At the end you ask: "How do we change the system so these types of conspiracies don't happen again?"
I have an answer. An ethical organizational structure. Something Bob Podolsky has been working on for many years but since hierarchy has been so thoroughly in-bedded into people's minds, it's counter-intuitive at this point. Much like many professions these days. We have been working on a method of introducing this and I'm just days away from making an announcement. The good news is, there is a solution.
As a former government scientist, I would be astounded if there were a way to free research from the bounds of money and politics.
That's why I'm a carpenter.