Responsible conduct of research: enhancing local opportunities.

Erisa S Mwaka

Anatomy Department, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. P.O. Box
7072, Kampala, Uganda.

Abstract
Introduction:Research integrity is the foundation of credible research and a pre-requisite for a successful academic research environment. Lately, a lot of revelations of fraud and other unacceptable behaviour in research have been highly publicized in scientific journals and mass media. Whereas institutions in developed countries have developed guidelines and regulations to ensure responsible conduct of research and appropriately deal with cases of research misconduct, low- and middle-income countries seem to be lagging behind. In Uganda, there seems to be lack of coordinated efforts to address the problem of research misconduct both at the national and institutional level.

Objective: To propose a framework for fostering scientific integrity and deterring misconduct in research in Ugandan research and academic institutions.

Methods: A review of literature on scientific integrity, scientific misconduct, responsible conduct of research, and international ethical guidelines was done.

Results: Basing on the 2012 Inter-Academy Council policy report, initiatives to promote responsible conduct of research in Ugandan research and academic institutions are proposed.

Conclusion:With the proposed framework, an honest and trustworthy research enterprise in Uganda based on principles of scientific integrity is envisioned.

Keywords: Research misconduct, scientific integrity, responsible conduct of research.