It's All About Character
Affiliation
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas
Corresponding Author
Sandra S. Hatch, MD, FAACS, FACCS, FACR, Professor and Vice-Chairman, Director of Clinical Operations, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555. Tel: 409-772-6561; E-mail: shatch@UTMB.EDU
Citation
Hatch, S. S. It’s all about character. (2015) Intl J Cancer Oncol 2(3): 1.
Copy rights
© 2015 Hatch, S.S. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Keywords
Cancer; Oncology; Dissemination of knowledge; Codes
Introduction
Albert Einstein has stated “Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong. It is character”. This certainly applies to all aspects of the principles of research related integrity and ultimate publication.
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity was published in March 2011 representing ALLEA (All European Academies) in its consensus statement. ALLEA is the European Federation of National Academy of Sciences and Humanities[1]. At the time of the publication, ALLEA was comprised of 53 Member Academies in 40 countries. Their Executive Summary defines the principles that should govern the code of scientific and scholarly research. These principles were defined as honesty in communication, reliability, objectivity, impartiality, independence, openness and accessibility, duty of care, fairness in providing references and credit, and responsibility for the scientists and researchers of the future. The National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Assessing Integrity in Research Environment endorsed these same principles[2].
Publication of our research carries with it the implied goal of commitment to the good of the public. Therefore, integrity in scientific research embodies an assurance to preservation of public trust in the accuracy of the data[3].
The International Journal of Cancer & Oncology abides by these same principles and provides a venue for publication of responsibly conducted research, case reports and review of literature. As an open access on-line journal it is at the heart of the dynamic evolution of rapid dissemination of knowledge. Manuscripts undergo peer-review to sustain the process of scientific integrity. The journal advocates for adherence to the codes regarding accuracy, transparency and honesty in all scientific communications. The journal seeks to promote an environment in which global communication may occur across disciplines in a manner conducive to progress with sustainable scientific integrity in research. We are focused on the future and welcome your submissions to promote its foundation.
References
- 1. The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity March 2011 ISBN: 978-2-918428-37-4.
- 2. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine Committee on Assessing Integrity in Research Environments. Integrity in Scientific Research: Creating an Environment That Promotes Responsible Conduct. (2002) National Academies Press (US).
- 3. Preserving Public Trust. (2001) National Academy Press (US).
