Ethical Issues in Research Grant Applications
SUKHIT PHAOSA VASDI, M.D.*, HENRY WILDE, M.D.**, VISITH SITPRUA, M.D.**, THIRAVAT HEMACHUDHA,M.D.***
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, ** Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, *** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Scientific research requires funds and these similar project. Unauthorized use of such informa are not easily obtained. They are also subject to tion by a reviewer could thus be compared to the fierce competition. Governmental, charitable and use of inside information to gain profit on the stock other potential grantors of money for research usually market. Selecting a fair and truly impartial panel of require a detailed application that outlines the objec reviewers can be a daunting task for the chairperson tives of a research project as well as what benefits of the granting agency. He or she will have to select for science or the community could be derived. These reviewers who are knowledgeable in the field, impar are reasonable if not commendable requirements. A tial and who will not appropriate ideas that have panel of reviewers is then selected which is given been given them in confidence as part of the review the duty to study the proposal for thoroughness of process. The chairperson must also be certain that the design, a complete literature review and the like there is no direct personal or professional conflict lihood of successful completion. The reviewers are between the reviewers and the grant applicant. A usually scientists in the same field as that of the grant reviewer's function should thus be similar to that applicants and are thus, often, potential competitors of the applicants. It is almost certain that the appli of a priest, attorney or physician who will not use cants will be required to submit sensitive and detailed information for personal advancement or divulge it technical information concerning the proposed pro to others who might do so. Technical documents ject. Assembling such information requires original submitted to a granting agency should be considered thought, much work and planning. It may be of great strictly confidential and should preferably be des value to a competitor who wishes to engage in a troyed or sealed if the application is rejected.
Keywords : Ethics, Research, Reviewer
