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The Scientific Integrity Policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Updated 2026/03/19]

Public Domain
File Language:
English


Details

  • Alternative Title:
    HHS Scientific Integrity Policy
  • Corporate Authors:
    United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ROR ICON IMG
  • Description:
    Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to promote a continuing culture of scientific integrity at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This policy aims to ensure the integrity of all aspects of HHS scientific activities, including proposing, conducting, reviewing, managing, and communicating about science and scientific activities, and using the results of science to inform policy and program decision-making.

    Core Values that Support Scientific Integrity at HHS: The success of HHS's mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans depends on the development and use of accurate, complete, and timely scientific and technical information. Scientific integrity requires that such information be developed under and subjected to well-established scientific processes, free from interference or inappropriate influence that undermines impartiality, nonpartisanship, or professional judgment. HHS agencies work to maximize the quality, accuracy, objectivity, utility, and timeliness of the scientific and technological information they produce, use, and disseminate. In turn, this information enables HHS to employ innovative approaches to effectively address the many public health and human services challenges that our work targets. These efforts allow accurate, complete, and timely scientific and technical information to improve the design, delivery, and impact of HHS policies and programs, and support trust in science. Responsibility for upholding scientific integrity lies with the entire scientific ecosystem, including all HHS employees, its contractors and grantees, and those engaged in science and scientific activities outside HHS.

    Definition of Scientific Integrity: HHS adopts the following definition of scientific integrity: Scientific integrity is the adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. Transparency and protection from inappropriate influence are hallmarks of scientific integrity.
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Publisher:
    United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ROR ICON IMG
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Genre:
    Policy
  • Place as Subject:
    United States
  • Rights:
    Public Domain
  • Topic:
    Other
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    20 pdf pages
  • Download URL:
    https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/262421/cdc_262421_DS1.pdf
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 652.88 KB]
  • Collection(s):
    CDC Open Science Resources
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:99e99990f928c20b5bd7482ccb8014d8341cfc1f3b81bf6cb3bb833c7aa1b7f573e3228e0bc046aa80f7045b7fe457567401234092208c04ca1267d29c2d3d89
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