To clarify, the validation studies will be matched to core resource facilities and commercial research organizations, who specialize in conducting certain experiments on a fee for service basis. As they are paid upon completion of a service, regardless of outcome, we feel they are the solution to many of the misaligned incentives in academic research.
With respect to communication between the original authors and those conducting the validation, we definitely agree there needs to be some degree of communication, given the complexities of research. We will originally match a researcher to their provider in a blind fashion, so they have no choice in who conducts their study. But once a provider is selected, they can communicate with one another in explaining the methodology, experiments, etc.
It's probably a bit late to respond to this... However, given that this work is likely only to be undertaken when the stakes are high, I would think that blinded communication between the original researchers and those replicating the work would be a good idea. If they are going to shoot it down, they probably don't want the original people to know that they did so.
To clarify, the validation studies will be matched to core resource facilities and commercial research organizations, who specialize in conducting certain experiments on a fee for service basis. As they are paid upon completion of a service, regardless of outcome, we feel they are the solution to many of the misaligned incentives in academic research.
With respect to communication between the original authors and those conducting the validation, we definitely agree there needs to be some degree of communication, given the complexities of research. We will originally match a researcher to their provider in a blind fashion, so they have no choice in who conducts their study. But once a provider is selected, they can communicate with one another in explaining the methodology, experiments, etc.