Responsible conduct of research

Written to the attention of students, researchers and institutions benefiting from FRQ funding, the Policy for the responsible conduct of research describes the fundamental elements of the responsible conduct of research in respect to the highest standards in ethics and integrity. The Policy also presents what constitute potential breaches to this conduct and specifies the minimal requirements regarding the management of allegations of breach to the responsible conduct of research when provincial funds are involved. In this way, it echoes the policy of the Federal funding agencies which applies when federal funds are involved: The Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research.

The FRQ Policy for the responsible conduct of research came into effect September 1st 2015.

At the same time, the FRQ adopted their own internal rules defining the procedures for applying the Policy for the responsible Conduct of Research in the context of the internal activities of the Fonds. Pursuant to the Policy, a Responsible Conduct of Research Committee (RCRC) has been set up by the FRQ.

The global research community is placing increasing emphasis on the responsible conduct of research. Out of a desire to reassert the importance of ethics in research, the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) are confirming their commitment to promoting and supporting the responsible conduct of research within Québec institutions by developing an approach that will respect the realities of Québec research while encompassing the complexity of today’s research contexts and environments. Initiatives in this direction include the development of a single policy and common procedures relating to the responsible conduct of research, made necessary by the restructuring of the three Fonds (Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, Fonds de recherche du Québec –  Santé and Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture) under the banner of the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) and the leadership of the Chief Scientist of Québec.

The FRQ are in a unique position to impose minimum rules for the promotion and governance of responsible conduct of research on a provincial level. The FRQ Policy will thus bring the efforts made to promote the responsible conduct of research together around a common vision and raise awareness among all research actors about the importance of adopting responsible conduct in all of their research activities, while providing them with tools to reach this goal.

The FRQ’s policy provides clear directives that are consistent with national and international best practices for the responsible conduct of research. In developing  this policy, the FRQ were largely inspired by: the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, the Singapore Statement on Research Integrity, the report Honesty, Accountability and Trust: Fostering Research Integrity in Canada and the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research.

Les FRQ tiennent à souligner leur confiance envers les chercheurs, les étudiants et les établissements dont ils financent les projets de recherche. Cette confiance est au cœur de la réflexion ayant guidé la rédaction de la Politique et fait partie intégrante de l’approche plus globale adoptée par les FRQ en matière d’éthique en recherche. C’est en collaboration avec ces acteurs que les FRQ développent et feront vivre cette Politique dont les objectifs sont les suivants :

• Soutenir et promouvoir l’excellence en recherche à laquelle participe la conduite responsable ;
• Assumer leurs responsabilités en matière de gestion de fonds publics ;
• Clarifier les attentes des Fonds envers les différents acteurs impliqués en recherche ;
• Soutenir la confiance du public dans la gestion du financement et la conduite de la recherche au Québec (bref, dans l’excellence de la recherche menée au Québec) ;
• Favoriser le déploiement de processus et de prises de décisions justes et équitables dans la gestion des cas de manquement à l’intégrité en recherche ;
• Viser une approche à la fois dynamique (qui s’ajuste au contexte contemporain de la recherche) et proactive en matière de conduite responsable en recherche.

The FRQ are setting up a Responsible Conduct of Research Committee (RCRC), a permanent committee made up of independent members from the Fonds. The committee’s mandate is to:

• monitor the Policy’s progress and implementation within institutions and the Fonds and any challenges arising therefrom, and relay this information to the scientific Directors of the Fonds;
• bring forward recommendations on the further development of the Policy, where applicable;
• review reports of substantiated breaches of responsible conduct and make recommendations on the actions required by the scientific Directors of the Fonds involved;
• examine admissible allegations tied to the internal activities of the Fonds, and make recommendations to the scientific Directors of the Fonds involved;
• report on their activities annually to the Board of Directors of the Fonds.

The Responsible Conduct of Research Committee (RCRC) is a permanent committee made up of independent members from the FRQ.

Current members:

• Michèle Stanton Jean, committee chair
• Jacques Beauvais, vice-chair
• Michel Gervais, member
• Sabin Boily, member
• Jennifer Stoddart, member
• Mélissa Di Sante, student member
• Isabelle Raffestin, student member

Contributes to the management and coordination of the Committee :

• Mylène Deschênes (Secrétaire), Directrice des affaires éthiques et juridiques
• Raphaëlle Dupras-Leduc, Conseillère juridique
• Nathalie Voarino, Conseillère en intégrité scientifique

• Lettre de la recevabilité à transmettre aux FRQ lors de la réception d’une allégation de manquement à la conduite responsable en recherche
• Processus de gestion des allégations de manquement à la conduite responsable en recherche
• Formulaire d’engagement à respecter la Politique sur la conduite responsable en recherche
• Formulaire de mise à jour de la personne chargée de la conduite responsable en recherche