To improve the quality and reliability of published data the editors of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research have produced new guidelines for authors which seek to address the issue of data reproducibility.
PCMR joins Nature in this new editorial stance; a move to ensure that more laboratory based preclinical research can be reproduced and is therefore more likely to be practically applicable.
Irreproducibility is an issue across biological research. In the article the editors estimate that between 75% and 90% of research published in ‘top-tier’ journals is unable to be reproduced.
“This is a widespread, systemic problem involving many laboratories and multiple journals and is attributable to the pressure to publish,” said Dr. C. Glenn Begley. “We sought to address this challenge head on by striking an appropriate balance: we certainly do not want to be so rigid that we stifle real innovation, but real innovation has to reproducible for it to be real.”
Published on behalf of the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies PCMR publishes manuscripts on all aspects of pigment cells and holds an Impact Factor of 5.839.
“The fundamental requirement for ground-breaking research is its reproducibility. A finding, no matter how provocative and exciting, has no value if it cannot be replicated,” concluded Dr. Begley, “This is a significant step in terms of editorial responsibility, and will hopefully soon be followed by many other journals.”
The author guidelines for Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research can be found here
Read Dr. Begley's post on the Exchanges blog here
