The Medical Research Council (MRC) requires that the results of the research it funds are published, ideally in peer-reviewed journals; also that all such articles, whether published in an open access or subscription-based journal, must be archived in Europe PubMed Central (Europe PMC) and made freely available as soon as possible, and in any event within six months of the first online publication.
MRC is now also actively encouraging researchers to share their pre-peer reviewed manuscripts via established preprint servers. To this end, we are allowing researchers to cite preprints in their grant and fellowship applications.
A preprint is a complete scientific manuscript – often one also being submitted to a peer-reviewed journal – that is uploaded by the authors to a preprint repository or service – for example bioRxiv, PeerJ Preprints, arXiv, SocArXiv or PsyArXiv – without formal review.
MRC recognises that preprints are a valuable way for researchers to publish their results; in particular to:
- establish early claim to research findings
- bring to the attention of others, particularly other researchers, the most recent research findings – before peer review
- publish the outputs of research that may not be suitable for a full research paper
- provide additional or earlier evidence of productivity, while avoiding deliberate ‘salami-slicing’
- enhance openness and speedy dissemination of research findings.
MRC welcomes the inclusion of preprints in publication lists contained within:
- grant and fellowship applications
- applications for posts that require evidence of research productivity
- MRC unit and institute quinquennial review progress reports and future proposals.
Preprints may be cited in applications only if they have a permanent identifier such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or any other persistent identifier.
Reviewers – external and board or panel members – and interviewers should take account of preprints in considering applications and in interviews, noting the content of the papers, not where they, or subsequent peer reviewed papers, are published.
As well as permitting applicants to cite preprints in applications and in CVs, authors are encouraged, where appropriate, to cite preprints in publications.
MRC’s open access policy does not apply to preprints; but it does apply to any subsequent peer-reviewed papers.
UK Research and Innovation is a signatory of the joint statement on sharing research data and findings relevant to the novel coronavirus, which requires that in the context of a public health emergency of international concern, research findings are made available via preprint servers before journal publication, or via platforms that make papers openly accessible before peer review.
COVID-19 preprints are fully indexed in Europe PMC during the pandemic through an initiative supported by a joint award from Wellcome, UK Medical Research Council (MRC), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and endorsed by the Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO). From 1st April 2022, all preprints acknowledge MRC funding will also be indexed and available in full text in Europe PMC.
Last updated: 17 August 2023