Wellcome Trust response to report on scientific publishing

20 July 2004

Commenting today on the publication of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee report into scientific publishing; Dr Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

"This report reinforces our view that the current system of publishing the results of scientific research is failing both science and the public at large. I welcome the recommendations it makes and the opportunities it provides for scientists, publishers, research funders and the Government to engage in debate about better ways to distribute the results of scientific research.

"The idea of institutional repositories, where research findings can be stored and read online, free of charge, would be a welcome step forward and would be to the benefit of science by making research findings freely and widely available.

"I look forward to seeing the Government response to this report. There is still much progress to be made and we are eager to work with all parties to put in place a system which maximises the benefits of scientific research."

ENDS

Media contact

Mark Anderson

Wellcome Trust Media Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7611 8612

E-mail: mailto:m.anderson@wellcome.ac.uk

Note to editors

The Wellcome Trust is an independent research-funding charity established in 1936 under the will of tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust's mission is to promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. It currently spends more than £400 million per annum.