A report has called on the federal government to establish a scientific misconduct watchdog.
An inquiry that investigated cancer researcher Mark Smyth, from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, found that scientists and researchers needed to be policed by an independent body. Professor Mark Smyth, the former head of immunology in cancer at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.under freedom of information laws, show it took months for a key government science agency to refer serious allegations of research misconduct for investigation.
Lander’s report revealed QIMR failed to respond to concerns about Smyth for seven years, and some whistleblowers were forced out of the organisation. QIMR had no research integrity office until 2018.