“no more PDF, hidden on the research website”. The renewed Amsterdam UMC Research Code is now webbased, and replaces the old PDF version. The code is fully updated and aligned with the harmonization of Amsterdam UMC.
The Research Code used to be available as a PDF, hidden on the Research Support website. With this new web version the Research Code is easily accessible and the relevant content findable via direct links to the content, instead of referring to a chapter or page number in the PDF version.
Relevant to all researchers
The Research Code includes 12 chapters on various topics, a.o. research data management, supervision and dealing with human subjects and laboratory animals. Eline van Dulmen-den Broeder (associate Prof. Pediatric oncology) helped putting the code online and updating the content. As a result, she read the code thoroughly. “There is so much relevant information in this document, all researchers should know where to find all this. And it needs to be readable and accessible”. Fenneke replied laughing: “That’s why I want to get rid of a PDF hidden in some corner of the website”.
Practical translation
On the website of Research Support, other useful and relevant codes such as the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, and it’s European equivalent. Fenneke explains: “the Amsterdam UMC Research Code is like a practical translation of those codes: how do we do this and what is in place at Amsterdam UMC. The national and international codes need to be more general to serve all research and researchers that need to adhere to them”.
Board of Directors: ‘put it on the agenda’
In the Foreword of the Research Code, the chair and deans call upon the Amsterdam UMC researchers: “make use of our à la carte menu for responsible research and to put topics addressed in this Code on the agenda of your regular team meetings, to discuss research integrity at research symposia, to pay attention to the wellbeing of your team members and most of all: to make it a habit to share your dilemmas and best practices with colleagues”.
For questions and suggestions about the Research Code, Fenneke Blom can be reached via researchsupport@amsterdamumc.nl. Please let us know what you think of the web-based version and how we can make it even more accessible and informative in the near future.