JAMA Network and Heard Libraries establish read-and-publish pilot agreement, broadening access to health sciences research

Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have announced a read-and-publish pilot agreement with the JAMA Network, a collection of peer-reviewed medical journals published by the American Medical Association. This open access agreement, the first of its kind for the JAMA Network in North America, enables Vanderbilt-affiliated authors to maximize the discoverability, readership and citations of their research without incurring article processing charges (APCs) in most JAMA Network publications. Articles submitted by Vanderbilt authors from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, are eligible.

The JAMA Network comprises more than a dozen specialty medical journals that feature research, reviews and opinions on a wide range of topics, including clinical care, health policy and health care innovations. JAMA (ISSN: 1538-3598), the network’s flagship publication, is not included in the Vanderbilt read-and-publish agreement, as the original research articles published in JAMA become publicly available after six months. To address any grant requirements for immediate open access to articles in JAMA, please refer to the related JAMA Network policy.

“By making Vanderbilt’s world-class research more accessible through the JAMA Network’s best-in-field publications, this read-and-publish agreement will help drive breakthroughs in the complex, global challenges facing health care and the biomedical sciences,” University Librarian Jon Shaw said. “Health care professionals, educators and policymakers can use this knowledge to inform decisions, improve practices and spur innovation in their fields. The Heard Libraries are proud to partner with the JAMA Network on this vital open access initiative.”

Under the agreement, Vanderbilt-affiliated authors may publish their original research articles APC-free in JAMA Network journals through a Creative Commons license. Twelve of the network’s journals—including JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Neurology and JAMA Oncology—are ranked in the top quartile of their respective subject areas per Scopus CiteScore, and ten are ranked in the top 10 percent of journals in their respective fields.

“We are proud to announce this initial read-and-publish agreement with the Heard Libraries and Vanderbilt University,” JAMA Network’s Group Vice President and Publisher Brian Shields said. “It is important to us that researchers are able to read and publish in our journals while continuing to meet the obligations of their funders. The JAMA Network is committed to disseminating research of the highest quality to a global audience, and this agreement is an important step toward that goal.”

Vanderbilt authors can learn more about the Heard Libraries’ agreements supporting open access publishing in this research guide. Questions about open access publishing should be directed to Vanderbilt’s subject librarians.