Introduction

The Journals Library has recently implemented a new approach to publishing full accounts of NIHR-funded research. In place of a single final report, in the new model, as per an agreed Publication Plan, authors write up each component of their study individually in research articles, complemented by an overall synopsis. This synopsis draws together all the relevant summarised data and evidence to reflect on its conclusions against the overarching research objectives and puts them into context.

Through this model, individual components of a study can be more rapidly available and discoverable before the end of an award.The benefits of the previous single report model and a commitment to complete and transparent reporting are maintained through the synopses and consideration of the whole package of publications during the editorial review process.

Find out more about the concept of the threaded publication model and read the latest updates on implementation  on the NIHR Journals Library website. 

Each output from an award will be published at different times as they are ready with an advanced online publication citation. The citation will remain with the articles until they are published in an issue at which point they will be given the journal and volume (issue) citation.

Articles may either be submitted to and published within the NIHR Journals Library or published externally in a peer-reviewed, open access journal. Articles published in external journals will be incorporated in the thread through individual web pages on the Journals Library website that link out to the external articles. These will also be included in the final issue of the journal alongside all of your published articles and synopsis. The final issue will be compiled and paginated when all articles and the synopsis have been published online.

Please note:  if a research article within the Threaded Publication Model is in the public domain but has not yet been peer-reviewed by the time the synopsis is ready for sign-off; the Journals Library will treat it as a related output and it will be linked to in the synopsis. Only peer reviewed articles in the Threaded Publication model will feature in the final issue.

Information about delivery expectation

The Publications team will contact you approximately one year before your award is due to end to talk about your study and your strategy for publication. We will agree a publication plan that will set out how you will report the funded work in the threaded publication model, and we will agree the delivery schedule for each of the articles and the synopsis. The publication plan should be agreed no later than nine months before the end of your award.

We expect all core articles agreed as part of the publication plan to be submitted to their target journals as early as appropriate within the life of the award, and no later than 14 days after the end of the award.

The synopsis must be submitted once all core articles have been submitted. The synopsis is expected to be submitted 2 weeks after a projects contract end date.

The synopsis should be accompanied by the submitted or accepted versions of any core articles targeted at external journals that have not been published at that point. These submissions are not for consideration or review by the NIHR Journals Library but are solely to assist the Editors in assessing the synopsis and assuring full transparent reporting of your award.