Medical Publishing Insights & Practices launches Transparency Matters to highlight the importance of transparency in reporting the results of industry-sponsored research
Beachwood, Ohio (PRWEB) November 16, 2016 -- Consistent with its mission to elevate trust, transparency, and integrity in reporting the results of industry-sponsored research, Medical Publishing Insights & Practices (MPIP) today announced the launch of Transparency Matters. Designed to raise awareness of the importance of transparency and its impact on the credibility of industry-sponsored study publications, Transparency Matters is a global educational platform and call to action.
Through Transparency Matters, MPIP is seeking to highlight the importance of transparency and its impact on the integrity, clinical value, and credibility of clinical trial publications; encourage transparent publication practices in pharmaceutical and biomedical research; and enlist broad engagement in this important mission.
The dedicated Transparency Matters section of the MPIP website (http://www.mpip-initiative.org) serves as a resource where authors, life-science companies, journal editors, and other interested parties can find published MPIP research, tools, and recommendations to help improve the level of transparency when reporting the results of industry-sponsored research. Some key elements of the Transparency Matters web pages include:
- The “Transparency Pledge” — a way for authors, sponsors, and other interested parties to become involved and affirm their commitment to transparency in reporting results of clinical research
- Links to co-sponsor company disclosure/publication policies — demonstrating MPIP co sponsors’ commitment to transparency in reporting results of their clinical research
The Transparency Matters logo, which graphically depicts the mission, readily identifies related communications and resources.
MPIP has collaborated with industry experts, journal editors, and other groups to identify the challenges and opportunities towards increasing credibility and transparency in reporting the results of industry-sponsored research and produce best-practice recommendations. Most recently, MPIP released Recommendations to Improve Adverse Event Reporting in Clinical Trial Publications,1 a consensus guideline on clinically relevant and more informative adverse event reporting to improve patient care and increase transparency and credibility. More resources to improve transparency can be found at http://www.mpip-initiative.org.
Why Does Transparency Matter?
“There is a persistent need both for greater transparency in reporting the results of industry-sponsored research and for awareness of the continued commitment and specific efforts of industry to improve transparency. MPIP research1-3 highlights areas of perceived unmet need with respect to transparent reporting of research results, including publishing studies with negative outcomes, authorship disclosures, and adverse event reporting, prompting the need for this program,” said Bernadette Mansi, Chair of MPIP and Director, Publications & Disclosure Practices, GlaxoSmithKline.
Transparent, balanced, and timely reporting of clinical trial results in peer-reviewed journals fulfills an ethical obligation to trial participants, informs treatment decisions, enables accurate and objective data interpretation and validation, advances scientific understanding, and supports the credibility of the work and the sponsor. Conversely, reports of selective, biased, or unbalanced disclosure of research results or inaccurate or incomplete reporting of potential conflicts of interest or authorship disclosures undermine the credibility of the research outcomes and the sponsor.
Now in its eighth year, MPIP is launching Transparency Matters to highlight the need for transparency and to share the published MPIP research, tools, and recommendations the co-sponsors have developed in collaboration with journal editors, academic researchers, and other groups.
“With Transparency Matters, MPIP aims to focus the conversation on transparency in medical publications; encourage advocacy, individual accountability, and broad collaboration among interested parties; and provide the tools to promote best practices,” Mansi said. “The MPIP co-sponsors invite others to engage in this important mission and encourage adoption of ‘best practice’ recommendations to overcome barriers to transparency.”
Continue to follow MPIP’s progress in this and other efforts by visiting the MPIP website, or contact MPIP at info(at)mpip-initiative.org.
About MPIP: Medical Publishing Insights & Practices (MPIP) was founded by members of the pharmaceutical industry and the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) to elevate trust, transparency, and integrity in reporting the results of industry-sponsored research. Current corporate co-sponsors include Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Merck, Pfizer, and Takeda.
You may also access these links for additional information:
• MPIP Website
• MPIP LinkedIn page
• MPIP Twitter page
References
1. Lineberry N, Berlin JA, Mansi B, et al. Recommendations to improve adverse event reporting in clinical trial publications: a joint pharmaceutical industry/journal editor perspective. BMJ. 2016;355:i5078.
2. Marušić A, Hren D, Mansi B, et al. Five-step authorship framework to improve transparency in disclosing contributors to industry-sponsored clinical trial publications. BMC Med. 2014;12:197.
3. Mansi BA, Clark J, David FS, et al. Ten recommendations for closing the credibility gap in reporting industry-sponsored clinical research: a joint journal and pharmaceutical industry perspective. Mayo Clinic Proc. 2012;87(5):424-429.
Greg Connel on behalf of, Medical Publishing Insights & Practices (MPIP), +1 (216) 378-8908, [email protected]
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