Erasmus MC Action Plan
Scientific Integrity
2013-2015
Introduction:
Scientific integrity is the sole and foundation of any academic
institution
Breaches of scientific integrity cause broad public commotion
Notorious cases:
• Stapel
• Poldermans
• Smeesters
KNAW commission Schuyt:
We don’t need new rules; we need better maintenance of rules.
Existing Rules
VSNU Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice
http://www.vsnu.nl/files/documenten/Domeinen/Onderzoek/Code_wetenschap
sbeoefening_2004_(2012).pdf
Erasmus MC Research Codes
http://www.erasmusmc.nl/research/over-research/integriteit/
Erasmus MC action plan:
(2013-2015)
Topics:
• Culture
• Education
• Digitalizing and storage of research data
Goal:
Scientific integrity is evidently anchored in all Erasmus MC
departments
Execution :
On behalf of the board of directors, the coordinator SI makes
agreements with all departments
Agreements:
1.Each department makes its own action plan SI
2.Each department action plan contains at any rate 15 testable
goals, which are applicable for all departments: 7 on research
culture, 2 on education an 6 on digitalization and storage of
research data.
3.The head of department is responsible for the implementation
and the execution of the department action plan. This plan will be
signed by the head of department and the dean.
4.On the basis of the testable goals, the department action plan
will be evaluated and actualized from 2013 to 2015, according to a
fixed framework, in cooperation with the coordinator SI.
5.The first version of the department action plan defines the steps
that the department will take to reach the testable goals .
6.As far as digitalization and storage of research data are
concerned, this first version defines the logistic and technical bottle
necks foreseen by the department and the central support desired
for the solution of these bottle neck
Goals Culture :
1. The department encouraged awareness as far as SI is
concerned, by organizing meetings like roadshows,
discussion sessions, seminars etc.
2. SI is regularly placed on the agenda of all sorts of work
related meetings including formal personal evaluations.
3. The department did analyze its possible fragility as far as SI
is concerned. (What aspects of our research are potentially
susceptible for scientific misconduct)
4. Measures to minimize the department’s fragility as far as SI
is concerned, are developed and implemented;
5. Guidelines are implemented with respect to bringing up
possible breaches of SI by department employees. (The
possibility to approach the Erasmus MC confidential
counselor SI must always be open for all employees)
6. The Erasmus MC guidelines on publishing and authorships
(Erasmus MC Research Codes, chapter 1) are always be
followed.
7. Measures are implemented that prevent researchers to
operate in isolation without systematic discussion with, peers
within as well as outside the department.
Goals Education
8. SI is incorporated in the departments education curriculum.
9. All PhD students follow the one day SI course starting from
January 2014
Goals digitalization and storage of research data:
10. All research data will finally be digitalized in a version suitable for
storage in a digital depot.
11. Each department uses one or more depots, which apply to high
standards for durability, accessibility and safety.
12. For every publication the following documentation is stored in
such depots:
• the publication (in concept) itself
• the research protocol involved
• completed and signed informed consent forms (as far as
applicable)
• the collected raw data
• meta data
• the (statistic) analysis base
• analysis results
13. Data in storage are unchangeable
14. Data in storage are simply and quickly to be found. In a
register the place of storage of all documentation is to be
found for each publication.
15. All data in storage are accessible for (representatives of) the
Board of Directors
Departments are free to deliver a joined action
plan, for instance on thema level.
Deadlines for delivery first version of department
action plan SI:
Thorax:
01-10-2013
Biomedische Wetenschappen:
01-10-2013
Daniel:
01-11-2013
Diagnostiek & Advies:
01-11-2013
Hersenen & Zintuigen:
01-12-2013
Sophia:
01-12-2013
Gezondheidswetenschappen:
01-12-2013
Dijkzigt:
01-01-2014
Peri-Operatief & Spoed:
01-01-2014