Amsterdam UMC Research Code

Good research thrives in an academic environment characterized by honesty, scrupulousness, transparency, independence and responsibility. These five principles form the basis of the Amsterdam UMC Research Code, which defines the local guidelines and expectations that researchers and staff are expected to follow when conducting research at Amsterdam UMC.

Research Integrity Policies

Shared values and principles of honesty and integrity lay the foundation of responsible teaching and conduct of research. Amsterdam UMC continuously works on a research environment that promotes and guarantees good research practice and has endorsed The European Code of Conduct 2023 as well as The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 2018, which articulate broad values and principles that underpin a culture of research integrity.

Furthermore, the Amsterdam UMC Financial Conflict of Interest Policy specifically governs financial conflicts of interest for all NIH and PHS-sponsored investigators of Amsterdam UMC.

    Various confidential counselors are available for every employee, including those specifically appointed for research integrity concerns or questions. An Ombudsman is also in place in Amsterdam UMC.

    Inducements and/or external activities

    Inducements are prohibited, but exceptions may apply under certain conditions. All Amsterdam UMC employees, including those who perform research procedures and full professors, must declare their external activities through the HR registration systems. 

    Policy on scientific research involving human subjects

      The interests of human subjects participating in medical scientific research are protected by a range of (supplementary) laws, decrees, regulations, directives, and codes of conduct. Applicable legislation varies depending on the specifics of the research - for example, research involving medicinal products, medical devices, embryos, population screening, children, or incapacitated individuals.

      To ensure the responsible conduct of research involving human subjects at Amsterdam UMC, the Policy on scientific research involving human subjects applies. This policy inclused two annexes:

          Clinical Trial Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

          The Policy on scientific research involving human subjects is implemented through General Clinical Trial (GCT) SOPs, applicable to all staff conducting research involving human subjects at Amsterdam UMC.

          Additionally, key Research Data Management (RDM) procedures for research with hunan subjects include:

          Open Access policy

          As part of Open Science, Amsterdam UMC encourages Open Access (OA) publishing and the reuse of data for future research by other groups. Amsterdam UMC policy is to publish all scientific articles of which the corresponding author is working at Amsterdam UMC OA. Therefore, Amsterdam UMC researchers can publish OA via the golden route free of charge in more than 10.000 journals. More than 80% of the articles submitted by Amsterdam UMC authors is published Gold OA, the other 20% is mostly open available through Green OA. Support and information regarding OA publishing is provided by the Medical Library for location AMC and by the UBVU for location VUmc.

          Policy on research with and without animals

          Amsterdam UMC is committed to replace animal testing with animal-free research wherever possible. Consult our Amsterdam UMC policy on animal testing.
          Models and techniques to replace animal testing are continuously improving and we hope to rely less and less on animal testing in the coming years. However, animal testing remains necessary for studying many diseases and developing new treatments.

          Animals at Amsterdam UMC receive careful treatment as stipulated by the Animal Experiments Act (WOD). In compliance with the WOD, both Amsterdam UMC locations have an institutional license to perform experiments on animals. Moreover, for each project the responsible researchers have to apply for a project license at the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD). Project permission is based on ethical assessment by an independent local committee of experts known as the Animal Ethics Committee (DEC).