The Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) Research Integrity Office is dedicated to serving the research community by promoting a culture of integrity and ethical behavior in science.
As a leading research institution, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct in research. This is achieved through adherence to institutional policies and procedures, applicable federal regulations, and accepted practices within the scientific community, as well as a general commitment to rigor and reproducibility. In addition, core values such as, objectivity, honesty, openness, and accountability are key. (Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). 2017. Fostering Integrity in Research: A Consensus Study Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. P. 29-37)
“Best Practices” for researchers, as defined in the NASEM report, are as follows:
- “Uphold research integrity with vigilance, professionalism, and collegiality.”
- “Manage research data effectively, responsibly, and transparently throughout the research process...”
- “Follow general and disciplinary authorship standards when communicating through formal publications...”
- “Know your responsibilities as a mentor and supervisor...”
- “Strive to be a fair and effective peer reviewer who provides careful reviews, maintains confidentiality, and recognizes and discloses conflicts of interest.”
- “Understand and comply with relevant institutional and governmental regulations governing research, including those specific to a given discipline or field.”
(Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Fostering Integrity in Research: A Consensus Study Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. P. 167-173)
Research Misconduct
Under 42 CFR Part 93, the federal regulations governing research misconduct proceedings, Research Misconduct is defined as falsification, fabrication or plagiarism.
- Fabrication is defined as "making up data or results and recording or reporting on them."
- Falsification is defined as "manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record."
- Plagiarism is defined as "the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit."
(Source: 42 CFR 93,103 (p.28386)
MSHS policies relating to ethical practices in research encompass both Research Misconduct as defined by 42 CFR Part 93, and other improprieties relating to research, such as the Program for the Protection of Human Subjects (PPHS) and Institutional Care and Use Committee (IACUC) violations and financial misappropriateion. MSHS policies apply to all research conducted under the auspices of ISMMS (see Chapter V of faculty handbook).
Authorship Disputes
Authorship disputes that do not include allegations of Research Misconduct (i.e., falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism) are typically handled at the departmental level and should be brought to the attention of the department chair. Please see the Faculty Handbook Authorship Policy for further details.
Policies and Procedures
Mount Sinai Health System
As noted above, MSHS Policies and Procedures on Ethical Practices in Research apply to all research conducted under the auspices of ISMMS.
Federal Register
In addition to its own policies and procedures, MSHS abides by and enforces government regulations relating to research integrity. 42 CFR Part 93 governs all research supported by Public Health Service (PHS) funds.
Research Integrity Team
The Mount Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Reginald W. Miller, DVM, DACLAM
Dean, Research Operations and Infrastructure
Senior Research Integrity Office (ISMMS/RIO)
Associate Professor, Comparative Medicine and Surgery
Associate Professor, Environmental Medicine and Public Health
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Phone: 212-241-3006
Email
Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West
Emilia M. Sordillo, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine
Research Integrity Officer (Mount Sinai Morningside/MSW RIO)
Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West
Mobile: 347-514-3372
Email
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Maria Berdella, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Research Integrity Officer (MSBI RIO)
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Phone: 212-420-4100
Email
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
Jill Slutsky-Sanon, MPA
Director of Research Administration, Department of Ophthalmology
Research Integrity Officer (NYEE RIO)
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
Phone: 212-241-0746
Email
Research Integrity Committee (RIC) Chairs
Francesco Ramirez, PhD
Professor, Pharmacological Sciences, Orthopedics, Medicine, Cardiology
Bruce D. Gelb, MD
Professor, Pediatrics and Genetics and Genomic Sciences
RIO Staff
Karen C. Weston
Research Integrity Program Manager, MSHS/ISMMS
Phone: 212-659-8117
Mobile: 646-841-2429
Email