Netherlands Research Integrity Network: the first six months

Recently several serious violations of research integrity have come to light in the Netherlands, which placed Research Integrity (RI) high on the public and academic agenda. More systematic and explicit attention is clearly needed, especially with respect to prevention. Although many institutions – like universities, academic hospitals and funders of research – are committed to improve the research culture and to offer better Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) education, there is little contact between the actors in the field. The newly launched Netherlands Research Integrity Network (NRIN) aims to facilitate collaboration, exchange and mutual learning, to enable consultation and intervision, to provide information and to share research/teaching materials and best practices. The NRIN does this via the website www.nrin.nl; a newsletter; discussion meetings for diverse stakeholders; seminars on education and research on RI; training and education for different audiences; small (internship) research projects; and participation in the organisation of the 5th World Conference on Research Integrity (www.wcri2017.org). The website is designed to find relevant items via various routes, depending on the user’s interests.

Participants of the NRIN events and users of the website include RI counsellors; RI committee chairs and members; RCR educators; and researchers and policymakers in the field of RI. All people interested in general or in specific RI topics can sign-up for the network and the newsletter. Activities are organized in cooperation with members of the network.

During the first six months, we have learned some lessons in starting and maintaining this network. First of all, building and maintaining a relevant website takes a lot of time. Making use of what is already there, is essential. The website, and all other communications, are in English to serve a wide target population. The website can also be used outside the Netherlands. Visitors from already 63 countries have found the website and currently 15 % of the people who signed up for network via the website come from outside the Netherlands.

Establishing and maintaining the network requires proper analyses of the needs of the target population. Also, don’t do it all by yourself but get people involved. Stimulate the snowball effect. And last but not least: be enthusiastic about your work!

The NRIN is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). The network is chaired by Prof. Lex M Bouter and coordinated by Fenneke Blom.