International Standards for Research Integrity: An Idea Whose Time has Come?

Abstract

A movement to promulgate international ethics standards covering areas of conduct other than research with human subjects has now begun to gain momentum. This commentary explains why it is important to develop international research integrity standards and some of the problems that must be overcome to bring them to fruition.

Keywords:

• conflict of interest
• ethics
• integrity
• international research
• misconduct

Acknowledgments

This research was sponsored by the intramural program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). It does not represent the views of the NIEHS, NIH, or U.S. government.