Ombudsperson

The ombudsperson or research grievance officer acts as an independent mediating agent in cases of suspected scientific misconduct or professional conflicts. This figure ensures compliance with the Code of Good Research Practices and acts to safeguard the research integrity of the institution. The ombudsperson will chair and collaborate with the Research Integrity Committee of IR Sant Pau (CIR-IR Sant Pau) and will act as a mediator between institute research staff who detect possible scientific misconduct and any person suspected of such misconduct. This position guarantees independence from other institutional bodies, confidentiality of the institute's proceedings, and proven experience in the scientific world.

The governing board of the Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute – IR Sant Pau, unanimously appointed, on 9 June 2022, Prof. Josep Santaló as the research ombudsperson of IR Sant Pau, upon proposal by the institute's management.

Objectives of the Ombudsperson

• Ensure compliance with the Code of Good Scientific Practices
• Scientific self-regulation and, where appropriate, disclosure of violations of the rules established in the Code of Good Scientific Practices.

Functions of the Ombudsperson

• Chair the Research Integrity Committee of IR (CIR-IR) by right linked to office, which will meet at least once a year.
• Collaborate with the CIR-IR, which will provide the necessary support
• Act as a mediator between institute research staff who detect possible scientific misconduct* and any person suspected of such misconduct.
• Guarantee independence from other institutional bodies, confidentiality of its proceedings, and proven experience in the scientific world.

Duration of the mandate

The duration of the position is 3 years, renewable for an additional 2 years, if deemed appropriate.

Scientific misconduct is understood to include acts such as:

• Fabrication, falsification or plagiarism
• Misappropriation of ideas
• Incorrect authorship
• Disloyal conduct
• Discrimination
• Abuse of power
• Lack of information or refusal to provide it
• Incorrect procedures

The IR Sant Pau Ombudsperson: Professor Josep Santaló

Professor Josep Santaló is Full Professor of Cell Biology at the Faculty of Biosciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where he teaches Cell Biology, Reproductive Biology and Bioethics. He has served as General Coordinator of Biology Studies, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Vice-Rector for Research at this university.

His research has focused on the genetic characterisation and freezing of mammalian preimplantation embryos, with the development of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis as part of the pioneering group that established it in Spain, in vitro oocyte maturation, production of transgenic animals, nuclear reprogramming and the derivation of embryonic stem cells in mice and humans. He is co-author of 120 articles in scientific journals, 70 indexed, and 20 book chapters. He has participated in 26 funded research projects, 14 of which as principal investigator.

He is a member of the Bioethics and Law Observatory of the University of Barcelona and of the Ethics Committee on Animal and Human Research and the Biosafety Committee of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, which he chaired for over 10 years, as well as the Hinxton Group: An International Consortium on Stem Cells, Ethics and Law. He was the drafting rapporteur of the Code of Good Scientific Practices of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

He has also been a member of the Advisory Committee of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) and of other societies such as ASEBIR (Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology), the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the Catalan Biology Society, the Spanish Fertility Society and the British Society for the Study of Fertility.

The appointment coincides with the update of the "Code of Good Scientific Practices", which has been renamed "Code of Good Research Practices". The new version has been updated and adapted to the CERCA code of conduct and includes, among other improvements, inclusive language drafting, RRI principles and the institute's RRI plan, as well as various legal and institutional aspects. The new code is also aligned with the mandatory European scientific integrity framework (ALLEA code).