Public Access to Scientific Research Findings and Principles of Biomedical Research—A New Policy for the JAMA Network

Timely access to scientific research findings for the broadest possible audience is a principle on which sound science is based. Access to new findings helps other scientists adjust their hypotheses and open new lines of inquiry, thereby supporting and accelerating further discovery and innovation. For those who rely on newly generated evidence to develop policies and define practices that improve medicine and public health, rapid and equitable access is critical. The principle of broad access is a cornerstone of transparency, reinforces rigor and reproducibility, and ultimately, is critical to all stakeholders’ trust in science. The biomedical ecosystem is complex—including scientists, research institutions, authors, journals, libraries, educators, general readers, clinicians, patients, regulators, policy makers, and funders. And while we likely agree on the importance of the ultimate outcome of public accessibility, in the debates about open access, data sharing, funder mandates, and the business models for publishing, it is easy to become untethered from these foundational principles.