How blockchain-timestamped protocols could improve the trustworthiness of medical science [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Trust in scientific research is diminished by evidence that data are being manipulated. Outcome switching, data dredging and selective publication are some of the problems that undermine the integrity of published research. This report is a proof-of-concept study using a ‘blockchain’ as a low cost, independently verifiable method that could be widely and readily used to audit and confirm the reliability of scientific studies.