Global Consortium
for Chemosensory Research

Membership

Vision

The Global Consortium on Chemosensory Research (GCCR) has been started with the aim of uniting chemosensory scientists worldwide to understand reports of the chemosensory issues related to COVID-19. More broadly, the GCCR aspires to define, coordinate, and disseminate global efforts to advance the scientific understanding and clinical practice related to the chemical senses.

Mission

The timely mission of the GCCR is to define and coordinate world-wide crowdsourced research to understand the reports of the chemosensory issues related to COVID-19.

Subsequently, the establishment of this consortium will foster the advancement of chemosensory science at large, allowing the possibility to test larger samples of participants cross-culturally, strengthening the reliability and validity of chemosensory science across many domains.

In accomplishing this mission, the GCCR’s primary roles are to work cooperatively with its members to:


  • Encourage and facilitate global collaboration in concert with local collaboration across countries, labs, scientists and clinicians interested in the chemical senses. Members can access the protocols and data deriving from the GCCR’s projects and adapt them to their local needs. Participation in this consortium does not preclude local efforts.

  • Encourage and facilitate the implementation of open science practices the GCCR projects will allow the members as well as the community at large to access protocols and data.

  • Encourage and facilitate the development and dissemination of new knowledge by authoring papers based on the core data collected by the GCCR as a group.

Authorship

One of the goals of the GCCR is dissemination of the data collected. In published work, authors will be listed in tiers according to their contributions, which will be specified in the publication(s). Within tiers, authors will be listed in alphabetical order. The core data will be published by the GCCR altogether. Local groups may use such data as part of a project, but may not report only on a portion of the core data.

Data sharing

Protocols as well as code used to process results will be made available in the effort of fostering reproducibility within the GCCR and in the scientific community at large.

Leadership team

The leadership team is responsible for facilitating communication within the GCCR, organizing the GCCR meetings and coordinating the group’s efforts. The leadership committee is composed of a Chair and members, currently (in alphabetical order): John Hayes; Thomas Hummel; Chrissi Kelly; Steve Munger; Masha Niv; Kathrin Ohla; Valentina Parma (chair); Danielle Reed; Maria Veldhuizen.

GCCR procedures are proposed by the leadership team to all members which collectively guide the direction of the GCCR through the procedures they support.

The Global Consortium of Chemosensory Research (GCCR) welcomes scientists, clinicians, patient advocates, and other stakeholders to contribute to our mission: to define, coordinate, and disseminate global efforts to advance scientific understanding and clinical practice related to the chemical senses.

As GCCR members, we are committed to create a positive environment for all members of the GCCR across all GCCR platforms (e.g., Slack channel, Twitter, Facebook, email, etc.). All subscribers to those platforms are expected to abide by the GCCR Code of Conduct.

Expected Behavior

The following statements identify expected behavior on all GCCR platforms:


  • Treat all participants with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.

  • Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.

  • Communicate openly and with respect for others, keeping criticism constructive (e.g., behavior-focused, specific, solution-oriented).

  • Avoid personal attacks directed toward other participants.

  • Favor data accountability and transparency

  • Alert the GCCR leadership team if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.

Unacceptable Behavior

The following statements identify behavior that is unacceptable when interacting on GCCR platforms and will not be tolerated.


  • Harassment, intimidation or discrimination in any form.

  • Abuse in any form of any GCCR participant.

  • Specific examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin that are meant to intimidate, insult or otherwise harm; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations; threatening or stalking any GCCR participant.

  • Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing or reporting research results

  • Breach of the terms of the GCCR agreement

Consequences

Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.

The GCCR leadership team may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, e.g., a verbal warning or immediate removal from GCCR platforms without warning, or removal from GCCR membership.

The GCCR reserves the right to prohibit participation in its activities.

If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify the Leadership team. The notifier is not required or expected to discuss the concern with the alleged offender. All complaints will be treated seriously and investigated promptly by three members of the leadership team. In the event that the accused is from the GCCR leadership team, the 3 or more persons on the leadership team who review the case will take steps to minimize conflicts of interest in adjudication.The GCCR will maintain confidentiality with regard to the reporter of an incident whenever possible.

Contact the leadership team via the following e-mail address contact.GCCR@gmail.com or via an anonymous form anonymous form to report any incidence.

Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to contact law enforcement immediately.

The GCCR shall not be responsible for any defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of GCCR participants, and shall not be held liable for damage of any kind suffered by the participants at or in connection with the participation in the GCCR environments.

To apply for GCCR membership, please fill out the form linked below

Membership Form