Wroclaw Medical University Publication Policy: Integrity, Openness, and Responsibility

Wroclaw Medical University has introduced a Publication Policy, adopted by the Commission for Research Integrity. The document defines the principles governing research and publishing activities conducted in an ethical, transparent manner and in line with international standards. It regulates not only issues related to authorship, the use of AI-assisted tools, and institutional affiliation, but also the rules for depositing and sharing research data in accordance with the principles of Open Science.

The new policy systematizes key areas of academic responsibility, from research planning to the publication of results. This is not merely a set of rules, but an element of the academic culture we are building at Wroclaw Medical University, emphasizes Prof. Piotr Dzięgiel, Vice-Rector for Research.

Ethics and authorship in line with international standards

The document is based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Code of Ethics for Research Workers of the Polish Academy of Sciences. It clearly states that authorship of a scientific publication requires a genuine research contribution and responsibility for the content of the work. Practices such as ghostwriting, guest authorship, data manipulation, or plagiarism are strictly prohibited.

A new element of the policy is the regulation of the use of tools supported by artificial intelligence. Each author is required to transparently disclose the use of such tools, specifying the scope of support and retaining full responsibility for the content of the publication.

Open research data – a shared scientific resource

An integral part of the policy is the description of principles for depositing and sharing full-text publications and research data, in line with Ordinance No. 177/XVI R/2023. Research data should be stored and made publicly available in a way that enables verification and reuse, while respecting the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and personal data protection regulations.

The recommended place for data deposition is the Polish Medical Platform of Wroclaw Medical University (PPM-UMW), which ensures durability, security, and the assignment of a unique DOI identifier.

Research data are a resource of immense value. They enable other scientists to verify results, conduct meta-analyses, and develop new research directions. Our PPM-UMW repository provides this opportunity in accordance with best practices in open science, notes Dominika Sidorska, Director of the Wroclaw Medical University Library.

The policy also defines technical standards for data deposition, including the requirement to prepare documentation (README files), version control, and the use of open file formats or appropriate licenses (e.g. Creative Commons).

Affiliation – a principle of transparency and accountability

In every publication, employees, doctoral candidates, and students are required to list Wroclaw Medical University as their primary affiliation, in accordance with Ordinance No. 102/XVI R/2024. This ensures that the University’s scientific output is properly attributed, which is crucial for its visibility in rankings, evaluations, and bibliometric reports.

Supporting early-career researchers and fostering a culture of open science

The new policy also provides support for early-career researchers—doctoral candidates and students—who are just beginning their academic paths.

Publication integrity is something that can be learned through mentoring, role models, and everyday practice. We are incorporating these principles into the “Young Science” programme so that from the very start of their careers, young researchers are aware of authorship and co-authorship rules, ethical standards, and the importance of open science, says Prof. Julita Kulbacka, coordinator of the programme.

By implementing this policy, Wroclaw Medical University joins the group of universities that have adopted a coherent publication policy based on international standards of transparency and openness.