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Resource Highlights: World Bank’s Open Knowledge Repository

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Information on international health disparities and poverty can sometimes be difficult to come by. There are resources out there that index scholarly research and other white papers for accessibility across nations (Ask-A-Librarian for more information on these resources), but they are not as commonly known as tools like PubMed or Web of Knowledge. One of these ‘hidden’ resources is The World Bank most notably, their Open Knowledge Repository.

The World Bank connects networks and institutions worldwide to fight poverty and to help find (and fund) solutions to development challenges.  The World Bank’s recent adoption of an open access policy is part of an effort to democratize their development work by creating openness and accountability, called “open development”.  Increasing the transparency of this large international organization will allow people to build on the work of others is intended to further the work of development and increase trust in the institution. The Open Knowledge Repository is part of this initiative and makes correspondence, pamphlets, and organizational publications freely available on a searchable platform.  The repository also houses data from research conducted by The World Bank and affiliates. The repository has access to formal publications put out by the organization as well as open access to upcoming projects, analytic advisory activities, and board proceedings.

So the next time you are looking for information related to global health problems, consider checking the the resources available from The World Bank.  Also, if  you would like more detailed information about open access and it’s benefits, please take a look at the MSK Library’s open access information page and corresponding FAQs.

New $9M grant program from the American Society of Hematology

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The American Society of Hematology has announced that members whose R01 grant applications were denied funding as a result of NIH budget cutbacks may now apply for an ASH bridge grant to help them continue their research. Starting in 2013, this new three-year grant program will provide at least 30 one-year awards over two award cycles, in the amount of $100,000 each, to ASH members conducting basic, clinical, or translational hematology research. Visit their site for more information about eligibility and the application process. The first application deadline is January 4, 2013.

Blog Buzz: August 11 – August 17

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Reproducing studies, gene patents, Wiley’s OA program, and more a-buzzing this week!

To address the problem of published studies that cannot be reproduced, how about a new system to match scientists with labs for replicating research and have open access collections publish the validating results and store the data? That is the gist of  the Reproducibility Initiative, Science Exchange’s partnership with PLOS and Figshare. The program is discussed in an interesting piece in The Daily Scan, which links out to other items covering the announcement.

Wiley announced immediate changes to the licenses on their Open Access journals, which will now allow commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Here is coverage from the UK’s The Bookseller and a press release from Wiley.

Many tweeters and bloggers have been commenting on research findings showing that Triclosan, an antibiotic used in household and personal care products, causes muscle impairment in mice and fish. Here is a story from Science 2.0.

Gene patents for BRCA1 and BRCA2 were upheld by a DC court in the Myriad case. Coverage from Forbes and Nature News Blog.

From the Wall Street Journal, an entertaining story about science, language, and science bloggers –  Here’s an Omical Tale: Scientists Discover Spreading Suffix.