11.12.19
Ten universities take measures to maximise research potential in the UK
Research potential in the UK is set for a boost as universities collaborate to improve research quality and reproducibility.
The UK is already a world leader in research, but in order to maintain this reputation, there must be constant commitment to producing ‘rigorous, robust and high-quality’ research.
Policy initiatives such as the UUK Research Integrity Forum, drive the nation forward as the UK makes continuous improvements in the field. One exciting development is the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), supported by research funders and led by researchers.
Over 40 research institutions across the UK currently make up the network, collaborating with researchers, universities and stakeholders to come up with new initiatives and innovation to unlock research potential.
Today (Dec 10) ten UK universities have taken the step to join UKRN and form a partnership committed to improving research quality.
These universities are Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh, Keele, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes, the Royal Veterinary College, Sheffield, Surrey, and UCL.
A big part of successful scientific advances is ensuring that research is replicable, that it is underpinned by high-quality training and there are incentives for researchers.
Being part of UKRN means initiatives and schemes such as common training, sharing best practice with peers ad aligning promotion and hiring criteria to support the development of open and reproducible research.
Academic leads and grassroots networks are given the opportunity to work together for a common goal, liaising with each other and UKRN stakeholders such as funders and publishers, maximise the UK’s potential of producing ground-breaking research.
Professor Marcus Munafò, chair of the UK Reproducibility Network steering group and professor of Biological Psychology in Bristol's School of Psychological Science, said:
"Collective action by institutions can reform research culture and improve research quality. The commitment of so many universities to work together, and with the UK Reproducibility Network, represents an exciting and potentially transformative step."
Anne-Marie Coriat, head of UK and Europe Research Landscape at Wellcome, one of the stakeholders that supports UKRN, added:
"This is an exciting commitment from institutional senior leadership and a key step in supporting a positive research culture."