Research Integrity

A little over a year ago, the Office of Research Integrity at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued updated regulations governing the handling of allegations of research misconduct. These new federal regulations take effect on January 1, 2026.

In response, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research has been working closely with each school’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to revise Harvard’s Policies and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct, ensuring full alignment with the new federal requirements.

After careful review, the Chan School has decided to adopt the updated Harvard University policy in its entirety.  This approach ensures consistency with University-wide standards and upholds the highest level of integrity and fairness in our research misconduct investigation processes.

The updated policy applies to all research misconduct allegations received on or after January 1, 2026. Key areas addressed include clearer definitions of misconduct, updated timeframes for assessments and investigations, and enhanced procedural protections for all parties involved.

The full policy is linked below.

Please direct any questions regarding the policy or its implementation to Delia Christiani, the Chan School’s Research Integrity Officer.

Thank you for your continued commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity in research.

Overview

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is committed to advancing a culture of compliance and scientific integrity among its investigators, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and research administrators. Although infrequent, instances of research misconduct may arise. When they do, it is the responsibility of the research community to see they are addressed appropriately.

Harvard Chan School follows Harvard University  Policies and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct that defines what constitutes research misconduct, describes the investigatory process, and explains the role of the Research Integrity Officer (RIO). The policy applies to all individuals engaged in research at Harvard Chan School regardless of their role in the research project.

Reporting Concerns

All allegations, questions, or concerns pertaining to potential research misconduct should be referred directly to the institutional Research Integrity Officer:

Delia Wolf Christiani, MD, JD, MSCI
Associate Dean, Regulatory Affairs & Research Compliance
Email: dwchristiani@hsph.harvard.edu