Trust and authorship rules
ResearchBridgeMD is built on a single principle: honest, transparent research collaboration. Here is exactly what we stand for and what we will never do.
Our core principles
We do not sell authorship
No project on our platform may offer authorship in exchange for payment. Any submission that suggests paid authorship will be rejected.
We do not guarantee publication
Research can be rejected by journals. We will never claim or imply that working with us guarantees that a project will be published.
Authorship depends on contribution
Where authorship is offered, it must be based on a meaningful, qualifying contribution as defined by ICMJE authorship criteria. Project owners must state their authorship policy clearly.
Every project is manually reviewed
Our team reads every project submission before it is published. We verify the contribution type, authorship policy, and project legitimacy.
Contribution types are transparent
Every listing states exactly what contributors can expect: acknowledgment only, possible authorship, paid role, volunteer collaboration, or mentorship.
Researchers consent to ethics statement
Every researcher profile on our platform confirms they understand that authorship is not guaranteed and depends on meaningful contribution.
Contribution type definitions
Every project must declare one of the following contribution types. This is displayed prominently on the listing.
Possible authorship if contribution qualifies
Authorship is possible, but is not guaranteed. It will be offered to contributors who meet the project owner's authorship criteria, which must be aligned with ICMJE guidelines (i.e., substantial contribution to conception/design/data, drafting or critically revising the work, approving the final version, and accountability for the work).
Acknowledgment only
Contributors will be recognized in the published paper's acknowledgment section. No co-authorship is offered or implied.
Paid research assistant position
Contributors will be compensated financially for their work. Authorship is not part of the arrangement unless separately stated.
Volunteer collaborator (no authorship guarantee)
Contributors volunteer their time with no expectation of payment or authorship. Their contribution will be acknowledged if the paper is published.
Mentorship / training project
The primary goal is learning and mentorship. Contributors gain hands-on experience. Authorship may be possible in some cases but is not the primary outcome.
About ICMJE authorship criteria
The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) defines authorship as requiring all four of the following: (1) substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis; (2) drafting the work or critically revising it for important intellectual content; (3) final approval of the version to be published; and (4) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. ResearchBridgeMD recommends all project owners follow ICMJE guidelines when determining authorship.
Reporting concerns
If you believe a project on our platform violates our ethics policy — for example, by implying paid authorship, misrepresenting the contribution type, or being a fraudulent project — please contact us directly at hello@researchbridgemd.com.
We take ethics violations seriously and will remove any project that does not meet our standards.
Ready to get started?
Join our platform with confidence — your interests are protected by these ethics rules.