Granting agencies grapple with scientific fraud

Canada’s federal granting agencies are updating their research guidelines in the face of increasingly elaborate practices of scientific fraud.

An August 2025 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) described a widespread network of “research paper mills” wherein authors and editors collude to circumvent the traditional peer-review process. This is just one form of academic misconduct to which Canada is not immune according to the website Retraction Watch.

In this context, the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research (SRCR) confirmed to University Affairs that the Canadian Tri-Agency Framework on the Responsible Conduct of Research will be reviewed and updated in 2026. The framework’s previous versions were released in 2016 and 2021.

The framework outlines scientists’ responsibilities when conducting research and disseminating results. Researchers requesting or receiving federal funding are expected to comply with these guidelines. The framework also provides guidance to institutions on how to handle alleged breaches of agency policies.

Change isn’t easy

Even an updated framework is unlikely to prevent the spread of scientific fraud. “Every documented case over the last two decades can be traced to a minority of scientists who are following a recipe to get published thereby survive in academia,” explained Vincent Larivière, professor with the School of Information and Library Sciences at Université de Montréal.

Dr. Larivière, who is also one of the experts involved in reviewing the framework, said the situation won’t change as long as quantity continues to be valued over quality in scientific research. “Updating the normative framework won’t solve academic publishing’s fundamental problems.”

Jean-François Sénéchal, a senior lecturer in the department of Philosophy at Université Laval, said that early career researchers should undergo mandatory training on research integrity. “Right now, researchers are mainly learning these skills passively as they are socialized into the research profession,” said Dr. Sénéchal, an expert on the role of scientific researchers in society.

Envisioning the new framework

A variety of additions, deletions and clarifications have been proposed for the new framework; however, it’s not yet clear which improvements are likely to be made. “The goal is to craft a framework that remains relevant in an ever-changing research landscape,” the SRCR said in an emailed statement.

Robin Whitaker, president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) said that, like many Canadian universities, the teachers’ organization is seeking clearer guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research. “We’re looking for advice for researchers who use AI in their work, particularly with regards to the confidentiality of research subjects and the integrity of their data.”

CAUT, which is among the roughly 20 institutions and organizations that publicly commented on the proposed revisions to the 2021 framework, hopes the new framework will also integrate ethical principles for research involving Indigenous peoples that are “developed in consultation with Indigenous researchers.” Finally, it would like to see local research ethics boards implement an accelerated approval process for low-risk studies and minor changes to procedures.

University Affairs also reached out to the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), which declined to comment on the expected changes. As in previous years, the FRQ will update its own Policy for the responsible conduct of research in 2027 after the Tri-Agency Framework is released.

“We generally follow the lead of federal granting councils, with whom we work closely,” explained Mylène Deschênes, director of ethics and legal affairs at FRQ. “Policy documents [at different levels] should be consistent and predictable to make researchers’ lives easier, not more complicated.”