How do I access and use Protocols.io?
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What is Protocols.io?
Protocols.io is an open research management tool designed to support research projects, enable collaboration and facilitate open research. The platform provides a space for sharing detailed protocols and research methods, as well as collaboration between researchers.
Users can create, publish, and read public protocols. Through our institutional membership arranged by The Office for Open Research, University of Manchester staff and students can also create private areas for method development, collaboration and tracking protocol execution records.
Published protocols are Open Access and receive a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) making them citable just like traditional publications. Many journals and research institutions encourage or require authors to submit their methods to Protocols.io as part of the publication process.
Why use Protocols.io?
Creating and openly sharing a research protocol, enhances the transparency and reproducibility of research, and is thus a strong example of open research practice. Find out more: Open Research principles and practices
The Office for Open Research has established institutional membership with Protocols.io to enable researchers to easily create and share protocols to enhance the openness and potential reach of research projects, and to support fulfilment of the University's strategic goal to cultivate an open and reproducible research culture.
Benefits of Protocols.io
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Dynamic and interactive protocols: Run methods step by step online, record changes and capture outputs.
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Sharing flexibility: Publish publicly or share with groups; discuss, improve and modify.
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Versatile knowledge: The platform accommodates protocols across research disciplines, not limited to wet-lab research. It's adaptable and versatile for various research methods.
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Computational support: capture computational analyses details; complement platforms such as GitHub or Jupyter Notebooks.
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Enhanced reproducibility: openly sharing optimised protocols and methodologies is crucial for research reproducibility. Minor improvements can significantly enhance method efficiency, saving time and resources. Researchers are encouraged to share corrections and improvements, impacting their recognition and credibility.
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Importing existing protocols: University of Manchester users can send their existing protocols in PDF format to Protocols.io for importing and formatting.
How do I access Protocols.io?
To sign-up for Protocols.io, visit the protocols.io website and log in using your University email address via the Single Sign On (SSO) box.
The help centre provides resources, guides, and answers to frequently asked questions to help researchers, educators, and institutions make the most out of protocols.io.
As part of The University of Manchester's institutional membership, staff and students can access premium support from Protocols.io:
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Contact the Protocols.io help team directly by email
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Watch short tutorials and longer webinars to learn more about the platform's functionality
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Access Protocols.io's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Still have questions? Request a one-to-one demonstration
Protocols.io has also established an Ambassador Program as a forum for researchers who are passionate about experimental reproducibility, research integrity and accountability, and who see room for improvement in these areas of research practice.
If you have any further questions or encounter technical issues, please contactThe Office for Open Research.