This week, we highlight a new study from STM designed to understand how publishers safeguard publishing integrity and signpost the call for submissions to the 2026 Researcher to Reader Conference. We read preliminary results from the OASPA Next 50% project and learn how distributed peer review could substantially reduce review times. Finally, we review new guidance on best practices for guest-edited collections from COPE and STM, and we explore the finalized OSMI open science monitoring principles.
To engage with:
Tell STM how your organization safeguards research integrity via STM
“Strengthening research integrity has become an urgent, system-wide priority” according to the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM). To address this need, STM has commissioned a new study to understand how publishers are protecting communications from threats to research integrity. The findings will be compiled into case studies designed to support researchers, funders, institutions and policymakers to maintain research integrity. STM invites anyone who has “developed integrity initiatives” or with “insights about publisher practices” to complete this short form.
Submit your proposals to Researcher to Reader 2026 via R2R
It’s time to submit your proposals to the 2026 Researcher to Reader Conference (R2R)! Taking place in London, UK on 24–25 February 2026, the conference will provide a diverse forum for discussions about intersections in within the scholarly communications ecosystem. Submit your plenary, workshop and lightning talk proposals before 31 July to ensure that you have time to incorporate preliminary feedback from the review committee before the final submission deadline on 31 August.
To read:
OASPA redefines equity in open access via OASPA | 8-minute read
In April this year, the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) launched Next 50% – a project designed to bring together stakeholders across the scholarly communications landscape to inform the progression of open access publishing. In June 2025, interested parties – including Oxford PharmaGenesis’ own Chris Winchester (CEO of Oxford PharmaGenesis and Co-founder of Open Pharma) – participated in workshops to discuss the future of equitable open access. In this post, Malavika Legge (Open Access Program Manager at OASPA) reflects on the insights gained to date and explains the rationale behind a revised ‘3D’ representation of equity in open access.
Distributed peer review halves grant review times via Nature | 4-minute read
Distributed peer review has cut grant review times by more than half, according to results of a UK trial presented at the Metascience 2025 Conference last week. The trial – coordinated by the UK Metascience Unit – required applicants of the AI Metascience Fellowship Programme to review each other’s proposals, eliminating the need for external reviewers and cutting average review times to 2.2 months (a 53–65% reduction). The approach is now being considered for broader use by UK Research and Innovation and other funders.
COPE and STM release joint guidance on guest collections via COPE | 2-minute read
Guest-edited collections, such as special issues or themed volumes, play a valuable role in scholarly communication but are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation and misconduct. In response, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM) have jointly released two new resources. The formal COPE guidance and STM “how-to” guide (with limited access to prevent misuse) aim to help publishers prevent fraud, ensure transparency and maintain trust in special issues.
OSMI finalized open science monitoring principles via OSMI | 10-minute read
To support the global adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, the Open Science Monitoring Initiative (OSMI) has published the final version of its Principles of Open Science Monitoring. Developed through a collaborative process involving over 150 experts from 41 countries, these principles aim to provide a transparent, representative and adaptable framework for monitoring open science practices. The principles are structured under the pillars of relevance and significance, transparency and reproducibility, and self-assessment and responsible use to help global stakeholders develop and implement monitoring approaches that are suited to their unique contexts.
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