New interactive resource for laboratory protocols brings peer-reviewed content together with a community forum to create a unique central resource
Nature Protocols beta site has launched and rapid development is scheduled for the coming weeks.
New content and functionality will be added to the site as it becomes available and the full site launch in June 2006 will bring a significant new source of high quality, peer-reviewed protocols, coupled with the tools for the scientific community to post their own protocols and comment on or rank those posted by others.
Nature Protocols offers a preview of navigation and functionality, and is currently accepting submissions of protocols across all scientific disciplines related to papers published in the Nature family of research journals.
Over the coming months additional functionality will be added, so that on launch Nature Protocols will offer both free content, and a significant quantity of high quality peer-reviewed content, available to institutional subscribers.
Protocols will include content commissioned from the leading researchers currently developing new techniques, which will be peer-reviewed and editorially enhanced by the Nature Protocols team.
"Protocols are evolving constantly as researchers modify and improve existing methods," says Katharine Barnes, editor of Nature Protocols.
"Nature Protocols will be both a source of high quality protocols scientists can trust and a forum for scientists to exchange information on the use of protocols".
"The result will connect researchers across scientific communities to the best emerging protocols and further stimulate the development of the best possible methodology to further research." Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a division of Macmillan Publishers , dedicated to serving the academic, professional scientific and medical communities.
NPG's flagship title, Nature, is the world's most highly-cited weekly multidisciplinary journal and was first published in 1869.
Other publications and services include Nature research journals, Nature Reviews, Nature Clinical Practice, a range of prestigious academic journals, including society-owned publications, news content and scientific career information.
