Good Scientific Practice

Good medical research depends on meeting ist obligations towards society, patients and fellow researchers.

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Research Integrity

Charité is committed to providing the training required in order to ensure that all those involved in research activities have the necessary knowledge, and that they are fully aware of their duties and responsibilities. Our advice and support is aimed at preventing mistakes and/or misconduct. We have clear and transparent procedures for dealing with allegations of research integrity breaches.

Page contents

Ombudspersons

Contacts

Laboratory notebooks

Events

Storage of primary data

Statistics

Dissertation – how to prepare your thesis

Habilitation – how to prepare your thesis

Citing and referencing correctly (German version)

Coronavirus pandemic: current restrictions on laboratory notebook handout

As a protective measure during the current corona virus outbreak, laboratory notebooks will only be handed out on Campus Virchow in urgent cases and by prior appointment. Please contact the Office of Research Integrity per e-mail at gwp(at)charite.de to make an appointment.

Laboratory Notebooks

Laboratory Notebooks (paper-based)

Laboratory notebooks of the Charité can be obtained at the following times:

Campus Virchow Klinikum
In the rooms of the Research Integrity Office
Forum 4, 2. Etage, Raum 2.0017/2.0012
Mo-Fr 10:00 – 12:00 am (and by prior arrangement)

Campus Buch
Room 3001a of the ECRC
Wednesdays 10:00 – 12:00 am (and by prior arrangement)

Campus CBF
House II, 3. OG, Room 302
Every second Thursday of the month 09:00 – 11:00 am

Please don’t forget to bring photo identification (identity card, passport or driver’s license).

Laboratory Notebook (electronic)

The BIH provides free access to an electronic lab book to all Charité research groups.

Principal Investigators can apply to the BIH for an account on their labfolder server. Further information can be found here.

More details about using labfolder can be found here.

Assistance

The Research Integrity Office (e-mail) offers advice on questions of methodology or can put you in touch with experts who can help.

The Charité is implementing a central server for primary data. The aim is to help researchers store their data in a way that is safe and easily accessible, and to ensure the data remain available for at least ten years, in case of conflict.“

Statistics

Scientist and PhD-students of the Charité can receive support for designing clinical and epidemiological studies. For further information please contact the Institute of Biometry and Epidemiology. The statisticians of the Institute are recognized as accredited statisticians by the Office for Doctoral Studies.

Curricula

The Revised Medical Curriculum of Charité contains two teaching sessions on Scientific Integrity as part of Module 23: a seminar on „Good Scientific Practice“ and a lecture on „Preventing scientific misconduct“, both in the sixth semerster.

As it is essential for all doctoral and habilitational candidates to have received research integrity training, an additional lecture on 'Research Integrity and Good Research Practice' will be offered.

What to do in case of conflict

Information regarding breaches of research integrity, such as unfair authorship assignments or allegations of scientific fraud, can be discussed directly with the elected ombudspersons. They are able to advise and mediate to help find a solution. Should this not prove possible, the Faculty Management team will decide in a timely manner whether the case should be referred to the investigation committee.

Investigations into allegations of research misconduct are carried out in a manner that safeguards the rights of the accused (presumption of innocence, right to rehabilitation following unjustified allegations), whilst also ensuring that the rights of the public and the research community are respected, and that they are promptly notified of proven cases of research misconduct.

Doctoral degrees

Doctoral candidates should receive intensive support during thesis preparation. This support should be provided by a researcher (mentor) from within the research group responsible for approving the topic of the doctoral thesis. It is recommended that the student should also receive additional support from a co-mentor from a different research group. Doctoral candidates should meet with their mentors/co-mentors on a regular basis to assess progress, set targets, and discuss any problems that may arise.

In situations where conflicts between doctoral candidates and superviors could potentially endanger the successful completion of the doctoral project, the ombudspersons for doctoral affairs can mediate to help find a solution.