Learn more about the new NIH Preprint pilot project in PubMed Central, other news about preprints, DORA, and more.
NIH Preprint Pilot Project in PubMed Central
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is preparing to launch a pilot project to test the viability of making preprints resulting from NIH-funded research available via PubMed Central (PMC). The primary goal of the NIH Preprint Pilot will be to explore approaches to increasing the discoverability of early NIH research results. The pilot will begin the week of June 8, 2020 and will initially focus on increasing the discoverability of preprints with NIH support relating to the current COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, see: NIH Preprint Pilot in PubMed Central.
Preprint Readings
Technical and social issues influencing the adoption of preprints in the life sciences. Penfold N, Polka J. PLoS Genetics. 2020 Apr 20;16(4):e1008565.
Early in the epidemic: impact of preprints on global discourse about COVID-19 transmissibility. Majumder MS, Mandl KD. Lancet Global Health. 2020 May;8(5):e627-e630.
Byrd’s Words: Preprints and peer review. Byrd JB. Blog Post. March 21, 2020.
How swamped preprint servers are blocking bad coronavirus research. Kwon D. Nature. May 7, 2020.
Scientists are drowning in COVID-19 papers. Can new tools keep them afloat? Brainard J. Science. May 13, 2020.
Are women publishing less during the pandemic? Here’s what the data say. Viglione G. Nature. May 20, 2020.
Consolidation in a crisis: Patterns of international collaboration in COVID-19 research. Fry CV, Cai X, Zhang Y, Wagner C. SSRN. May 7, 2020. Two points noted in the paper:
- Chinese authors produced more scientific articles on coronavirus in the first four months of 2020 than in the previous 24 months combined.
- Relative to pre-COVID-19, coronavirus research is driven by smaller teams and less international teams.
Emergency funding allows NLM to expand COVID-19 research and services. NLM Musings from the Mezzanine. Brennan P. May 19, 2020. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is working on multiple fronts to improve researchers’ understanding of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease it causes (COVID-19).
Other Readings
New from eLife: Invitation to submit to Preprint Review. Inside eLife. May 13, 2020. Authors can now request peer review without being evaluated for publication in eLife up front. Authors who have shared their work as a preprint on bioRxiv are invited to submit to eLife’s new Preprint Review service. Preprint Review offers authors the opportunity to have eLife review their work directly on bioRxiv and, simultaneously, consider the work for publication in the journal.
Meet this super-spotter of duplicated images in science papers. Shen H. Nature. May 13, 2020.
Open-access science funders announce price transparency rules for publishers. Wallace N. Science. May 18, 2020. Science journals will have to disclose the costs of publishing articles in order for them to be paid for by cOAlition S, a group of international organizations, European national research agencies, and foundations who advocate for open access.
Springer Nature extends commitment against the misuse of impact factors to its entire journal portfolio. Springer. May 20, 2020. Springer Nature signed DORA (San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment), joining thousands of research institutions, publishers, imprints and funders in the commitment to ensure a balanced and fair approach to research assessment.