EMGO+ puts much emphasis on promoting and maintaining high quality standards in its research. First of all, EMGO+ invests in research methodology expertise and development, this especially concerns the topics of clinimetrics (Riekie de Vet, Caroline Terwee, Raymond Ostelo, Dirk Knol), Health Technology Assessment (HTA) (Maurits van Tulder, Raymond Ostelo), prognosis and prediction research (Daniëlle van der Windt, Martijn Heymans, Riekie de Vet) and longitudinal data analysis (Jos Twisk, Martijn Heymans). Furthermore, EMGO+ has developed and maintains a quality handbook that guides all research conducted within the institute supported by a quality committee. EMGO+ also has an internal Science Committee and an external Advisory Board that advices the directorate on its scientific policy. The Science Committee also assists in improving research proposals.
It is a pleasure to present our 2011 annual report. In this print report you can read about the highlights of our research programs, our ongoing longitudinal studies, our academic workplaces, our quality control and committees, and our scientific and societal achievements. We have tried to include the core information only in an easily accessible format.
Welcome to the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research. The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research (EMGO+) is one of the interfaculty research institutes of the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam and the VU University Amsterdam. In EMGO+ researchers from three faculties (the VU University Medical Center, the Faculty of Psychology and Education, and the Department of Health Sciences from the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences) have joined forces, aiming to further improve public and occupational health, primary care, rehabilitation and long-term care, by means of multi and interdisciplinary research.
The Dutch and international rsearch communities have been confronted with important cases of fraude and misconduct in the last few months. A debate is emerging about how such fraude and other scientific misconduct can be better prevented or earlier detected. In his column in NRC handelsblad, Prof. Martijn Katan argues in favour of he quality system that EMGO+ has in place.