Introducing openRxiv: a new independent home for preprint sharing in the life sciences

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences. openRxiv ensures that researchers worldwide can continue to share discoveries rapidly and openly. With a researcher-led governance model, openRxiv strengthens the foundation of preprint sharing, empowering scientists to communicate findings at the speed of discovery.

What Are Preprints, and Why Do They Matter?

Preprints are early versions of scientific papers that researchers post online before formal peer review. This allows other scientists to read, evaluate, and build upon new findings right away—dramatically accelerating discovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of preprints for real-time data sharing, helping scientists share discoveries, develop treatments, and inform public health decisions faster than ever before.

Preprints also foster collaboration beyond academia, enabling industry professionals, policymakers, and the public to stay informed and contribute to ongoing discussions.

“Preprints have proven indispensable for accelerating discovery, particularly in urgent scientific and public health contexts,” said Dr. Richard Sever, Co-Founder, bioRxiv & medRxiv. “By establishing openRxiv as an independent nonprofit, we are securing the future of bioRxiv and medRxiv as trusted, researcher-led platforms that will continue to serve the global scientific community.”

From research initiative to independent nonprofit

bioRxiv (focused on life sciences) and medRxiv (focused on health and clinical research) began as projects supported by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in collaboration with partner institutions. Their overwhelming success made one thing clear: preprints needed a stable, independent, and researcher-driven home to continue thriving.

openRxiv was created to provide an independent, nonprofit framework dedicated exclusively to the sustainability and governance of bioRxiv and medRxiv.

Researchers can continue submitting preprints with the same ease and accessibility but with the added assurance of a long-term, researcher-led model that keeps preprint sharing open, sustainable, and adaptable to scientists’ evolving needs. See more in our FAQs.

“We want openRxiv to be a home for all scientists—whether they’re early-career researchers, established scholars, or from institutions large and small worldwide,” said Dr. John Inglis, Co-Founder at bioRxiv and medRxiv. “By keeping preprint sharing independent, open, and community-led, we can foster even greater collaboration and innovation across the sciences.”

What makes openRxiv different?

• Dedicated, researcher-led governance – openRxiv isn’t tied to a single lab or institution. Instead, a governance board composed of scientists, researchers, and technical experts guides its decisions—ensuring preprint sharing remains transparent, researcher-driven, and free from outside influence.
• Sustainable funding model – While initially supported by philanthropic contributions, including major early funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), openRxiv is designed to welcome diverse funding sources. This means it remains independent from any single funder or organization, preventing commercial or institutional pressures from shaping its mission.
• A researcher-first approach – Because openRxiv focuses solely on preprint sharing, it can continually refine processes to better serve scientists. Whether you’re studying gene regulation, epidemiology, or emerging diseases, the goal is the same: to ensure researchers can share their work quickly, openly, and efficiently.

How you can get involved

• Post your work – If you’re working on a manuscript in life sciences (bioRxiv) or clinical research (medRxiv), consider submitting it as a preprint to share your discoveries with the global scientific community.
• Give feedback – Thoughtful comments help fellow researchers improve their studies, refine interpretations, and strengthen scientific discussions.
• Spread the word – By raising awareness about preprints and openRxiv, you help more scientists embrace faster, more transparent knowledge sharing.

Join the movement for open science

Science thrives when knowledge is shared. Whether you’re a researcher looking to post your latest work, a scientist eager to provide feedback or an advocate for open access, you have a role to play in making research more transparent, collaborative, and impactful.

With openRxiv, bioRxiv and medRxiv now have a permanent home dedicated to ensuring unrestricted, rapid access to new scientific discoveries.

Learn more about these preprint servers or submit your preprint at bioRxiv or medRxiv. 

By supporting openRxiv, you’re not just accelerating discovery, you’re participating in communication at the speed of science.