Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures

To: All Yale Faculty
Cc: University Cabinet, Office of the Provost, Deans’ Offices

[Summary: Yale has updated its policy on research misconduct to comply with new federal regulations that went into effect on January 1, 2026. The following message provides more information on the new policy and procedures.]  

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

Yale has implemented an updated policy on research misconduct and supporting procedures to comply with regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, which became effective on January 1, 2026.

The new Research Misconduct Policy and supporting Procedures are available in the University Policy Library. Below is more information on what has been updated in response to new federal regulations.

What remains the same

The new Policy and Procedures retain many of the elements of the prior process, including:

• The dean of the respondent’s school will continue to serve as the Institutional Deciding Official regarding allegations of research misconduct.  
• Yale’s Research Integrity Officers (Professor Linda Mayes and Dean John Mangan), supported by the Research Security and Integrity Office within the Office of Research Administration, will continue to oversee the process for reviewing allegations of research misconduct. 
• The review process will include three components: the Assessment, the Inquiry, and the Investigation phase.

What is new

The new Policy and Procedures implement important updates that align with new federal regulations and streamline Yale’s processes. These include:   

• At the Assessment phase: The Research Integrity Officer (RIO) will determine whether an allegation should move to the Inquiry phase.
• At the Inquiry phase: The RIO may determine whether the allegation should move to investigation and consult with subject matter experts as needed.
• At the Investigation phase: A panel consisting of at least three Yale faculty members with tenure or continuing appointments or consisting of experts from outside the University will make findings and recommendations.
• Statute of limitations: Yale has adopted the six-year statute of limitations on allegations eligible for review under the Procedures. 
• Scope of the Policy: The Policy no longer covers gross negligence in the conduct of the research, but such concerns may instead be addressed at the decanal level under other applicable procedures such as the Faculty Standards of Conduct.    

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in ensuring our research meets the highest standards of integrity and compliance. If you have any questions about the new Policy and supporting Procedures, please contact Crista Brawley (crista.brawley@yale.edu), Senior Associate Provost for Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs.   

Sincerely,  

Mike Crair
Vice Provost for Research
William Ziegler III Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Stephanie Spangler
Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Academic Integrity
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences