Research Misconduct and Society

An Example from Stem Cell Research

Abstract

　In Japan, the problem of research inaccuracies, especially in the life science field, has received wide attention. As a result, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology improved guidelines for research integrity defined in 2006, producing new guidelines in 2014. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare also produced new guidelines. However, I consider skeptically whether we can solve research inaccuracy problem by mandating ethics education, or tightening rules. I argue that a fundamental issue for the methodology of life science research and for the kind of social changes life science research will bring, is research misconduct. In this paper, I outline from my own experience the actual conditions governing research within the life sciences ― focusing particularly on the regenerative medicine ― and bring out the wider implications.