(1) The body responsible for the formal investigation is the Committee of Inquiry on Allegations of Scientific Misconduct, which is a subcommittee of the DFG´s Joint Committee and is made up of eight scientific members. The members represent the academic disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, life sciences and engineering sciences; they should also represent the methodological spectrum of working methods in research. Members are elected by the DFG’s Joint Committee for a term of four years. A further term of office is possible. The Committee of Inquiry is convened and chaired by the Secretary General of the DFG. The latter has no voting rights. In the event of concerns regarding a conflict of interest or incapacity, the Secretary General shall be represented by a DFG Head Office department head. 

(2) In individual cases, the Committee of Inquiry may consult with persons from the specialised field relating to the scientific facts to be assessed. 

(3) The voting members of the Committee of Inquiry have equal voting rights. 

(4) The DFG’s Guidelines for Avoiding Conflicts of Interests apply accordingly, as do the rules of procedure for the adopting of resolutions by the DFG’s statutory bodies (“Geschäftsordnung zur Beschlussfassung in den Gremien der DFG”).