Pre-conference Workshops

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 9.00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

• PhD Students by application only
  
• Limited capacity (2 groups of 8)

A cherished tradition of the WCRIs is the Doctoral Forum. It provides a unique opportunity for PhD students currently working on a PhD research project in the field of research integrity to get advice from established scholars in the field with a strong methodological background. The Doctoral Forum concerns ongoing work and focusses on concrete questions about study design, data collection, data-analysis or interpretation of findings.

The Doctoral Forum provides an exciting, friendly and supportive environment for PhD students to share ideas and to interact with other research integrity scholars. PhD students interested in participating in the Doctoral Forum must indicate this on their 9th WCRI registration form. They will subsequently receive instructions for their application that needs to be submitted by 31 March 2026 latest. The application will be reviewed for suitability for the Doctoral Forum by the moderators. Capacity is limited to 16 (two groups of 8) and each selected PhD can present for 5-10 minutes followed by 20-25 minutes of discussion.

Based on the quality and relevancy of the research project, the presentation of it, and the contribution made to the Doctoral Forum, the moderators will decide on one or two Awards for Excellence in Doctoral Research.

The Doctoral Forum is relevant for all PhD students conducting research projects that fit in the scope of the WCRIs (research on research integrity, publication ethics open science etc.). By giving explicit attention to PhD students active in our field we strengthen the fundament of the future generation researchers of research integrity. Participating in a Doctoral Forum is also helpful for building an international network and integrating in the WCRI community.

The meeting will be highly interactive and will start with a round of introductions (30 minutes) followed by slots of 30 minutes per PhD student that start with a short presentation (5-10 minutes). The moderators will actively invite participants to comment on each other’s research projects, provide constructive advice and make useful suggestions. The Doctoral Forum will end with a general discussion and evaluation of the meeting (30 minutes).

Time Schedule
09:00am – 09:30am: Introductions
09:30am – 12:00pm: Presentation and Discussion
12:00pm – 01:00pm: Break
01:00 pm – 03:30pm: Presentation and Discussion
03:30pm – 04:00pm: General Discussion and Evaluation

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Space is limited. 

Image data in biomedical research manuscripts are frequently unclear or difficult to interpret, and may also be falsified or fabricated/AI-generated. Despite significant developments and the emergence of new detection tools and platforms, fabricated images remain difficult to distinguish from genuine data and may pass even rigorous checks.

This interactive workshop will showcase key challenges for publishers and present available screening tools and solution approaches. It also introduces initiatives focused on improving standards in microscopy imaging and community-defined guidelines, alongside practical tools that support the well-documented generation and management of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) image data:

A community-developed checklist for publishing images and image analyses
Quality Assessment and Reproducibility for Instruments and Images in Light Microscopy (QUAREP-LiMi)
Visit Link

The BioImaging North America (BINA) Quality-Control and Data Management Working Group
Metadata standards, open-source software tools, and best practices for image data management
Visit Link

BioFile Finder (BFF)
A web-based, open-source tool to share AI-ready training datasets and figure images in searchable, transparent formats. Attendees will explore real-world examples and participate in hands-on activities using the tool.

This workshop focusses primarily on imaging in biomedical research.

This interactive workshop will equip participants with practical tools and strategies to identify and prevent image data manipulation It focuses on research integrity in the context of artificial intelligence, and addresses urgent challenges around image integrity in biomedical research, particularly the increasing prevalence of AI-generated or manipulated figures that can evade traditional screening processes. By showcasing current issues faced by publishers and researchers, and emerging technical solutions and community-driven standards, the workshop contributes to the conference’s exploration of how research environments and systemic tools can support integrity. It will also provide a platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-sector dialogue in line with WCRI’s commitment to inclusivity and collaboration.

By highlighting initiatives like QUAREP-LiMi, BINA, and the BioFile Finder tool, the session promotes the adoption of reproducible and FAIR practices in image data management and publishing. Attendees will gain hands-on experience with real-world applications, and engage with experts shaping the standards in this field.

Ultimately, the workshop seeks to empower the research community to uphold image data integrity and transparency in an evolving digital and AI-driven research landscape. Attendees will engage in a visual quiz on genuine vs AI/generated images, and participate in hands-on activities using the BioFile Finder tool.

Time Schedule
09:00am – 09:10am: Welcome and Introduction – Jana Christopher
09:10am – 10:00am: Detecting AI-generated images with automated tools, and by close inspection of raw image data – Jana Christopher
10:00am – 10:25am: Detecting implausible images through scientific expertise – Mircea Ivan
10:25am – 10:40am: Break
10:40am – 11:40am: Detecting implausible images through scientific expertise – Nathalie Gaudreault
11:40am – 12:00pm: Discussion – All presenters and participants

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Space is limited. 

In many institutions, senior faculty lead research misconduct investigations, while Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is conducted by early-career researchers. Due to the disparate groups involved in both processes, lessons learnt from investigations are often not translated to RCR training, limiting their ability to prevent recurrence.

