Open Access Statement
Insights in Biology and Medicine is a fully open access journal committed to the principles of immediate, free, and unrestricted access to scientific research. We believe that removing barriers to knowledge accelerates scientific discovery, enhances global health outcomes, and promotes equitable participation in the scientific discourse.
Our Open Access Commitment
Immediate and Barrier-Free Access
All articles published in Insights in Biology and Medicine are immediately available upon publication without any access restrictions. There are no:
- Subscription fees or paywalls
- Registration requirements for readers
- Embargo periods
- Geographic restrictions
This ensures that researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public worldwide can access the latest research findings without financial or technical barriers.
Author-Centric Publishing Model
Our open access model prioritizes author rights and research impact:
- Authors retain copyright of their work
- No restrictions on text and data mining
- Freedom to share and adapt content with proper attribution
- Compliance with major funder open access policies
Benefits of Open Access Publishing
Increased Research Impact
Open access articles typically receive more citations and wider recognition:
By removing access barriers, your research reaches a broader audience including researchers in developing countries, clinical practitioners, policy makers, and the general public.
Accelerated Scientific Progress
Immediate access to research findings enables:
- Faster validation and replication of results
- Rapid building upon previous work
- Reduced duplication of research efforts
- Accelerated translation from bench to bedside
Enhanced Global Equity
Our open access model promotes research equity by:
- Providing equal access regardless of institutional affiliations
- Supporting researchers in low and middle-income countries
- Enabling global collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Reducing the digital divide in scientific information
Creative Commons Licensing
CC BY 4.0 License
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows anyone to:
| Permission | Description | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Share | Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format | Proper attribution |
| Adapt | Remix, transform, and build upon the material | Proper attribution and indication of changes |
| Commercial Use | Use the material for commercial purposes | Proper attribution |
The CC BY license is the most accommodating of licenses offered and recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials.
Attribution Requirements
When using content from our journal, proper attribution must include:
- Author(s) name(s)
- Article title
- Journal name (Insights in Biology and Medicine)
- Volume, issue, and page numbers (if applicable)
- DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
- Link to the CC BY license
- Indication of any changes made (if applicable)
Article Processing Charges (APCs)
Transparent Funding Model
To support sustainable open access publishing, the journal charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) of $2,800 for accepted manuscripts. This APC covers:
No charges are applied until a manuscript is formally accepted for publication. The APC ensures that readers never pay to access content while maintaining high-quality publishing services.
Waiver and Discount Policy
We are committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent publication:
| Waiver Type | Eligibility | Coverage | Application Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Waiver | Corresponding authors from low-income countries | 100% APC waiver | Automatic upon verification |
| Partial Waiver | Authors from lower-middle-income countries | 50% APC reduction | Automatic or request-based |
| Discretionary Waiver | Cases of genuine financial hardship | Case-by-case assessment | Formal request with justification |
| Institutional Membership | Member institutions | 20% APC discount | Automatic for affiliated authors |
Funder Compliance
Alignment with Major Funder Policies
Our open access model complies with requirements from major research funders worldwide:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Immediate deposit in PubMed Central
- Wellcome Trust: CC BY license and immediate access
- European Research Council (ERC): Open access within publication
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: CC BY license and open data
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): Immediate open access
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Public access requirements
Authors should verify specific requirements with their funding agencies, but our standard publishing model meets most major funder mandates.
Open Access Journey and Milestones
Journal Foundation with Hybrid Model
Launched with limited open access options while establishing editorial standards and building reputation in the research community.
Transition to Full Open Access
Committed to full open access publishing with CC BY licensing, recognizing the importance of barrier-free knowledge sharing in biomedical research.
DOAJ Certification
Achieved inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals, meeting stringent criteria for open access quality and transparency.
Enhanced Waiver Program
Expanded waiver and discount programs to better support researchers from developing countries and those experiencing financial hardship.
Open Data Integration
Implemented comprehensive open data policies and integrated with major data repositories to support research transparency and reproducibility.
Open Science Initiatives
Preprint Policy
We encourage early sharing of research through preprint servers:
- Accept submissions previously posted on preprint servers (bioRxiv, medRxiv, etc.)
- Consider preprints in editorial assessment without prejudice
- Encourage citation of relevant preprints in references
- Support transparent communication of research progress
Preprint deposition does not constitute prior publication and will not affect consideration for publication.
Open Data and Materials
We promote research transparency through open data practices:
- Require data availability statements for all articles
- Encourage deposition in appropriate repositories
- Support sharing of protocols, code, and materials
- Recognize datasets as citable research outputs
Institutional Partnerships
Membership Program
We partner with institutions worldwide to support sustainable open access:
| Partnership Level | Benefits | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Member | 20% APC discount for affiliated researchers, usage statistics, newsletter | $5,000 annually |
| Sustaining Member | 30% APC discount, nomination rights for editorial board, enhanced reporting | $10,000 annually |
| Leadership Member | 50% APC discount, strategic partnership, co-branding opportunities | $25,000 annually |
These partnerships help reduce the financial burden on individual researchers while supporting the journal's mission of open knowledge dissemination.
Quality Assurance in Open Access
Maintaining Editorial Standards
Our commitment to open access does not compromise editorial quality:
| Quality Measure | Implementation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Rigorous Peer Review | Double-blind review by domain experts | Maintained rejection rate of 65-70% |
| Editorial Oversight | International editorial board with term limits | Consistent editorial standards |
| Ethical Standards | COPE membership and adherence to guidelines | Zero retractions due to misconduct (2022-2023) |
| Production Quality | Professional copyediting and typesetting | High author satisfaction scores |
Global Impact and Reach
"Publishing open access in Insights in Biology and Medicine allowed our research on malaria treatment to reach healthcare workers in rural clinics across Africa who would never have access through traditional subscription models. The immediate impact on patient care has been profound."
— Dr. Amina Diallo, Research Director, Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Future Directions
Advancing Open Science
We continue to evolve our open access initiatives:
- 2024: Implement open peer review as an author option
- 2025: Develop enhanced data visualization tools
- 2026: Expand multilingual abstract services
- Ongoing: Strengthen partnerships with Global South institutions
Commitment to Principles
Insights in Biology and Medicine endorses the following declarations and principles:
- Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI)
- Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge
- Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing
- FAIR Principles for scientific data management
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
We believe that open access to research findings is essential for addressing global health challenges and advancing scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
Contact and Support
For questions about our open access policies, APC waivers, or institutional partnerships:
Open Access Coordinator: [email protected]
Editorial Office: [email protected]
Institutional Partnerships: [email protected]