DKTK affiliation in scientific publications
The aim of the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) is to join the expertise available at the DKFZ as a core center and at oncologically particularly renowned research institutions and clinics in translation centers at eight partner sites in Germany. The DKTK promotes interdisciplinary preclinical translational research topics to accelerate the transfer of results into new approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and to develop strategies for personalized oncology. Therefore, publications by DKTK scientists on research and other results that are related to the objectives as well as the funding and infrastructure provided by DKTK should include an DKTK affiliation.
Why should the DKTK be affiliated?
As a consortium funded by the federal and state governments, the DKTK has a fundamental obligation to its funding bodies and the public to provide information on developments in general and on the topics, content, results and quality of its research activities. One of the most important performance parameters in this context are scientific publications. The use of a uniform affiliation in publications is essential so that the DKTK, as an institutional facility, can fulfill the abovementioned obligation and be appropriately visible in the research community and clinical oncology. Publications without an affiliation cannot be considered for funding bodies and for reviews for the DKTK's performance records. Also, the mention of the DKTK alone as part of the so-called "acknowledgements" is not sufficient, unlike in the case of third-party funding.
Who affiliates the DKTK in scientific publications?
DKTK affiliation includes scientists who do research within the DKTK partner sites and the participating partner institutions (especially Faculty members, DKTK Investigators and DKTK School of Oncology Fellows) for publications on research work funded by DKTK (financially or through the use of DKTK infrastructures) or on preclinical-translational cancer research projects thematically related to DKTK.
In order to document the added value of DKTK, joint publications from several DKTK partner sites are of key importance and are considered particularly relevant DKTK publications by funding bodies and reviewers. Therefore, DKTK scientists should inform the corresponding author about the use of the DKTK affiliation in the case of co-authorship.
How should the DKTK be affiliated in scientific publications?
The correct affiliation can be found in the "Publication guidelines for DKFZ employees and individuals associated with the DKFZ through research collaborations and partnerships" (as of July 2023) in section "3.2.1 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)"; see the following PDF file.