EDITORIAL 04 FEBRUARY 2020
Calling all coronavirus researchers: keep sharing, stay open
As the new coronavirus continues its deadly spread, researchers must ensure that their work on this outbreak is shared rapidly and openly.
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In the first days after the outbreak became known, we confirmed that reporting research and data will in no way affect consideration of submissions to Nature. Nature and its publisher Springer Nature have now signed a joint statement with other publishers, funders and scientific societies to ensure the rapid sharing of research data and findings relevant to the coronavirus. In the statement, we commit to working together to help ensure that:
• All peer-reviewed research publications relevant to the outbreak are made immediately open access, or freely available at least for the duration of the outbreak.
• Research findings relevant to the outbreak are shared immediately with the World Health Organization (WHO) upon journal submission, by the journal and with author knowledge.
• Research findings are made available via preprint servers before journal publication, or via platforms that make papers openly accessible before peer review, with clear statements regarding the availability of underlying data.
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For researchers, the message is simple: work hard to understand and combat this infectious disease; make that work of the highest standard; and make results quickly available to the world.
