Please note that the English translation is for information purposes only. For all legal purposes, the original document in Norwegian is the authoritative version.
1. Area of responsibilities and activities
1.1 Evaluation of research misconduct
The Commission on Research Integrity (‘’The commission’’) is a Commission for the UiO at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Oslo university hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF as per the Research Ethics Act § 6 second section. The commission is professionally independent as per § 3 of the Research Ethics Act, and cannot be instructed.
The commission should process and in writing comment on notified cases concerning possible breaches of recognized norms of research ethics involving persons who have or have had an association with UiO at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Oslo university hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF. All (persons and units) - internal and external - have the right to report cases.
The Joint Commission on Research Ethics may address any case on its own authority. As needed, the commission may appoint an Ad hoc-commission with members from Commission on Research Ethics and the Commission on Research Integrity at the Department of Clinical medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Oslo, Oslo University hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF, which will have a delegated competence of comments. The committee may also appoint experts to assess the factual circumstances.
In the processing of cases the commission should always decide on the following:
a) Whether the researcher has committed scientific misconduct or not
b) Whether there system errors at the institution and
c) Whether the scientific work should be corrected or withdrawn.
The processing should follow the Guidelines for the handling of cases on potential breaches of recognized norms on research ethics at the UiO at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Oslo university hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF.
1.2 Advice on research ethics
The Commission on Research Integrity is the advisory organ for work on research ethics at the UiO at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Oslo university hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF.
The Commission should through information work promote knowledge on questions pertaining to research ethics and contribute to research at the Department of Clinical Medicine and the university hospitals be conducted in accordance with recognized norms of research ethics.
2. Composition and appointment
The Commission for Research ethics shall be composed of five members, of which one external member, with personal deputy members. One of the members shall be a lawyer, and at least one of the members should have competence of research ethics, ref. the Research Ethics Act, §6, second section.
The chairman and the deputy chairman of the Commission should have research background from the field of medicine.
The lawyer in the Commission shall have experience from the health care sector and the other members should have wide background from research and experience from governing organs relevant to research.
The composition of members of the commission should in addition reflect the width of the research which the institutions represent. The commission may be supplemented as needed. Both sexes should be represented.
The members and the deputy members of the Commission are appointed by the rector and the two hospital directors for a period of three years at a time, with a possibility for reappointments.
The Commission is able to make decisions when two thirds, at least three out of five members of the commission, are present.
3. Meeting activities
The Joint Commission on Research Ethics decides itself how often the Commission shall meet. Summons and protocol will be provided on the website of the Commission
4. Reporting and access
The Commission shall provide an annual report on its activities for the university management.at the University of Oslo, Oslo university hospital HF and Akershus university hospital HF. The statements of the Commission should be published in an anonymized form.
The activities of the Commission should be within the framework of the rules securing privacy protection pursuant the applicable regulations and be open to public access.