The Biochemical Society and Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are delighted to announce an open access agreement that supports the open sharing of research and knowledge from across the molecular biosciences.

The agreement guarantees uncapped, fee-free open access (OA) publishing for corresponding authors for Vanderbilt researchers, alongside full read access to all Biochemical Society journals (published by the Society’s publishing arm, Portland Press). 

In response to the announcement, Professor Nigel Hooper, Chair of Portland Press Board, said:

"We are extremely pleased to launch this agreement, which furthers the open access goals of both the Biochemical Society and Vanderbilt University in support of sustainable and equitable publishing models and open science. Most importantly, it offers all Vanderbilt researchers a fast, efficient and fee-free route to open access publishing. This offers the best means of maximising the dissemination and impact of their work in any one of the Society's high-quality research or review journals. In addition, read access to the full archives of the portfolio further enhance the benefits of this agreement."

Charles R. Sanders, vice dean of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences, Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Chair in Cardiovascular Research, and professor of biochemistry, said: 

"Open access publishing agreements such as this are hugely helpful to our faculty and their research programs. Grant budgets are always very tight, so when faculty can save money by not having to pay publishing fees, they have more funds for doing research and supporting their teams."

Vanderbilt University Librarian Jon Shaw said:

“This collaboration will help ensure that Vanderbilt’s preeminent research in the biosciences is more freely accessible to scholars, practitioners and communities worldwide. We are proud to partner with the Biochemical Society and Portland Press in this vital effort, which broadens the university’s global impact and connects its scholarship with researchers, policymakers and international audiences.”

Working with publishing representative, Accucoms, the parties have signed this agreement coming into effect immediately and benefitting the molecular biosciences field through greater dissemination of their research.

On the agreement, Ellen Endres, KGL Accucoms Regional Sales Manager in North America said: 

"We are thrilled to have facilitated this successful partnership between Vanderbilt University and the Biochemical Society/Portland Press to bring unrestricted, fee-free open access publishing to more researchers and to continue to eliminate barriers to OA publishing."