Alexandria, VA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research have announced the publication of an editorial exploring the benefits of open data to in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR) and the JDR Clinical & Translational Research (JDR CTR).
Scientific research is a lengthy and costly endeavor. It can take years and the collaborative efforts of a team of researchers to gather data for a high-quality manuscript. In the traditional model of scientific publication, these data are summarized in graphs, tables, and carefully selected exemplar images that lead the reader through the story.
While this approach facilitates understanding of the work, the failure to share original research data that have not been transformed or processed is an opportunity lost. Making raw data openly available in an accessible format, and appropriately annotated, allows validation of the work through replication, enables integration of findings into broader systematic reviews, and supports the reuse of data for additional analyses.
Difficulties in making data fully open should not prevent the attempt to do so, as openness can be successfully promoted through controlled and well-governed access. Therefore, the JDR and JDR CTR have updated their policies to require the sharing of data in articles. The editors of both journals recognize the difficulties with sharing certain data types, so exceptions will be permitted. However, the open sharing of data will be the default and the expectation in most cases. There are many different repositories for sharing data and guidelines have been published to help authors comply with open data principles. Adherence to these principles will ensure transparency and will help to maximize the benefits from investment in research.
About the Journal of Dental Research
The IADR/AADOCR Journal of Dental Research (JDR) is a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the dissemination of new knowledge in all sciences relevant to dentistry and the oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease. The JDR Editor-in-Chief is Nicholas Jakubovics, Newcastle University, England. Follow the JDR on X at @JDentRes.
About JDR Clinical & Translational Research
JDR Clinical & Translational Research (JDR CTR) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal that encompasses all areas of clinical and translational research in the dental, oral, and craniofacial sciences. Launched by IADR and AADOCR, JDR CTR provides a resource for clinicians, scientists, academics, researchers, and policy makers across the entire spectrum of the dental community. Follow JDR CTR on X at @JDRClinTransRes.
About IADR/AADOCR
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of IADR.
