Research Integrity

The research project applicant (in the case of Japanese-French joint research proposals, the PI from Japanese side) must complete the educational program for research integrity as a prerequisite for application. Note that if completion of the program cannot be confirmed, the application will be disqualified for failing to meet the requirements (For the CREST program, enrollment in and completion of the research integrity educational program by the time of application is not a prerequisite for Co-PI applicants).

Flow chart for declaring enrollment and completion of the educational program for research integrity.

Q&A

What content must be included in the educational program for research integrity that is conducted by affiliated institutions?

Educational programs for research integrity are the responsibility of each research institution. JST does not specify the specific teaching material to be used in such programs. In each research institution, it is acceptable to undergo a research ethics education program or training deemed equivalent to the following. If a research institution determines something to be equivalent, the video materials provided by JST titled 'Gaps in Ethics ' are also recognized as valid.
・“eAPRIN” provided by APRIN, Association for the Promotion of Research Integrity
・“eL CoRE” provided by JSPS, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
・“For the Sound Development of Science -The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist-” provided by JSPS, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
・“Responsible Research Practices to Learn from Cases” provided by AMED, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
・“A Compendium of Near-Miss Incidents Related to Research Integrity” provided by AMED, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

If it is difficult for you to take a research ethics education program at the research institution with which you are affiliated, such as because your research institution does not a program on research ethics education, then you can take the eAPRIN (e-learning materials operated by the Association for the Promotion of Research Integrity (APRIN)) course through JST. The requirements for next year will be similar, so accepted proposals will, in principle, require all research participants (including principle co-researchers from CREST) to take one of the aforementioned JST-designated research ethics education programs or teaching materials. (However, this does not apply for cases in which the individual has already completed the designated unit of eAPRIN (formerly CITI) by taking one of the aforementioned JST-designated research ethics education programs or teaching materials at their research institution or via a JST initiative.)

(Reference)
According to the “Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research Activities” (August 26, 2014, adopted by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology), which were effective as of April 2015, research institutions are required to implement a structure for preventing misconduct, such as the installation of a Research Integrity Education Manager, and to conduct education at the institutional level. Further, the allocating institution is also required to confirm researcher enrollment in the institution’s research integrity education program.
Note however that the details in the above guidelines focus on misconduct in academic papers and does not cover bioethics and conflicts of interest, which are different topics. If you have any questions, please contact the JST Department of Legal Affairs and Compliance, Research Integrity Division.

Is it necessary to submit documentation certifying completion of an educational program for research integrity?

No, submission is not necessary.

Is it necessary to declare the Confirmation Report Number when you take the eAPRIN digest version through JST when it is difficult to take a research ethical education program at the institution?

There is no need to declare the Confirmation Report Number for applications for CREST, PRESTO, and ACT-X. Please select "eAPRIN digest version completed" in the input field of the course status in e-Rad system.

Since I have not taken the program offered by my institution, I am planning to enroll in the digest version of eAPRIN e-learning program. What options are there if my native language is not Japanese, which makes taking the course in Japanese difficult?

An English translation of the digest version of eAPRIN e-learning program has been published and posted on the Invitation for Proposal website.