The initiative has opened up over 1.7 million full-text, peer reviewed biomedical research articles and over 19 million other life science research papers and datasets for information professionals’ use.

Currently in an open beta version, the intuitive interface enables researchers to exploit the scientific literature with features which enrich abstracts and full-text articles by linking scientific terms to other sources of information. they can also access and search content not included in traditional journal literature – including clinical guidelines as well as other hard to find material such as PhD theses.

Developed in collaboration with the founders of PubMed Central in the US, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information consultation and in consultation with researchers, the UKPMC aims to become the information resource of choice for the UK biomedical and health research community.

According to the library, the consolidation of published research outputs into globally accessible resources such as UKPMC is not only vital for widening access to knowledge and improving the efficiency of desk research, but it will also vastly improve the ability of funding organisations to assess the impact of their research, and help to better inform scientific strategy and policy making.

Professor Dame Sally C Davies – director general research and development department of health, said: “This technology will make it possible to discover and use hidden ‘gems’ of information buried in the documents within UKPMC. The funders’ commitment to open access, and to making research outputs available, means this advance will increase the knowledge base and allow research to realise even greater health and economic benefits for this country.”

Richard Boulderstone, British Library’s director of e-strategy, said: “Developed by the British Library through open consultation with a wide range of researchers, the new data mining tools will allow users to really interrogate t he collection; informing research, reducing duplication of work, and inspiring new scientific discovery.”

The open beta version can be found at: http://beta.ukpmc.ac.uk/