Report on Responsible Conduct of Research Files
April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
Figure 1: Status of RCR files for FY 2024-25

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- Opened: 57
- Closed: 51
- Active: 63
The Secretariat addressed 114 files on the responsible conduct of research between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. At the end of fiscal year 2024-25, 63 files remained active.
Figure 2: Number of RCR files opened, by Agency

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- CIHR: 29
- NSERC: 17
- SSHRC: 11
Of the 57 files opened during the reporting period, 29 (51%) related to CIHR-funded research, 17 (30%) related to NSERC-funded research, and 11 (19%) related to SSHRC-funded research.
Figure 3: Outcome of RCR files closed

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- Breach: 29
- No Breach: 16
- No Determination: 6
Of the 51 files closed during the reporting period, 29 (57%) involved at least one breach of the RCR Framework. 16 (31%) did not involve a breach, and six (12%) files were closed with no determination.
Figure 4: Breakdown by Agency of RCR files involving a breach

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- CIHR: 8
- NSERC: 14
- SSHRC: 7
Of the 29 files involving a breach, eight (28%) related to CIHR-funded research, 14 (48%) related to NSERC-funded research, and seven (24%) related to SSHRC-funded research.
Figure 5: RCR files involving a breach by province

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- Ontario: 12 (41%)
- Quebec: 6 (21%)
- Alberta: 4 (14%)
- Other: 4 (14%)
- British Columbia: 3 (10%)
Provinces with fewer than three RCR files involving a breach are included in this category to maintain the confidentiality of the parties involved.
Figure 6: Categories of confirmed breaches during the reporting period

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- Breach of Agency policy: 10 (24%)
- Falsification: 6 (14%)
- Inadequate acknowledgement: 5 (12%)
- Fabrication: 4 (10%)
- Lack of rigour: 4 (10%)
- Misrepresentation in Agency application: 4 (10%)
- Inadequate supervision (Article 2.7): 3 (7%)
- Invalid authorship: 2 (5%)
- Destruction of records: 1 (2%)
- Mismanagement of funds: 1 (2%)
- Plagiarism: 1 (2%)
- Self-plagiarism: 1 (2%)
Figure 6: Includes failures to meet the researchers' responsibilities.
Of the 29 closed files in which a breach was confirmed, 42 breaches were identified. Some files involved more than one breach.
Figure 7: Types of recourses imposed by the Agencies

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- Letter of awareness: 17 (33%)
- Letter of reprimand: 13 (25%)
- Ineligibility for funding: 11 (21%)
- Peer review ineligibility: 11 (21%)
Of the 29 closed files in which a breach was confirmed, 52 recourses were imposed. There may be more than one recourse and more than one respondent per file.
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