BioRxiv

bioRxiv is a free online archive and distribution service for unpublished preprints in the life sciences. It allows researchers to share complete manuscripts before peer review, enabling rapid dissemination of findings, open discussion, and the establishment of priority for new ideas.

Founded in 2013 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and spearheaded by John Inglis and Richard Sever, bioRxiv has grown to host submissions across biology, medicine, and related fields. Submissions are subject to an initial screening to remove clearly problematic content; the service does not perform peer review, and posted preprints may be revised or updated with new versions.

Each preprint receives a Digital Object Identifier and remains publicly accessible, with features such as version history, author-provided licensing options, and, in some cases, public comments. Users can link a preprint to subsequently published journal articles and track updates as the manuscript undergoes formal peer review elsewhere.

bioRxiv is freely accessible to the global research community and is supported by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory alongside funding and institutional support from diverse partners. The platform interacts with journal publishers and funders as part of the broader open science ecosystem, and many journals permit submission of preprints prior to formal submission.

By accelerating sharing and inviting community feedback, bioRxiv has become a central component of contemporary life sciences communication, complementing traditional journals and enabling researchers to disseminate results more quickly while awaiting peer review.