Preprints: Introduction

A preprint is a scholarly manuscript posted by the authors to a repository or platform before the article is peer reviewed by other scholars. Posting a manuscript to a server like bioRxiv helps to openly share early research findings and ideas without limitations to access. It is essential to note that preprints have not been certified by the peer review process and could contain errors or information that has not been accepted by the scientific community.  

• A preprint is considered an interim research product (IRP). Interim research products are the completed or near-completed outcomes of research that are not yet subjected to peer review and publication. Most commonly, this refers to preprints, but may also refer to unpublished protocols, posters, datasets, and other completed publication work.