Last Updated: December 10, 2024
Data Sharing Policy for the American Journal of Biomedicine
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1. Policy Statement and Scope
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The American Journal of Biomedicine (AJBM) is committed to transparency, reproducibility, and the advancement of biomedical research through open science practices. This policy outlines our requirements and recommendations for data sharing in accordance with COPE guidelines.
2. Data Availability Requirements
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2.1 Mandatory Requirements:
- All research articles must include a Data Availability Statement
- Clinical trial data must comply with ICMJE requirements
- Genomic data must be deposited in appropriate public repositories
- Source data for all figures and statistical analyses must be provided
2.2 Data Types:
- Raw data
- Processed data
- Analytical code
- Protocols
- Research materials
- Related metadata
3. Data Availability Statement
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3.1 Required Information:
- Location of data repository
- Access conditions
- DOI or accession numbers
- Any restrictions on data availability
- Contact information for data requests
3.2 Example Statements:
- "All data are available in [Repository Name] at [DOI]"
- "Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author"
- "Some data restrictions apply due to [specific reason]"
4. Acceptable Data Repositories
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4.1 General Repositories:
- Dryad
- Figshare
- Zenodo
- Open Science Framework
4.2 Discipline-Specific Repositories:
- GenBank for nucleotide sequences
- PDB for protein structures
- GEO for gene expression data
- ClinicalTrials.gov for clinical trials
5. Data Format and Documentation
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5.1 Format Requirements:
- Data must be in widely-used, non-proprietary formats
- Documentation must be clear and comprehensive
- Variable names and codes must be explained
- Methods of data collection must be described
5.2 Metadata Standards:
- Follow discipline-specific metadata standards
- Include detailed descriptions of methods
- Provide information about data processing
- Document any software or tools used
6. Exceptions and Special Circumstances
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6.1 Valid Reasons for Data Restrictions:
- Patient privacy concerns
- Proprietary information
- National security
- Ethical considerations
6.2 Alternative Arrangements:
- Controlled access
- Partial data release
- Anonymized datasets
- Data use agreements
7. Timeline for Data Sharing
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7.1 Requirements:
- Data must be available upon article publication
- Embargoes may be granted in special circumstances
- Long-term preservation must be ensured
7.2 Embargo Periods:
- Maximum 12 months for most data types
- Longer periods require editorial approval
- Must be justified in the Data Availability Statement
8. Data Citation and Credit
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8.1 Citation Requirements:
- Cite all datasets used in research
- Include DOIs or accession numbers
- Follow journal's citation format
- Credit data generators appropriately
8.2 Recognition:
- Data sharing efforts will be acknowledged
- Dataset citations will be tracked
- Data impact metrics will be monitored
9. Compliance and Verification
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9.1 Submission Requirements:
- Data availability must be confirmed during submission
- Repository links must be valid
- Data must be accessible to editors/reviewers
- Documentation must be complete
9.2 Verification Process:
- Editorial staff will verify data availability
- Reviewers will assess data quality
- Authors must address any concerns
- Final verification before publication
10. Support and Resources
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10.1 Author Support:
- Guidelines for data preparation
- Repository selection assistance
- Technical support for data submission
- Templates for documentation
10.2 Available Resources:
- Data management planning tools
- Repository guides
- Metadata standards
- Best practice examples
11. Policy Implementation
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11.1 Timeline:
- Policy effective immediately for new submissions
- Grace period of 1-2 months for revised manuscripts
- Annual review and updates of policy
11.2 Monitoring and Review:
- Regular assessment of policy effectiveness
- Feedback collection from stakeholders
- Updates based on community standards
- Alignment with evolving COPE guidelines
12. Policy Updates and Revisions
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- This policy will be reviewed annually
- Updates will be announced on the journal website
- Previous versions will be archived
- Community feedback is welcome