Open Access Policy
Insights in Biology and Medicine operates as a fully open access journal committed to the principles of immediate, barrier-free access to scientific research. Our open access policy ensures that all published content is freely available to read, download, copy, distribute, and reuse with proper attribution, accelerating scientific discovery and maximizing research impact.
Core Open Access Principles
Immediate and Universal Access
All articles published in Insights in Biology and Medicine are immediately available upon publication without any access restrictions:
There are no subscription fees, registration requirements, or geographic restrictions preventing access to our content. This ensures that researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and the public worldwide can benefit from published research.
Author Rights Retention
Our open access model prioritizes author rights and control:
Author Rights
- Authors retain copyright of their work
- Freedom to share and distribute the published version
- Ability to use work in teaching and future publications
- Right to deposit in institutional and subject repositories
- Permission to translate and adapt with proper attribution
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, which permits:
| Permission | Scope | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Share | Copy and redistribute in any medium or format | Proper attribution |
| Adapt | Remix, transform, and build upon the material | Indicate if changes were made |
| Commercial Use | Use for any commercial purpose | Proper attribution |
| Text and Data Mining | Computational analysis and reuse | Citation in resulting publications |
License Benefits
The CC BY license provides maximum flexibility and impact:
Article Processing Charges (APCs)
Sustainable Funding Model
To support high-quality open access publishing, we charge an Article Processing Charge (APC) of $2,800 for accepted manuscripts. This APC covers:
| Service | Description | Cost Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Peer Review Management | Coordinating expert review and editorial oversight | Full coverage |
| Production Services | Copyediting, typesetting, and quality assurance | Full coverage |
| Online Hosting | Website maintenance and digital preservation | Full coverage |
| Indexing and Discovery | Inclusion in major databases and indexing services | Full coverage |
| Author Services | ORCID integration, metadata distribution | Full coverage |
No charges are applied until a manuscript is formally accepted for publication. The APC ensures that readers never pay to access content while maintaining sustainable publishing operations.
Waiver and Discount Policy
We are committed to ensuring financial constraints do not prevent publication:
| Waiver Type | Eligibility | Coverage | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Waiver | Authors from low-income countries | 100% APC waiver | Automatic upon verification |
| Partial Waiver | Lower-middle-income countries | 50% APC reduction | Automatic or request-based |
| Discretionary Waiver | Genuine financial hardship | Case-by-case assessment | Formal request with justification |
| Institutional Discount | Member institutions | 20-50% discount | Automatic for affiliated authors |
Funder Compliance
Alignment with Major Funder Policies
Our open access model complies with requirements from major research funders worldwide:
| Funder | Open Access Requirement | Our Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Immediate open access in PubMed Central | Full compliance via automatic deposit |
| Wellcome Trust | CC BY license and immediate access | Full compliance |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | CC BY license required | Full compliance |
| European Research Council (ERC) | Open access upon publication | Full compliance |
| UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) | Immediate open access with CC BY | Full compliance |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | Public access requirements | Full compliance |
Repository Deposits and Self-Archiving
Author Self-Archiving Rights
Authors retain the right to deposit their work in various repositories:
| Repository Type | Version Permitted | Timing | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Repository | Published version (PDF) | Immediately upon publication | Proper attribution and DOI link |
| Subject Repository | Published version | Immediately upon publication | Compliance with repository policies |
| Funder Repository | Published version | Immediately upon publication | Funder-specific requirements |
| Personal Website | Published version | Immediately upon publication | Proper attribution |
Open Access Evolution
Journal Launch with Hybrid Model
Began publication with limited open access options while establishing editorial standards and building reputation.
Transition to Full Open Access
Committed to full open access publishing with CC BY licensing, recognizing the importance of barrier-free knowledge sharing.
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 Science Integration
Implemented comprehensive open data policies and integrated with major data repositories to support research transparency.
Open Science Initiatives
Preprint Policy
We encourage early sharing of research through preprint servers:
Preprint Support
- Accept submissions previously posted on preprint servers
- 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. Authors should disclose preprint posting during submission.
Open Data and Materials
We promote research transparency through open data practices:
Data Sharing Requirements
- Data availability statements required for all articles
- Encouragement to deposit data in appropriate repositories
- Support for sharing protocols, code, and materials
- Recognition of datasets as citable research outputs
Institutional Partnerships
Membership Program
We partner with institutions worldwide to support sustainable open access:
| Partnership Level | Benefits | Annual Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Member | 20% APC discount, usage statistics, newsletter | $5,000 |
| Sustaining Member | 30% APC discount, nomination rights, enhanced reporting | $10,000 |
| Leadership Member | 50% APC discount, strategic partnership, co-branding | $25,000 |
These partnerships help reduce the financial burden on individual researchers while supporting the journal's mission of open knowledge dissemination.
Global Impact and Reach
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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between your Open Access Policy and Open Access Statement?
Our Open Access Policy details the specific implementation, licensing, funding model, and operational aspects of our open access program. The Open Access Statement provides the philosophical foundation and commitment to open access principles. Both documents work together to provide comprehensive information about our approach to open access publishing.
Can I use the CC BY license if my funder requires a specific license?
The CC BY 4.0 license is compatible with most major funder requirements. If your funder requires a specific license variant, please contact our editorial office to discuss compatibility. We work with authors to ensure funder compliance while maintaining our commitment to open access principles.
How does open access benefit me as an author?
Open access provides numerous benefits including increased citation rates (typically 50% higher), broader readership across 150+ countries, compliance with funder mandates, greater media and social media attention, and accelerated impact on research and practice.
What if my institution cannot pay the APC?
We offer comprehensive waiver and discount programs for authors experiencing financial constraints. Authors from low-income countries receive automatic full waivers, and we consider discretionary waivers for cases of genuine financial hardship. No worthy research is rejected due to inability to pay.
How do you ensure quality while being open access?
We maintain the same rigorous peer review, editorial standards, and ethical guidelines as subscription-based journals. Our rejection rate of 65-70% ensures only high-quality research is published. The APC model shifts costs from readers to research producers while maintaining all quality control measures.
Future Directions
Advancing Open Science
We continue to evolve our open access initiatives:
| Initiative | Timeline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open Peer Review | 2024 | Optional open peer review with published reviewer reports |
| Enhanced Data Visualization | 2025 | Interactive figures and data exploration tools |
| Multilingual Services | 2026 | Expanded abstract translations and multilingual content |
| Global South Partnerships | Ongoing | Strengthened collaborations with institutions in developing regions |
Commitment to Principles: Insights in Biology and Medicine endorses the Budapest Open Access Initiative, Berlin Declaration, and Bethesda Statement. 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 Information: For questions about our open access policy, APC waivers, or institutional partnerships:
Open Access Coordinator: [email protected]
Editorial Office: [email protected]
Institutional Partnerships: [email protected]