B – A bioresource research impact factor

Cambon-Thomsen A, Thorisson GA, Mabile L. for the BRIF workshop group. The role of a bioresource research impact factor as an incentive to share human bioresources. Nature Genetics 2011;43(6):503-504
(doi: 10.1038/ng.831)

Bioresources need to be easily accessible to facilitate advancement of research. A Bioresource Research Impact Factor (BRIF) could promote the sharing of bioresources by creating a link between their initiators or implementers and the impact of the scientific research using them. A BRIF would make it possible to trace the quantitative use of a bioresource, the kind of research using it and the efforts behind establishing and maintaining it . Specific requirements for citing bioresources are lacking in the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (URM) and should be then added. A BRIF working group has been recently set up.