In my editorial(1) I said that I had written to Andrew Miller MP, chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. I asked him to investigate UCL's institutional failings in relation to the MMR scare if UCL failed to announce an independent investigation. He replied the same day(http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-sele...) saying that this was not within his remit and suggesting that I refer the matter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. HEFCE is responsible for ensuring academic standards in publicly funded bodies. Last week I wrote to HEFCE's chair, Tim Melville-Ross, and chief executive, Alan Langlands, asking them to take the matter up. I have not yet received a reply. Meanwhile, UCL has issued a statement (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1111/111110-ucl-response-to-BMJ-...) saying that it will announce a formal review into matters relating to Wakefield's tenure by the end of the year. We will continue to follow developments.
1. Godlee F. Institutional research misconduct. BMJ 2011;343:d7284.
Competing interests:
I am the editor of the BMJ and responsible for all it contains
Rapid Response:
Re: Institutional research misconduct
In my editorial(1) I said that I had written to Andrew Miller MP, chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. I asked him to investigate UCL's institutional failings in relation to the MMR scare if UCL failed to announce an independent investigation. He replied the same day(http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-sele...) saying that this was not within his remit and suggesting that I refer the matter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. HEFCE is responsible for ensuring academic standards in publicly funded bodies. Last week I wrote to HEFCE's chair, Tim Melville-Ross, and chief executive, Alan Langlands, asking them to take the matter up. I have not yet received a reply. Meanwhile, UCL has issued a statement (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1111/111110-ucl-response-to-BMJ-...) saying that it will announce a formal review into matters relating to Wakefield's tenure by the end of the year. We will continue to follow developments.
1. Godlee F. Institutional research misconduct. BMJ 2011;343:d7284.
Competing interests: I am the editor of the BMJ and responsible for all it contains