Research Integrity Guidelines
NPB’s Commitment to Research Integrity and Transparency
In order to maintain integrity and transparency in the conduct of this research, and to help minimize the potential for bias due to funding source, the National Pork Board (NPB) abides by the below research integrity guidelines informed by accepted scientific practice and guiding principles:
- NPB requires control of the study design, the research itself, and the interpretation of findings remain with scientific investigators;
- NPB requires that if and where relevant, researchers must disclose if the funder advised on the study design, conduct of research, and/or the development of the manuscript;
- NPB requires supported researchers, either acting within contract research entities/organizations or as contract researchers, disclose in publications and conference presentations, full written or oral disclosure, all relevant relationships (financial and non-financial competing interests);
- NPB ensures that prior to the commencement of studies, there is a written agreement that the investigative team has an obligation to attempt to publish the findings within some specified timeframe and the freedom to choose the journal to which the work will be submitted and that the research team submit results from all completed studies for publication regardless of outcomes;
- NPB guarantees that payment of research is not contingent on the outcome of a research project;
- NPB requires that researchers not participate in undisclosed authorship arrangements in publications or presentations;
- NPB requires that academic researchers, when they work in contract research organizations or act as contract researchers, make clear statements of all their affiliations; require that such researchers publish under the auspices of the contract research organization;
- NPB’s Human Nutrition Research Program issues a formal request for letters of intent that is open to the entire research community and selects and supports only the highest quality research proposals;
- NPB utilizes external subject matter experts in nutrition science and related fields to guide its selection of scientifically sound research proposals;
- NPB requires the conduct or sponsorship of research that is factual, transparent, and designed objectively; according to accepted principles of scientific inquiry, the research design will investigate an appropriately phrased hypothesis and/or question, rather than favor a particular outcome;
- NPB guarantees accessibility to all data and control of statistical analysis by investigators and appropriate auditors/reviewers, and that as relevant, projects are registered with appropriate internationally-accepted databases (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, etc.) and adhere to applicable reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, etc.);
- NPB is committed to the responsible communication of the studies it funds across mediums (e.g., media interviews, blog posts, etc.). Nutrition communications materials produced by NPB are reviewed by a team of internal and external nutrition experts and all efforts are made to ensure that study results are put in the appropriate context of the broader body of scientific evidence.
The National Pork Board reviews these research integrity guidelines on an annual basis to ensure they remain relevant, appropriate and useful.
NPB Research Categories
As part of its congressional mandate established in 1985, the Pork Checkoff is tasked with advancing the pork industry through research that covers all areas of pork production, processing and human nutrition.
Checkoff funding is a key mechanism to make independent, scientifically sound research possible for the benefit of America’s pig farmers and domestic and global pork consumers.
With a focus on continuous improvement from farm to fork, Checkoff research funds are investing in independent research studies focused on multiple key areas, including:
- animal welfare
- disease prevention
- genetics, production
- the environment
- human health and nutrition
This focused, yet multi-pronged approach enables farmers to meet the challenges of responsible, ethical, and sustainable pork production today and for the future.
References:
- Alexander N, Rowe S, Brackett RE, et al. Achieving a transparent, actionable framework for public-private partnerships for food and nutrition research. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(6):1359-1363.
- DeTora LM, Toroser D, Sykes A, Vanderlinden C, Plunkett FJ, Lane T, Hanekamp E, Dormer L, DiBiasi F, Bridges D, Baltzer L, Citrome L. Good publication practice (GPP) guidelines for company-sponsored biomedical research: 2022 update [published online ahead of print August 30, 2022]. Ann Intern Med. 2022. doi: 10.7326/M22-1460.
- Garza C, Stover PJ, Ohlhorst SD, et al. Best practices in nutrition science to earn and keep the public’s trust. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019;109(1):225-243.
- Larrick BM, Dwyer JT, Erdman JW, D’Aloisio RF, Jones W. An updated framework for industry funding of food and nutrition research: Managing financial conflicts and scientific integrity. J Nutr. 2022;152(8):1812-1818.
- Reporting guidelines for main study types. EQUATOR Network website. https://www.equator-network.org/. Accessed January 14, 2022.
- Rowe S, Alexander N, Clydesdale F, et al. Funding food science and nutrition research: financial conflicts and scientific integrity. Nutr Rev. 2009;67(5):264-272.
- Rowe S, Alexander N, Kretser A, et al. Principles for building public-private partnerships to benefit food safety, nutrition, and health research. Nutr Rev. 2013;71(10):682-691.
LAST UPDATED: October 12, 2022
