BioMed Central welcomes PLoS Biology

The first journal published by Public Library of Science, PLoS Biology, has just published its first issue, with outstanding research articles and an absolute commitment to full open access. After three years on our own, we at BioMed Central welcome a new open access publisher and pay tribute to the tremendous achievement by a remarkable team of committed visionary scientists and great editorial and production teams assembled under the umbrella of Public Library of Science.

Now scientists have a choice of two journals - PLoS Biology and BioMed Central's Journal of Biology - that are committed to open access publishing of first-class research, providing a significant and practical alternative to publishing in Nature, Science or Cell, journals that continue to restrict access to the papers they publish to those who have paid subscriptions. We hope more publishers and journals will see that the model BioMed Central and Public Library of Science operate is practical and sustainable, and offers real benefits to authors and readers alike.

We are at the beginning of an unstoppable change in the way scientific research findings are recorded, distributed and used, which will bring great benefits to the way science is practiced and to the relationship between researchers and other communities in society - patients, students, practitioners and members of the public. There is still much to do, but the remarkable entry of Public Library of Science into the world of publishing will provide a great boost to the Open Access publishing movement. It is very good news for science and for scientists everywhere.

Vitek Tracz
Chairman
Current Science Group and BioMed Central