Good Research Practices

Good Research Practice (GRP) entails conducting research with rigor and integrity. It encompassess the whole research trajectory, from setting research agendas, through planning, conducting, and reporting research, to the dissemination, application and exploitation of results. All researchers, both clinical and nonclinical, regardless of function or location, and those involved in reviewing or supervising research, should strive for the highest achievable standards of conduct to ensure trustworthy research outcomes.

The Amsterdam UMC Research Code, established on behalf of the Executive Boards of the Academic Medical Center (AMC) and VU University medical center (VUmc), outlines expectations of research staff regarding GRP. All research staff are expected to read and follow the code. The code provides details on the following twelve topics:

  1. Expectations regarding supervisors and junior researchers
  2. General research and laboratory practice
  3. Dealing with animals
  4. Dealing with human subjects involved in research
  5. Research data management
  6. Authorship
  7. Peer review of research proposals and manuscripts
  8. Research collaboration agreements
  9. Valorization
  10. Dealing with the media
  11. Conflicts of interest
  12. Research misconduct: bad practices, prevention and dealing with suspected violations.

The Amsterdam UMC (AMC and VUmc) are also guided by The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. 

Additional resources and training in GRPs include:

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