The Null Hypothesis Initiative

Giving negative results a clearer path into the scientific record.

Turn your null and negative findings into discoverable research. The Null Compass helps you write them up and access microgrant funding from the Null Hypothesis Initiative.

Start the Compass How it works

What is dark data?

Unpublished research creates gaps in what we can learn.

“Dark data” - a term originally used to describe lab notes and experimental findings left untouched in filing cabinets and drawers - includes negative, null, and inconclusive results that never reach journals, preprint servers, or searchable databases. When these findings remain hidden, they can lead to duplicated effort and leave important gaps in the scientific evidence base.1

The Null Compass is a tool of the Null Hypothesis Initiative - a multistakeholder program working to make these results more visible in the fields of clinical medicine and biomedical science. Learn more about the Null Hypothesis Initiative and the 501(c)(3) Center for Biomedical Research Transparency that hosts the initiative on our initiative and organization page.

Are you sitting on Dark Data?

Start making science better... Today!

Use the Null Compass to get help writing up your research AND qualify for a microgrant!

Start the Compass

  1. Answer some questions

    Answer an adaptive questionnaire about your study design, findings, context, strengths, and limitations of your work. Yes, methodological failures are still important!

  2. Review your reading

    Receive your null research classification, suggested publication pathways, an inspiration "draft" abstract, and receive your Null Compass registration code.

  3. Publish your work

    Submit your work for publication or pre-print, and obtain a DOI for your research. Submit that DOI alongside your Null Compass registration code - and receive your $500 microgrant!*

What will you get?

You will get encouragement!

The Null Compass will organize the information you provide into a starting point for your own review, classify your findings against the negative & null results framework, and give you a gentle nudge in the right direction for potential submission.

Explore the classification framework

Example Null Compass report showing a null classification, abstract ideas, a Null Compass code, and publication pathway suggestions
The opportunity

A reward for making science better.

Null and negative findings are part of the scientific record - but too often, they never become part of the discoverable record. The Null Hypothesis Initiative is offering a limited set of $500 microgrants to researchers who take the full publication journey from Null Compass through to DOI, helping us understand more about the dark data that exists while making more of the scientific record available to future researchers.

Five hundred US dollars in an envelope on a biomedical laboratory bench
NULL HYPOTHESIS

In publication...

Hypertension 2 Jul 2026 H₀ supported publication

Brain Iron in Nucleus Accumbens and Cognitive Function in Preeclampsia

Boyao Chen, Meng Li […]

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is associated with long-term cognitive dysfunction, potentially linked to cerebral iron deposition. This study investigated striatal iron alterations using quantitative susceptibility mapping and their relationship with cognitive function in patients with preeclampsia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 321 participants, including nonpregnant and pregnant healthy controls, and patients with preeclampsia. Participants underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trail Making Test, and 1.5 T brain magnetic resonance imaging. Striatal iron content was quantified using quantitative susceptibility mapping reconstructed with a morphology-enabled dipole inversion algorithm. RESULTS: Preeclampsia patients showed poorer executive function (Trail Making Test part [A+B]: partial η 2 =0.170; part B: partial η 2 =0.100) and elevated nucleus accumbens magnetic susceptibility (all P <0.001). Age ( β =0.744, P <0.001) and hematocrit ( β =0.846, P =0.011) were independently associated with iron levels. In addition, significant interactions between nucleus accumbens susceptibility values and preeclampsia status were observed for log-transformed Trail Making Test co
Neurology® 9 Jun 2026 H₀ supported publication

Cerebral “Dirty-Appearing” White Matter in Relation to Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Ingmar Eiling, Sigurdur Sigurdsson […]

Cerebral “dirty-appearing” or “diffusely abnormal” white matter (DAWM) represents subtle white matter abnormalities that are associated with progression of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), but the association with cognitive function and dementia is unclear. Our aim was to study the association between DAWM and cognitive function, long-term cognitive decline, and long-term dementia risk in community-dwelling older adults with limited baseline cSVD burden.
Neurology® 12 May 2026 H₀ supported publication

Functional Outcomes After Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Santiago Clocchiatti-Tuozzo, Adnan I. Qureshi […]

Intensive blood pressure (BP) reduction may reduce the risk of poor functional outcomes in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Whether these potential benefits apply similarly to lobar and deep ICH, 2 biologically and clinically distinct subtypes, remains uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that intensive BP reduction has differential effects on functional outcomes based on ICH location.
Neurology® 28 Apr 2026 H₀ supported publication

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Prevalence and Hormonal Contraception

Andrew Mihalache, Ryan S. Huang […]

Women's health advice in people living with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is inconsistent, primarily due to an enduring concern that hormonal contraception (HC), including oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), might be associated with a higher prevalence of IIH. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines whether a meaningful association exists between HC use and IIH prevalence.
Neurology® 28 Apr 2026 H₀ supported publication

Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Incident Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Christos V. Chalitsios, Oliver Rudolf […]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a complex etiology. Although a range of genetic and lifestyle factors have been implicated, the potential role of environmental airborne pollution exposure is uncertain. This study examined the association between long-term ambient exposure to air pollutants and the incidence of ALS in UK Biobank participants.
Hypertension 1 Mar 2026 H₀ supported publication

Urokinase Promotes Redundantly Intratubular C3a-Formation But Not ENaC-Driven Hypertension in DOCA/Salt Kidney Injury

Marie Lykke Bach, Camilla Enggaard […]

BACKGROUND: uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator) inhibitors mitigate salt retention, plasmin, and complement activation in acute proteinuric kidney diseases. We hypothesized that in chronic kidney injury with albuminuria, uPA contributes to hypertension and complement-dependent tissue inflammation and injury. METHODS: Wild-type and uPA KO (knockout) mice underwent either sham surgery or unilateral nephrectomy, followed by insertion of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)- or sham pellets and a high (4%) or control (0.5%) sodium chloride diet for 21 days. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated by transcutaneous fluorescein-isothiocyanate–sinistrin, and arterial blood pressure was recorded continuously by indwelling femoral catheters. Urine was analyzed for albumin, plasmin(ogen), electrolytes, kidney injury markers (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), and complement proteins (C3, C3a). Kidney tissue was examined for neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, epithelial sodium channel, C3, C3a, C5a, cytokines, inflammation, and macrophage polarization markers (CD16 + CD32 + , CD163 + ). RESULTS: DOCA-salt increased diuresis, Na + excretion, albuminuria, tubular injury
Circulation 6 Jan 2026 H₀ supported publication

Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Inhibition With Alirocumab: The CAVIAR Trial

William F. Fearon, Kosei Terada […]

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is an important cause of mortality after heart transplantation (HT). Dyslipidemia is a major contributor to the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. The safety and effectiveness of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibition to lower cholesterol and to prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy early after HT are not well established. METHODS: In this investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, double-blind randomized trial, participants were randomized early after HT to receive either alirocumab or placebo in addition to rosuvastatin. Before randomization and at 1 year, all participants underwent invasive coronary assessment, including angiography, fractional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve, the index of microcirculatory resistance, and intravascular ultrasound with near-infrared spectroscopy. Lipid values were assessed at baseline and at prespecified intervals. The primary end point was the change in coronary artery plaque volume from baseline to 1 year after HT based on serial intravascular ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 114 HT recipients were included (57 assigned to alirocumab and 57 assigned to placebo). Base

Reference

Bowers EC, Stephenson J, Furlong M, Ramos KS. Scope and financial impact of unpublished data and unused samples among U.S. academic and government researchers. iScience. 2023;26(7):107166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107166