Science Exchange, in partnership with open access publisher PLOS and open data repository figshare, has announced the launch of the Reproducibility Initiative. The new programme aims to encourage independent replication of valuable research and thereby help scientists, institutions and funding agencies validate their critical research findings.
The Reproducibility Initiative seeks to provide both a mechanism for scientists to independently replicate their findings and a reward for doing so. Scientists who apply to have their studies replicated are matched with experimental service providers based on the expertise required. The initiative seeks to leverage Science Exchange’s existing marketplace for scientific services, which contains a network of over 1000 expert providers at core facilities and contract research organisations (CROs).
Scientists will receive the results of their validation studies and have the opportunity to publish them in the journal PLOS ONE as part of a Special Collection highlighting the importance of reproducibility in scientific research. They can also upload their primary data to figshare. Replications published in PLOS ONE will link back to the original publications upon which they are based. Publishers including Nature Publishing Group and Rockefeller University Press have expressed their support for this acknowledgement of reproducibility.
The Reproducibility Initiative is initially accepting 40-50 studies for validation. Studies will be selected on the basis of potential clinical impact and the scope of the experiments required and, in aggregate, may eventually serve as a proof-of-concept for this mechanism of validation to funding agencies and patient groups.
Scientists can submit their study for validation at: www.reproducibilityinitiative.org. Core facilities or CROs can join Science Exchange at: www.scienceexchange.com/provider
