Supporting researchers to protect scientific integrity in sexual and reproductive health
The global landscape in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is rapidly changing, including in the United States, where restrictions on abortion access have increased and where access to contraception is under threat. Simultaneously, the rise of social media and of certain political agendas pose threats to clear, evidence-based, unbiased information on a variety of SRH topics. Misinformation and disinformation threatens the public's ability to exercise informed consent. Furthermore, weaknesses in the scholarly publishing system have enabled some fatally methodologically flawed studies to enter the published scientific literature, gaining unwarranted credibility and thus, detrimentally impacting court cases, policies, and programs.
Supporting those who work to identify and address threats to scientific integrity is vital. Such individuals often have little institutional support, can infrequently identify funding for their efforts, are rarely rewarded for their work, and may even be threatened (legally or otherwise) for their efforts to address methodologically flawed and misleading information. Yet, their hard work must be valued and supported for science to remain trustworthy and to facilitate the crafting of evidence-based policies and programs.
I have personally experienced serious challenges in my efforts to protect scientific integrity in SRH. For example, I was frivolously sued for $1 million dollars for speaking out about the flawed evidence and marketing of a fertility tracking device, after convincing a scientific journal to retract a flawed study about the device, and after convincing the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate and address the company's inappropriate marketing practices. As part of my efforts to address methodologically flawed studies on abortion and mental health, I also observed a situation in which, as reported by BMJ and BBC, legal threats made against a scientific journal appear to have inappropriately obstructed editorial independence, the production of scientific knowledge, and potentially, public policy.
I am concerned about the potential for these obstacles to intimidate researchers away from defending scientific integrity in SRH, particularly under-resourced researchers, researchers of marginalized identities, and early career researchers. Therefore, as a participant in the 2024 North America cohort of WomenLift Health leadership journey, I am focusing my leadership project on supporting researchers to protect scientific integrity in SRH research, by compiling advice, tools, networks of supporters, and resources related to defending scientific integrity in SRH. I hope this project will also open up conversations within SRH organizations, legal and advocacy groups, scientific journals, funders, and other organizations about how to better support such individuals and work.
At minimum, the project will include:
While I am very early in the implementation of this project, I would love to connect with others who are interested in contributing ideas, advice, and resources - or who may be seeking advice and support in their efforts to defend scientific integrity in SRH. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested, and continue to watch this space for further developments!
Supporting those who work to identify and address threats to scientific integrity is vital. Such individuals often have little institutional support, can infrequently identify funding for their efforts, are rarely rewarded for their work, and may even be threatened (legally or otherwise) for their efforts to address methodologically flawed and misleading information. Yet, their hard work must be valued and supported for science to remain trustworthy and to facilitate the crafting of evidence-based policies and programs.
I have personally experienced serious challenges in my efforts to protect scientific integrity in SRH. For example, I was frivolously sued for $1 million dollars for speaking out about the flawed evidence and marketing of a fertility tracking device, after convincing a scientific journal to retract a flawed study about the device, and after convincing the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate and address the company's inappropriate marketing practices. As part of my efforts to address methodologically flawed studies on abortion and mental health, I also observed a situation in which, as reported by BMJ and BBC, legal threats made against a scientific journal appear to have inappropriately obstructed editorial independence, the production of scientific knowledge, and potentially, public policy.
I am concerned about the potential for these obstacles to intimidate researchers away from defending scientific integrity in SRH, particularly under-resourced researchers, researchers of marginalized identities, and early career researchers. Therefore, as a participant in the 2024 North America cohort of WomenLift Health leadership journey, I am focusing my leadership project on supporting researchers to protect scientific integrity in SRH research, by compiling advice, tools, networks of supporters, and resources related to defending scientific integrity in SRH. I hope this project will also open up conversations within SRH organizations, legal and advocacy groups, scientific journals, funders, and other organizations about how to better support such individuals and work.
At minimum, the project will include:
- Conducting a survey among people who have attempted to correct flawed information in the scientific literature, in order to better understand their experiences and perspectives, and
- Compiling a table of resources listing organizations, tools, and resources relevant to better supporting researchers in protecting scientific integrity (particularly, but not exclusively, those working in SRH).
While I am very early in the implementation of this project, I would love to connect with others who are interested in contributing ideas, advice, and resources - or who may be seeking advice and support in their efforts to defend scientific integrity in SRH. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested, and continue to watch this space for further developments!