This week, we read about a new independent home for preprint sharing, the benefits and challenges of open access in health research, and about a petition to reverse the NIH indirect cost cap. We also listen to a podcast about the evolution of poster presentations. Finally, we signpost a discussion on live, community-driven peer review.
To read:
Launching openRxiv: an independent nonprofit for preprint sharing via openRxiv | 4-minute read
The preprint servers for life and health sciences bioRxiv and medRxiv will now be permanently overseen by an independent, researcher-led nonprofit, openRxiv. Sustainably funded by philanthropic contributions, openRxiv aims to ensure that researchers’ needs are prioritized, enabling them to share their work quickly, openly and efficiently. Learn more about what makes openRxiv unique and how you can get involved!
Open access in health research: benefits and challenges via BMJ Journals | 13-minute read
“[Open access] is a necessary component of open and reproducible science, alongside sharing data, code and materials, but alone it is not enough to ensure research quality,” conclude Patricia Logullo (Editor at Palavra Impressa Editora) and colleagues in this article. They outline the influence that different open access models can have on policy, cost and transparency, plus the importance of exact creative commons licence types and subsequent stakeholder benefits and burdens. Explore the authors’ insights into the advantages and challenges of open access in the context of health research.
Nobel laureates endorse petition for NIH policy reversal via New York Genome Center | 1-minute read
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have recently enacted a change in policy called the indirect cost cap that impacts researchers and organizations (i.e. universities, medical schools and research institutes) who receive NIH-awarded federal research grants. These organizations are now highly restricted on how much funding they can use for ‘facilities’ and ‘administration’. In response, the New York Genome Center are actively petitioning for the reversal of this policy. This article details support for the petition thus far (over 9000 signatures) and lists the 55 Nobel Laureate supporters across chemistry, physics, medicine and economics.
To listen to:
Reshaping research presentation via ISMPP | 13-minute listen
In Plain Cite is the podcast from the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) exploring the evolving landscape of medical publication and communication. In this episode, Rob Matheis (President and Chief Executive Officer at ISMPP) chats with Doreen Valentine (Medical communications expert, most recently affiliated with Bristol Myers Squibb) to discuss poster innovations that are reshaping the way research is presented. They summarize what is changing (including accessibility and interactivity), why it matters, and the importance of balancing progress with scientific integrity.
To engage with:
Live, community-driven peer review via JMIR Publications
Join JMIR Publications and PREreview for a webinar discussion on 19 March 2025 about a new, community-driven approach to peer review called Live Reviews. Speakers will explore whether by bringing authors, reviewers and facilitators together in real time, Live Reviews could improve the transparency, rigour and inclusivity of the peer review process.
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