"Benefits of Data Sharing for Academic Health Centers"
In the September issue of PLOS Medicine , Piwowar et al. [1] examine the benefits and offer recommendations to encourage data sharing at academic health centers (AHC): Commit to sharing research data as openly as possible, given privacy constraints. Streamline IRB (Institutional Review Board), technology transfer, and information technology policies and procedures accordingly. Recognize data sharing contributions in hiring and promotion decisions, perhaps as a bonus to a publication's impact factor. Use concrete metrics when available. Educate trainees and current investigators on responsible data sharing and reuse practices through class work, mentorship, and professional development. Promote a framework for deciding upon appropriate data sharing mechanisms. Encourage data sharing practices as part of publication policies. Lobby for explicit and enforceable policies in journal and conference instructions, to both authors and peer reviewers. Encourage data sharing plans as part o...