Research Misconduct

Greater Boston is rightfully regarded as a capital for science, medicine, and research. Many of the world’s best scientists and researchers work in the area’s numerous universities, laboratories, and hospitals. In such a competitive and often high-stakes environment, accusations of research misconduct can have serious ramifications. Professional reputations, research funds, and even careers can be placed in jeopardy by charges like plagiarism, data manipulation, undue foreign influence, and fraud. If you are accused of research misconduct, you need an experienced attorney with a proven ability to defend you and your reputation successfully.

Boston research misconduct attorney David J. Grimaldi provides exceptional legal representation to scientists and researchers accused of wrongdoing. He defends professors, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and laboratory scientists under investigation for a wide array of alleged misconduct in their work. Attorney Grimaldi has vindicated the innocence of clients accused of misconduct at multiple Boston-area universities. He has also represented both local and international clients. No matter the accusation or stage of the proceeding, Attorney Grimaldi’s strong and customized defenses provide clients accused of research misconduct with the greatest likelihood of success.

A key to defeating claims of research misconduct is a thorough understanding of the standards and protocols involved in research integrity claims. The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) leads the Public Health Service (PHS) research integrity work for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in many cases. As part of its responsibilities, ORI develops policies, procedures, and regulations concerning the detection, investigation, and prevention of research misconduct. ORI also monitors research misconduct investigations and recommends findings and administrative actions to HHS. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has its own process for handling research misconduct allegations and works in conjunction with ORI. An attorney defending a client accused of research misconduct must understand the regulations governing the investigation process and be prepared to challenge institutions when they fail to adhere to protocols designed to safeguard the rights of scientists and researchers.

The ORI defines research misconduct as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting results. Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them. Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately presented in the record. Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Research misconduct does not include, however, honest error or differences of opinion. Many allegations of research misconduct, therefore, will turn on whether a specific act or omission constitutes fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, or instead is an honest error or difference of opinion. Allegations of research misconduct must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.

To successfully defend a scientist or researcher, an attorney must develop as much evidence as possible of the client’s good faith belief in the integrity of their work. Bench notes, logs, draft reports, emails, text messages, witness interviews, and other sources can be valuable evidence in a client’s defense. Each defense must be cultivated on its own terms and the strongest defenses will often be rooted in the research itself. An attorney defending a scientist or researcher must carefully listen to his client and collect the evidence to present the most compelling defense to the charges.

Boston research misconduct attorney David J. Grimaldi has the experience and skills necessary to defend scientists and researchers accused of misconduct. Do not leave your future to chance. Your hard work, reputation, and career are worth defending. If you are under investigation for or accused of research misconduct, contact Attorney Grimaldi at (617) 661-1529 or online today.