Dealing with scientific misconduct
The special combination of research and regulation in the field of development and authorisation of vaccines and biomedicines ensures the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut's (PEI) strong technical expertise and is a prerequisite for providing reliable scientific support to drug developers as well as evaluating applications for clinical trial approval or authorisation of these medicinal products. Adhering to the values of honesty, conscientiousness, integrity, and open discourse is a prerequisite for the Institute's provision of scientifically independent advice to government officials, experts in the field, and the general public.
Maintaining the reputation and credibility of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut and its employees is essential for acceptance of the Institute's decisions. Scientific misconduct could negatively affect these areas. The scientists of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut are therefore obliged to strictly comply with Institute-specific guidelines of good scientific practice (GSP) provided within the framework of an organisational decree. Those guidelines are based on the corresponding code by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).
In the event of questions about good scientific practice, doubts about scientific integrity or indications of scientific misconduct at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the Institute's employees and external third parties can confidentially contact one of the Institute's two independent ombudspersons. In addition, the ombudsman for scientific integrity in Germany (German Research Ombudsman), set up by the DFG, is a point of contact for all scientists in Germany with questions and conflicts related to good scientific practice.
Scientists appointed as ombudspersons at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut are capable of examining relevant information confidentially, impartially, and with the necessary technical expertise. If there is an indication of misconduct, the ombudspersons carry out a plausibility check at their best discretion and help the complainant to contextualise their suspicions. The ombudspersons operate under the presumption of innocence as well as duties of confidentiality and non-disclosure to protect complainants and respondents. Whenever possible, the ombudspersons mediate between the parties involved in the conflict.
If a suspicion of scientific misconduct is confirmed, the internal commission composed for that specific case will act to investigate scientific misconduct. The commission may draft a proposal for the appropriate sanctioning of the respondents by Institute management or the next higher office.
Updated: 26.10.2023
