Strengthening research security in the US
As the research landscape in the US continues to evolve, safeguarding research has become essential for promoting innovation, strengthening resilience and maintaining integrity. However, challenges such as resource constraints, fragmented systems and evolving risks leave some institutions vulnerable. A THE webinar, held in partnership with Digital Science, featured expert panellists from the US higher education sector, who explored best practice for advancing research security, examples of successful research security measures and the future of secure and ethical research practices.
The US National Security Presidential Memorandum-33, issued in 2021, focuses on protecting science, technology and innovation while promoting openness and collaboration in the research community, said Tanta Myles, associate vice-president for research integrity assurance at Georgia Institute of Technology. “But sometimes there tend to be nefarious individuals or entities trying to do things that are not to the benefit of those who are doing the hard work in this space,” said Myles.
“Protecting research at Georgia Tech is a team effort, said Myles. “We work hard to provide guidance, reference and points of contact for individuals. One of the things we developed in 2024 was a checklist for all the areas that we feel are of importance, while doing our best to reduce administrative burden,” she added.
“Data protection is an ongoing struggle for most institutions,” Myles noted. Most institutions own their research data, but it can sometimes be fragmented or lost. Universities should enable researchers to store their data in a way that can be protected but allows them access to it in a secure manner, she said.
Universities must have a clear understanding of the relevant data points that are critical to research security, said Heidi Becker, product manager at Digital Science. “The risk matrices are going to be different depending on the type of research that you’re conducting, the funding agency or where you’re located in the world. So we need to make risk assessments flexible and transparent.”
Resource constraints are a common challenge that institutions face. Small departments especially tend to have limited research security resources, which makes maximising available resources a priority. “It’s important to ensure that we empower units and give them the tools that they need,” said Myles.
“We have a huge database of research-related information that we can leverage to serve relevant data points in the context of research security,” said Becker. “Something we consider as we develop solutions is that there are various regulations even within the US, said Becker. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every institution is different.”
To the institutions that are in different stages of developing their research security policies and practices, the panellists recommended making use of the emerging communities of practice. “One of the best things that you can do is to use your network,” said Myles. “And if you don’t have a network, build your network.”
The panel:
- Heidi Becker, product manager, Digital Science
- Tanta Myles, associate vice-president for research integrity assurance, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Sreethu Sajeev, branded content deputy editor, Times Higher Education (chair)
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