A Systematic Evidence Map of FAIR Compliance in Open-Access Metabolomics Research: Results from a Pilot Study

Abstract:  Metabolomics is a powerful tool for precision health and biomarker discovery, yet the field faces persistent transparency and reproducibility challenges. The FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) Guiding Principles were established in 2016 with the aim of improving scientific data management, but compliance in metabolomics remains inconsistent. Here, we briefly describe our protocol for a Systematic Evidence Map (SEM) to assess data sharing practices in open-access metabolomics publications. We will also assess the accessibility of unpublished datasets claimed to be available on request, to improve understanding of the different incentives and disincentives around data sharing. We will draw from open-access records indexed in PubMed, PMC and DOAJ published between 2013 and 2024, spanning before and after the publication of the FAIR guiding principles. Articles will be screened for relevance and assessed based on their data availability statements and repository use. We will investigate which factors are associated with improved compliance, by funder, journal, and subject area as well as over time. The results of our pilot study of 1106 publications are also presented; we find that while the number of studies including a data availability statement increased from 9% in 2014 to 85% in 2024, ‘Available on request’ became the most common statement. Just 14% of studies in our pilot made their data available in a repository, suggesting that more work must be done to encourage FAIR compliance.