The translational sciences: a rare open access opportunity

"The NIH, through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), launched its Clinical and Translational Sciences Award (CTSA) program in 2005....Yet, astonishingly, no open access publication promotion seems to be included in the charge to any of the CTSA program's multiple committees, meetings, or organizational structures....Fortunately, health sciences librarians are experts on knowledge management and are well positioned to be the recognized leaders of an effort to advocate for open access and to be catalysts for change in publication patterns within CTSA....The CTSA program already has established an infrastructure of “Key Function Committees” (KFCs), charged with addressing many issues related to research such as community engagement, education and career development, evaluation, and informatics. A combined effort to convince the leaders of the CTSA program that a new KFC focusing on research dissemination and open access publication is needed might be one fruitful approach...."