Srinagar, Jul 26: To strengthen research governance and curb academic misconduct, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has constituted a Research Regulatory Council (RRC) that will formulate institutional policies on plagiarism, research ethics, scientific integrity and intellectual property.
The Council, to be headed by Director SKIMS, has been constituted to ensure highest standards of research governance, ethics, accountability, transparency and regulatory compliance.
The newly constituted body has been entrusted with formulating, reviewing and recommending institutional policies, regulations, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines governing all research activities undertaken under the aegis of SKIMS University.
Officials said the Council will serve as the apex institutional body for research governance and will oversee research administration, ensure compliance with statutory and funding agency requirements, and recommend reforms to strengthen the University’s research ecosystem.
Among its major responsibilities, the Council will examine and recommend proposals relating to national and international collaborations, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), research partnerships and other collaborative arrangements.
It will also formulate institutional guidelines on research ethics, scientific integrity, responsible conduct of research, authorship, publication practices, plagiarism, data ownership, data sharing, confidentiality and research misconduct.
The Council has also been tasked with laying down institutional norms for submission, scrutiny, monitoring, implementation and closure of both research projects.
It will recommend guidelines defining the eligibility, responsibilities and accountability of Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-Principal Investigators, mentors, post-doctoral fellows and project staff.
The Council will examine policy matters relating to the engagement, transfer, replacement or succession of investigators in situations such as retirement, resignation, transfer or long leave.
The RRC will further oversee research grant management, utilisation of funds, project administration and submission of utilisation and completion reports.
SKIMS said PG, doctoral and post-doctoral research activities, including dissertations, theses, publications and maintenance of research records, will also come under the Council’s oversight.
The Council will conduct Annual Research Audits of the University and its constituent departments and centres to assess research performance, regulatory compliance, quality of research output, utilisation of research resources and implementation of approved projects. Corrective measures will be recommended wherever necessary.
Recognising the growing importance of innovation and technology transfer, the Council has been authorised to review and recommend proposals related to patents, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) etc. Institutional approval from the Council will be mandatory, wherever required, before submission of patents.
The Council will also facilitate pre-application ethical review of research proposals to ensure compliance with institutional, national and funding agency ethical requirements before submission to external agencies.
To encourage excellence, the RRC has been empowered to recommend institution of annual research awards recognising outstanding contributions in research, innovation, publications, patents, technology development and research mentorship.
Another significant mandate of the Council is to frame policies governing the appointment and performance evaluation of Adjunct Faculty, Visiting Faculty, Emeritus Professors, scientists etc.
The Council will also regulate public communication of research findings by recommending institutional guidelines for dissemination of research through social media, print and electronic media. Under the new framework, any public release of research findings outcomes will require prior institutional approval unless otherwise permitted under approved policies.
Notably, the Council will make policies for establishing a centralised Research Information Management System and an Institutional Research Dashboard, to be developed by SKIMS IT Department for monitoring, reporting and analytics of research activities across the University.
The Council will meet at least once every quarter and may convene more frequently whenever required. It may also co-opt subject experts or invite specialists for deliberations on specific research matters.
The Council has been directed to function in coordination with the Institutional Ethics Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Animal Ethics Committee, Academic Bodies and other statutory authorities while ensuring adherence to standards prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other governing bodies.
Officials said the Council will play a pivotal role in implementing SKIMS’ long-term vision of promoting quality research and institutional excellence through periodic review of research policies in line with evolving national and international guidelines.
