Scientific publishing includes not just the manuscript but also data, computer code and lab protocols. Here, Laurent Heirendt shares practical advice that your research institute can follow to publish research results that are reproducible

Scientific publishing has changed significantly in recent years, while the reproducibility crisis has deepened. The focus used to be solely on the manuscript. Today, it is much more about the complete publication, which includes data, computer code and lab protocols, making it easier for scientists to reproduce published studies.

To help researchers handle the growing list of requirements and continue to publish high-quality and reproducible research, the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), part of the University of Luxembourg, has formally established a pre-publication check (PPC). The process itself is like the checklist pilots go through before every flight. The PPC is composed of seven modules, each checking a different aspect of the publication: manuscript content, data, code, lab experiments, commercialisation, sustainability, and other institutional aspects.

• The evolving meaning of ‘corresponding authorship’ in research
• Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidence
• How much should you publish?

Publishing research results in a reproducible way is a challenging undertaking. Here is advice that your institute can follow to achieve this ambitious goal.

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