vue Z, Beasley HK, Neikirk K, Stephens D, Wanjalla CN, Damo SM, Trejo J, Rodriguez-Aliaga P, Headley CA, Shuler H, Liu K, Smith N, Garza-Lopez E, Barongan T, Scudese E, Spencer E, Heemstra J, Vazquez AD, Murray SA, Hinton A. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Laboratory: Strategies to Enhance Inclusive Laboratory Culture. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3766-3772. [PMID: 37922871 PMCID: PMC10986851 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Building a diverse laboratory that is equitable is critical for the retention of talent and the growth of trainees professionally and personally. Here, we outline several strategies including enhancing understanding of cultural competency and humility, establishing laboratory values, and developing equitable laboratory structures to create an inclusive laboratory environment to enable trainees to achieve their highest success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Marshall
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Zer Vue
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Kit Neikirk
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Dominique Stephens
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Celestine N Wanjalla
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Steven M Damo
- Center Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA; Fisk University, Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Nashville, TN 37208 USA
| | - JoAnn Trejo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Colwyn Ansel Headley
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Haysetta Shuler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Winston-Salem State University; Winston-Salem, NC 27110 USA
| | - Kaihua Liu
- Department of Anatomy of Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Nathan Smith
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Edgar Garza-Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Taylor Barongan
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Estevão Scudese
- Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity (LABIMH) of the Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro Brazil; Sport Sciences and Exercise Laboratory (LaCEE), Catholic University of Petrópolis (UCP), Brazil
| | - Elsie Spencer
- Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Jennifer Heemstra
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Chemistry, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Sandra A Murray
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Cell Biology, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA.
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Nashville, TN 37232 USA.
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