UK research fraud clampdown

UK scientists and researchers want a new body to monitor research and ensure that fiddling with facts doesn't undermine science's reputation.

Almost 140 cases of possible breaches in publication ethics have been submitted to the UK Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in the past 3 years. The physicians, editors, researchers and others who comprise COPE (www .publicationethics .org.uk/) want a national panel for research integrity to consider such breaches under a new national code of conduct. Breaches of the code would result in disciplinary action and the withdrawal of research funding. The panel would answer to a House of Commons committee.

Canadian editors recently launched their own group to combat scientific misconduct (www.cma.ca/cmaj/publicationethics/index.asp).