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Author Spotlight: Biological Standardization to Ensure Reproducibility and Harmonization in Research
Published on: August 4, 2023
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Sharing all types of clinical data and harmonizing journal standards
1WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. corrado.barbui@univr.it.
BMC Medicine
|April 4, 2016
Summary
Biomedical journals need harmonized data sharing policies. Requiring data sharing statements for all clinical studies is a crucial first step toward this goal.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Clinical studies
- Data sharing
Background:
- Current biomedical journal policies for sharing clinical data are inconsistent.
- This heterogeneity hinders optimal data sharing practices.
Discussion:
- Implementing a data sharing statement requirement for all clinical studies, not just randomized ones, is proposed.
- This policy change can foster a cultural shift in defining scientific outputs.
Key Insights:
- A data sharing statement does not guarantee immediate data availability but initiates a cultural change.
- Scientific output may evolve to include raw data alongside study reports.
Outlook:
- Harmonized policies will eventually lead to journals requiring full, unrestricted data availability for publication.
- This promotes transparency and reproducibility in biomedical research.
