title: Opinions and potential solutions regarding dissemination bias from funding agencies of biomedical research in Europe.
abstract: Several studies have found that about half of research results from clinical trials are never published. Until now, there has been little information on the views that funding agencies of biomedical research in Europe have regarding this issue and its possible solutions.
  
  
  
  An electronic survey was conducted among funding agencies from 34 European countries. Participants were asked about their opinions, policies, and potential solutions regarding dissemination bias. On the basis of the results of this survey and the input of the OPEN Consortium and of representatives of stakeholder groups in the knowledge generation process, we formulated recommendations for funding agencies to reduce dissemination bias.
  
  
  
  We received responses from 64 funding agencies of biomedical medicine from most European countries, out of 245 that were contacted (26%). Of these, 56 funded research at the national and/or international level and were therefore eligible to participate. Policies encouraging publication increased over time: 33 (58.9%) of agencies enforced them in 2005 compared to 38 (67.6%) in 2012. However, only 13 (23.2%) had knowledge of the publications related to research funded in 2005, 23 (41.1%) were able to provide only an estimate, and 20 (35.7%) did not know at all. Regarding recommendations to control dissemination bias, we propose that funding agencies request the dissemination of research results irrespective of the direction of findings. We also call for measures that allow evaluating funded projects past the contractual period and until dissemination of results. Funding agencies should create publicly accessible databases with information on funded projects and dissemination efforts.
  
  
  
  Despite having policies to encourage publication of results, most funding agencies fail to implement such measures or to ensure compliance. We propose recommendations that could be incorporated in the blueprint of calls for proposals and contracts agreed upon by funding agencies and grant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3714-0309
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pardo-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urrútia
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Germany, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacherstrasse 153, 79110, Freiburg, France.|Centre de Recherche Épidémiologie et Statistique Sorbonne Paris Cité-U1153, Inserm / Université Paris Descartes, Cochrane France, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, 1 place du Parvis Notre Dame, 75181, Paris Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Joerg J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meerpohl
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Croatia, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.|Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marušić
authors.affiliation: Sideview, Princes Risborough, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wager
authors.affiliation: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.|Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bonfill
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005060:Europe; D005376:Financial Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D017594:Publication Bias / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: clinical trials; dissemination bias; evaluation; medical ethics; publication bias; the OPEN Project