Protocols, probity, and publication

The role of ethics in research extends through the moral obligation to report that research and to do so in an honest, transparent, and timely manner. Authors have as great a duty of care to readers, research colleagues, and society as they do to their study participants and sponsors. To help authors demonstrate that their findings are faithful to their research protocol, The Lancet, The Lancet Oncology, and The Lancet Neurology offer to publish links to the full study protocol on the authors' institutional website. Authors are invited to take advantage of this voluntary service, which is inaugurated by a publication in this month's edition of The Lancet Oncology. 1 Cohen EEW Davis DW Karrison TG et al. Erlotinib and bevacizumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase I/II study. Lancet Oncol. 2009; 10: 247-257 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (228) Google Scholar Protocol links will be offered for any design of study and will be encouraged for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), because these are the bedrock on which secure clinical decisions are made.