This workshop aims to bridge that gap by equipping workshop participants with the skills to develop nuanced, discussion-based case studies derived from real misconduct investigations. These case studies will reflect ethical complexities, promoting critical thinking and open dialogue in RCR training.

Led by experienced investigators and RCR educators from diverse backgrounds, this workshop will engage participants in role-playing real-life investigations to allow participants to experience the nuances and moral dilemmas of the issues at hand. This immersive activity will help participants surface key ethical dilemmas, and eventually work in groups to create case studies, incorporating the learning points identified from the real-life misconduct investigations. The resulting case studies will be domain-agnostic and sensitive to cultural, geographic, and racial diversity. They will also reflect core principles such as anonymity, respect for all parties involved, and, most importantly, a focus on learning points—particularly how questionable research practices (QRPs) can evolve into research misconduct.

Research Integrity Education and Training

The workshop directly contributes to capacity-building in research integrity education by developing contextually-relevant case study grounded in actual investigation experience. It also supports the integration of ethical complexity into training frameworks.

The workshop is built around a variety of participatory exercises to enable the participants to experience dilemmas and to allow them to grapple with possible resolutions. Further details on the exercises in the table below.

Time Schedule
9:00am – 9:30am: Introduction on the importance of case studies in reinforcing didactic RCR training – Natalie Evans
9:30am – 9:50am: Roleplay of real-life misconduct investigations to draw out teachable elements of the investigations – All facilitators
9:50am – 10:10am: Shout-out activity to surface ethical dilemmas from the actual investigations which would feed into – All facilitators
10:10am – 10:50am: Group work to generate anonymised and relevant case study, with clear learning objectives – All facilitators
10:50am – 11:30am: Sharing of case studies generated by groups – All facilitators
11:30am – 12:00pm: Conclusion – Mrs. Paula Saner

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Space is limited

NERQ, the network on education and research quality has brought together over 350 scholars active in training and education in fields of research integrity, open science, reproducibility and responsible research innovation, which we put under the umbrella of responsible conduct of research (RCR). The NERQ aims are threefold:

1) bring scholars/educators together for mutual learning;
2) raise the volume of trained educators and increase the quality of RCRtraining;
3) stimulate evidence-based research on RCR education.

Working method: This event, taking into account the already existing initiatives within NERQ and paying attention to new themes (like AI in research and education and accounting for cultural and disciplinary diversity) will be shaped as a marketplace. In short rounds people can pitch their ideas, experiences or questions on training in the field of responsible conduct of research with other NERQies in the community and get feedback on e.g. how to deal with the issues they raised. SIG-group topics will be used to structure the event. The event will be considered a success if participants have found what they need and new alliances have been made between colleagues from all over the world.

About the method: We use the idea of a marketplace as a method, and use it playfully, also including an auction type of activity, that we do plenary. We do this in order to allow all participants to maximally utilize the event and to tailor it to their own needs. In a playful structure people are able to find each other better (using coloured cards) and to discuss what they would like to be involved in in the NERQ community and possibly already come to some concrete action points.

The NERQ community focuses on the education in responsible conduct of research, and aims to stimulate high quality training and education in this field, by organizing peer coaching and an academic community that jointly helps improve the quality of materials and trainers. As within the community many people are also active on high profile topics like AI in research or on diversity and inclusion in RCR, we will use the auction method to highlight the latest projects that people can work jointly on these topics. This directly relates to the topic of the conference, and goes to the heart of educators, namely how to deal with these issues in training contexts.

Intended result or impact
The NERQ community makes impact by connecting people, and by focusing on concrete actitivies. The output of the NERQ community is already impressive (an Open Science Gate has been launched, two manuscripts have been prepared, one in preprint, the other published, and a survey has been developed. We are satisfied if new concrete plans have been made and alliances have been built between colleagues. That is where the market place is for: to utilize needs and offerings maximally.

Time Schedule
09:00am – 09:10am: Welcome and introduction to the session
– Intro of NERQ and the NERQ community
– intro of the SIG groups and the working method of the market place
09:10am – 09:20am: Video introduction of the offers of NERQies (SIG’s and beyond)
09:20am – 09:50am: First round: getting to know each other and making clear what everyone needs (coloured cards will be used)
9:50 am – 10:05am: Break
10:05am – 10:35am: Ringmaster “auction”: the most exciting (and complex) collaborations for the coming years (eg on diversity and inclusion in RCR teaching and on AI in RCR) are presented by a so-called ringmaster and people can ‘make a bid’ to join these initiatives. Think of research collaborations (on assessing training) or on jointly developing new educational materials, or on organizing an educational retreat. The things that will be on auction will be shared in advance with participants.
10:35am – 11:05am: Third and final round of the market place: exchange of offers and needs.
11:05am – 11:20am: Action steps from here (plenary discussion)

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

• Space is limited
• Whilst the main target audience of this workshop is ECRPs, all researchers and professionals in RI are welcome to participate.

