Observing standards of professional conduct and scientific integrity

© Thomas Lang

Guaranteeing the scientific integrity, compliance and impartiality of research is crucial, especially at a time when scientific methods and findings are coming under increasing public scrutiny. At the Institut Pasteur, the Research Integrity Officer (RIS) works with the Committee for Research Integrity and Conciliation (CISC) and the Ethics and Compliance Committee (CDC) to oversee compliance with these principles.

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Committee for Research Integrity and Conciliation (CISC) and Research Integrity Officer (RIS)

Reliability, honesty, respect and accountability

To maintain public trust and ensure the validity of scientific results, research institutions must guarantee the integrity of their work. This involves adhering to values such as reliability, honesty, respect and accountability. The Research Integrity Officer (RIS) is tasked with ensuring that these values are upheld within the Institut Pasteur. This role has been established by law since 2021. The Research Integrity Officer is assisted by the Committee for Research Integrity and Conciliation (CISC), which reports to the President and has five members, including the RIS.

Duties of the RIS with CISC support

  • Handling allegations of breaches of research integrity;
  • Proposing solutions to interpersonal conflicts in scientific matters and attempting to reconcile stakeholders in cases outlined in the Institut Pasteur's Charter for Research Integrity;
  • Ensuring compliance with the Charter for Research Integrity and suggesting adaptations;
  • Issuing guidelines and offering more general insights on these issues;
  • Coordinating prevention, awareness-raising and training initiatives with existing research integrity regulations.

These duties were stipulated in the 2024 French Research Code (three articles – D211-2, 3 and 4 – replace decree 2021-1572 of December 3, 2021). Previously, in 2001, the Institut Pasteur had already taken the initiative of establishing an Ethics Review and Conciliation Committee (CVDC) to deal with these matters.

Regulatory basis for the CISC

In its opinions and recommendations issued to the President, the CISC draws on the Institut Pasteur's Charter for Research Integrity.

Remit of the CISC

The CISC's work concerns all scientific staff at the Institut Pasteur regardless of their position, as well as external staff in cases also involving Institut Pasteur staff.

CISC members in 2024

  • Chair: Alain Fischer
  • Vice-Chair and RIS: Alain Israël – ris@pasteur.fr
  • Benoît Robert
  • Corinne Sarrazin
  • Capucine Grandjean

Find out more

Contact

Ethics and Compliance Committee (CDC)

Preventing and managing conflicts of interest and preventing corruption

In 2018, the Institut Pasteur established an Ethics and Compliance Committee (CDC) to assist the Board of Governors and the President by issuing opinions and recommendations on matters related to ethics and compliance. The CDC oversees application of the principles in the Charter for the Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest.

Duties of the CDC

The Chairman of the Board of Governors or the President refers to the CDC to:

  • manage and prevent conflicts of interest, as laid down in the Charter for the Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest;
  • review Declarations of Interest submitted by scientists;
  • ensure that the Institut Pasteur complies with all laws, regulations and codes of conduct entered into, especially anti-corruption measures;
  • deal with any reports received from whistleblowers via the dedicated platform.

Any other related issues may also be referred to the committee by the Chairman of the Board of Governors or the President.

Regulatory basis for the CDC

Members

The CDC has:

  • Three external members specializing in ethics and compliance, one of whom chosen to chair the committee;
  • One or two current or retired Institut Pasteur scientists, including the Research Integrity Officer (RIS);
  • One member of the Board of Governors (excluding the Chairman, Directors of National Reference Centers and members of the Finance and Audit Committee and Bureau).

CDC chairship in 2024

  • Chair: Patrick Gérard

Contact

  • The CDC is contacted directly by the Institut Pasteur Board of Governors or President

 

 
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