BioMed Central | Open Access and the developing world

The free exchange of scientific and medical information can play an important role in international development.

BioMed Central provides free, immediate online access to the full text of all research articles published within its portfolio of 255 peer-reviewed journals, and through its open access waiver fund, enables scientific authors in low-income countries to overcome the financial barriers to publishing in open access journals.

Open access provides a way for researchers from low-income countries to participate more fully in the international research community, and so BioMed Central has created a set of initiatives designed to increase the visibility and output of scientific research from these countries.

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Research highlights

Using spatial equity analysis in the process evaluation of environmental interventions to tackle obesity

Using the Healthy Towns programme in England, the potential of spatial equity analysis in the evaluation of environmental interventions for diet and physical activity examined whether the programme was delivered to those in greatest need.

International Journal for Equity in Health 2013, 12:43
HIV therapy: start early

Ricardo Franco and Michael Saag discuss the benefits of starting HIV therapy early, arguing that treatment should be given as soon as possible to reduce viral replication, prevent transmission and avoid the problems associated with inflammation.

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:147
HIV therapy: start later

Jens Lundgren and colleagues argue for a more cautious approach to starting antiretroviral therapy, highlighting that there is no evidence from randomized trials to suggest the benefits of starting therapy early outweigh the potential harms.

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:148

17 June 2013: Home gardens for food security

10 June 2013: Improving access and relevance of research in the developing world

31 May 2013: The extent of arsenic pollution in contaminated groundwater

28 May 2013: Women Deliver: Invest in girls and women – it pays

10 May 2013: Mosquito survey identifies reservoir of disease

Advocacy

BioMed Central has a range of advocacy material to help you spread the word about open access at your institution. Visit our advocacy pages to download a range of material including posters, leaflets and presentations.

Latest news

18 June 2013: Common aid standards and certification stir debate

18 June 2013: Mobile phone data are a treasure-trove for development

17 June 2013: Carbon projects for smallholder farmers can 'reduce poverty'

17 June 2013: Arabian Sea at high risk of quakes and tsunamis

14 June 2013: Developing world bucks decline in green energy funding

Open Access initiatives

Open Access Africa 2012, hosted by BioMed Central and held at the University of Cape Town, brought together researchers, librarians, university administrators, funders and other decision-makers to discuss the benefits of open access to research in an African context, from the perspective of both researchers seeking to globally communicate their work, as well as readers seeking to access information.

Presentation slides and video of the sessions from Open Access Africa are available here.