The research integrity (RI) field consists of researchers, students, research integrity officers, policymakers, funders and professionals in journal publishing.

These professionals may face workplace challenges such as leadership concerns, culture barriers, and challenges in organizational communication. While these are not uncommon workplace challenge, the issues that individuals in RI handle or conduct research on are unique since they deal with sensitive integrity and ethical issues. This is compounded by RI work often taking place in ethical grey areas, which rely on responsible decision-making that affects a range of stakeholders. Moreover, many individuals working in this RI field are considered early career researchers and professionals (ECRPs), with limited experience.

Fostering inclusive, collaborative, and safe organizational culture is paramount to fostering RI. However, training to establish these workplace culture for individuals in the RI field to foster this culture seems to be lacking.

The goal of this interactive capacity-building workshop is to consider workplace cultural challenges and develop a context-specific and actionable leadership framework for individuals to foster an environment of trust, belonging, and shared purpose to enhance the promotion of RI.

An early career researcher and professionals engagement session was held recently to gather their opinions on the topics they wish to see at 9th WCRI.

This workshop is designed based on their feedback. The goal is to consider workplace cultural challenges and develop a context-specific and actionable leadership framework for individuals to foster an environment of trust, belonging, and shared purpose to enhance promotion of RI.

While the workshop does not address a specific conference theme directly, the cross-cutting lessons derived from this workshop is applicable to fostering integrity in all areas such as AI governance, research security, and research with indigenous populations.

Workshop Format:
This workshop is designed as an interactive session with roundtable discussions, reflections and brainstorming exercises. Facilitators will ask guided questions, and the participants will be asked to share their personal perspectives and experiences on organizational culture. Ideas will be collected and the lessons will be summarized in the end as a set of tool kits.

The topics that will be explored during the workshop are:
1. Common workplace cultural challenges in fostering RI.
2. Practical strategies to create inclusive, collaborative, and safe workplace environments.
3. Translating inclusive, collaborative and safe workplace culture to fostering RI.

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

• Space is limited. 

When the integrity of research is called into question and accusations of research misconduct arise, a key step for funders, research organisations and publishers is to methodically investigate the allegation. Investigations into research misconduct are often complex and challenging. Robust investigations require a specific skill set and training to make sure they are done rigorously and fairly for all parties involved. This interactive workshop is designed to equip research integrity professionals and academics with the skills and knowledge to conduct fair, thorough, and unbiased research misconduct investigations. Participants will learn the skills needed to plan an investigation, conduct interviews, and accurately report on the findings, while ensuring that principles of procedural fairness and impartiality are upheld. These skills will be used in practical demonstrations by working through case studies and getting hands-on experience.

The workshop will be split into two activities. The first will include learning the key skills on how to run effective and transparent investigations. There will be an emphasis on real examples and practical tips on investigative interview training and ensuring procedural fairness from the workshop coordinators who have unique expertise in running such investigations. In the second half, participants will put what they have learned into practice. Working through a case study, participants will work in groups to design an investigation plan, simulate an interview with a complainant/respondent and develop reports, consider mitigating and contributing factors, and provide recommendations. Participants will leave the workshop with templates and handouts to support their learning and to pass on their knowledge to their colleagues.

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm 

• Space is limited. 

This pre-conference is designed to tackle the challenges of retractions and corrections of on a global level. The program will offer a platform to exchange knowledge, develop strategy, and cultivate professional networking between staff involved in publication integrity at journals and publishers, research integrity officials or equivalent from academic institutions, and researchers or organization members with experience in retractions and corrections. The objectives of the pre-conference are to:
• Enhance understanding of the current retraction and correction processes, identify challenges and share best practices
• Create novel strategies to disseminate journal policies to authors.
• Improve effective communication strategies between institutions and journals
• Build a global network of professionals for ongoing support and collaboration

The integrity of published research is paramount for the advancement of science. There is a collective responsibility shared by the international community of journal editors, publishers, researchers and their institutions, and funding bodies, to ensure the integrity of research. Journals and publishers (with rapidly growing research integrity teams) and institutional officials (Research Integrity Officers (RIOs) and others) play key roles in contributing to the credibility and reliability of scientific literature often through the retraction and correction processes. However, coordinating these processes efficiently between journals, publishers, and institutions remains challenging. This pre-conference represents a significant step towards improving global communication strategies between journals, publishers, institutions and researchers. The sharing of best practices, and building a strong, international network of research integrity professionals will enhance the management of retractions and corrections and ultimately contribute to the credibility and reliability of scientific literature.

After the conference, the organizers and presenters will jointly prepare a report summarizing the discussions, recommendations and a call to action. This report will then inform future action, including presenting to COPE and disseminating to the global research integrity community.