Respondent Defense
Named a respondent in a research-integrity case?
You do not have to face an institutional investigation alone, and you do not have to guess at what happens next. We defend researchers through inquiry, investigation and outcome — with extensive experience in how these cases are actually run.
100% confidential. Every conversation is protected.
Who this is for
- You received a letter naming you as the respondent in an allegation.
- Your institution has opened an inquiry or a full investigation.
- You have been asked to attend an interview or produce your data and records.
- A journal, funder or Tri-Agency body has been notified about your work.
What's at stake
Your standing
Findings follow you: they can be reported to funders, journals, licensing bodies and future employers.
Your funding
Grants can be suspended or clawed back, and Tri-Agency reporting can affect future eligibility.
Your position
Employment, tenure progress, degree completion and hospital privileges can all be affected.
Your status in Canada
For international researchers, an interruption in appointment or study can carry immigration consequences.
How SSG defends you
I spent years managing research-integrity files inside one of Canada's largest research hospital networks. That vantage point shapes every part of the defense.
We read the allegation the way the institution will
Having managed these files from the inside, we know how integrity officers frame allegations, what evidence they weigh, and where a poorly drafted allegation falls apart.
We build your record before you speak
Lab notebooks, version histories, instrument logs, correspondence and authorship trails are gathered and organized so your account is documented, not remembered.
We prepare you for every interview
You will know the questions likely to be asked, the scope of the panel's mandate, and what you are and are not obligated to answer.
We hold the process to its own rules
Institutional policies and the Tri-Agency Framework set out procedural fairness requirements. We insist on them, in writing, at each stage.
The respondent-defense process
- 01
Same-week intake
We review the allegation letter, confirm your deadline and stabilize the immediate risk.
- 02
Evidence assembly
We collect and organize your data, records and correspondence into a defensible record.
- 03
Written response
We draft your response to the inquiry or investigation committee and manage the correspondence.
- 04
Interviews & submissions
We prepare you for interviews and make submissions on scope, fairness and evidence.
- 05
Outcome & review
We respond to the draft report, address findings and pursue internal review where available.
Timelines are set by your institution's policy, not by us. The case itself can take a long time, but the first meeting with leadership — where you are told of the allegations — can come quickly. What you do before that meeting matters most.
About your consultation
The first conversation is confidential and without obligation. We will tell you plainly what your policy requires, what your deadline is, and whether you need counsel at all.
An anonymized result
Mid-career PI named in a data-integrity allegation involving figure reuse — investigation closed with no finding of misconduct after the record showed an editorial production error.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is different.
Questions respondents ask
Next step
Talk to someone who understands both the science and the process.
Call (647) 618-4160 or send the form. We respond within one business day, and your institution never hears from us without your instruction.
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