We are keen that all our members are able to access publications arising from the research they fund. We have been working with the existing UK PubMed Central (UKPMC) funders to come up with a method whereby AMRC members, regardless of their size, can become funders of UKPMC via uplift to their AMRC subscription. We hope this makes it easier for you to share this key resource. We first offered this option in winter 2010 and 8 AMRC members became UKPMC funders. The next deadline for new funders to join is October 2012.
The scheme offers funders:
- An online database, function-rich repository, where the research you have funded will be made freely available to all
- A grant reporting function which allows researchers to report on their research outputs
- Opportunity for AMRC members to help to shape the ongoing development of this repository
- Cost effective funding model, where costs are based on a funder’s research spend
- Ongoing AMRC management to lessen the administrative burden to members.
What is UK PubMed Central?
UK PubMed Central (UKPMC) is a web resource that offers ‘free-to-access’ content to almost 2 million peer reviewed journal articles, which in the past were available only to academic researchers.
Open access enhances research communication by making the results of publicly funded research available to all. This means more researchers can build on it and there is less duplication of effort. As a result, publicly funded research has more impact and society as a whole benefits.
UKPMC is supported by a consortium of funders, including Action on Hearing Loss, Arthritis Research UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Dunhill Medical Trust, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Motor Neurone Disease Association, MS Society, Myrovilytis Trust, Parkinson’s UK and the Wellcome Trust.
How can other funders get involved?
In June 2011, UKPMC entered its fourth phase of funding, and 8 AMRC members signed up to fund the service alongside Arthritis Research UK, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK & the Wellcome Trust. There is now a further opportunity for more funders to join UKPMC in October 2012.
Each funder pays a contribution based on their research spend. All funders must have an open access mandate (specifying a maximum embargo of 6 months) in their grant terms and conditions, and must agree to fund until March 2016.
What you need to do to get started
- Contact Liz at AMRC to say your organisation is interested in becoming a UKPMC funder commencing in 1 October 2012. You will need to provide information on your annual UK research spend, or we can use the information you have already provided to AMRC.
- Include an ‘open access mandate’ in your terms and conditions of award – all UKPMC funders specify that publications arising from research they fund must be available in UKPMC six months after they are published.
- Decide how you will manage the need to pay for open access – by making this an allowable cost of your grant, or allowing researchers to apply for it separately, or making a ‘pot’ of money available to a university/department for them to use.
- Talk to your trustees – this is a four year commitment.
- Give AMRC a firm commitment by 1 July 2012.
What AMRC will do
- During April – June 2012, AMRC will pass on the names and contact details onto Wellcome Trust, who are acting as lead partner for this work.
- By 1 August 2012, Welcome Trust will provide indicative (and reasonably accurate) costs of what it would cost AMRC member to join UKPMC, and how these costs would be apportioned across each of the participating AMRC members.
- October 2012 new members join UKPMC and pass on grant information. Depending on the number/size of new funders, the costing for existing funders may be revised.
- April 2013, additional members will be invoiced by AMRC
If you would like to know more about this scheme please contact Dr Liz Philpots at AMRC.
26 April 2012