An allegation of scientific misconduct, whether true or not, has serious consequences—it can disrupt a laboratory's progress, deflate morale and even decimate careers.

First, make sure you really understand what happened. Ask a trusted colleague to double-check your suspicions. It could be that you are unaware of certain crucial nuances. “Three people can view a situation and have three separate stories,” notes John Krueger, a scientist-investigator at the US Office of Research Integrity (ORI).

The majority of people will not go forward and that is very understandable.

If you decide that there has been serious misconduct and wish to come forward with an allegation, build your case. You can anonymously contact the ORI or officials at your institution for help.

Finally, familiarize yourself with your institution's policies on investigating misconduct. Each process will have a 'point of no return' when an investigation must go forward, so know when you cross that line. Whenever possible, report an allegation to the top university office in charge, allowing you to avoid departmental allegiances that might affect your own position.

In many cases, junior members of a lab are the most vulnerable. If you're a graduate student, postdoc or junior faculty, find a senior scientist who is willing to be your advocate.

“The majority of people will not go forward and that is very understandable,” says Chris Pascal, director of the ORI. “Unless the misconduct puts human lives at stake, I would never say that someone must come forward. It's a really personal decision.”