What a year!
One year ago, we launched IC.tips with a mandate to open doors, expand minds and make a difference. We are driven by our firm belief that we should not have to wait years for promising technology, ideas and processes to be implemented and accepted, and that you should not have to pay to publish your work; only to have critical information locked up behind subscriptions. We wanted a model of information sharing that would make the process of vetting new technologies, implementing successful programs and inspiring innovation, that is more efficient, more accessible, more global and more collaborative.
In the past year, we have focused on establishing the scientific evidence to rapidly aid in the validation of ideas and innovations. We invited participation through writing, reviewing, and engaging with our authors, and have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response we have garnered so far.
In one, short year, IC.tips has grown from its humble beginnings to a concerted effort among a network of 200,000 individuals in over 30 countries, all tackling the problem of infectious disease. Innovators and experts in patient care, hospital design, microbiology, cleaning, diagnostics, food safety, and public health have published over 185 articles.
In one short year, we have presented articles and peer-reviewed papers covering myriad infection control-related topics, including: antibiotic resistance, electrostatic systems, UV technology, MRSA, bedsores, vaccinations, blood stream infections, Zika virus, in-vitro diagnostic technologies, surgical site infections, hand hygiene, cubical curtains, laboratory science, Middle-East respiratory virus, food safety, personal protective equipment, malaria, chicken pox, endoscopes, antimicrobial stewardship, dengue fever, Lassa fever, Chagas disease, superbugs, mould infections, public health, scarlet fever, sepsis, super oxidized water, antimicrobial films and many more.
In one short year, we have engaged people around the world. Our teams in Nigeria published a study that became part of a panel discussion with the National Institute of Malaria Research on Insecticide Resistance. Dr. Rohde’s editorial discussing the importance of Medical Laboratory Professionals has received almost 10,000 Facebook Likes. Niall Wallace gets the honour of the most viewed paper (37,640+) with his analysis on how Insurance Companies Pay the Price for HAIs and our team from Brazil gave us a perspective on the local response to Zika.
we have launched several world firsts
In one short year, we have launched several world firsts, including: Open Peer Review, Sudden Science, the Incubator and, of course, our raison d’être: Pan-Access Publishing, making science free to publish and free to access, with accessible scientific services.
These innovations are helping us to reach our goal of making science more collaborative and interactive, faster to publish and universally accessible. As an example, we were the first to publish a peer reviewed paper showing that the number of contaminated surfaces decreased by approximately 65% overall with automatic UV room disinfection. The findings of our authors were published months before a similar article was published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), and at absolutely no expense to the authors. Our focus on rapid turn-around saves companies, institutions and inventors money, gets technology out in the market faster and will, ultimately, save lives.
In one short year, we have introduced our concept through massive social media outreach on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, in addition to participating in conferences worldwide. Active engagement with our contributors has borne multiple research articles, many of which are collaborations from diverse groups. We were pleased to have attended conferences across Canada, USA and the UK, including APIC, IPAC, ISSA and the notable National Conference in Manchester, UK that was held in association with IC.tips by Knowlex. We were honoured to have been asked to film a video segment for ISSA TV in Chicago for their Interclean 2016 Conference.
In one short year, we have engaged with many individuals, inventors, advocates, organizations and companies hoping to make a difference in controlling and preventing infectious disease. In September 2016, at our Manchester conference, we announced our Top Innovations of the Year, showcasing new advancements by EVE Medical, Surfacide, E-mist Innovations, Itus Healthcare, Process Cleaning Solutions, Spyder Digital and Infonauts. One of our contributors, Dr. Ian Mackay (through his blog), is one of the greatest ambassadors of democratic science, and also earned a spot on our list.
In one short year, we have put together a phenomenal Advisory Board, with members representing 6 nations on 4 continents. Each of these members brings a wealth of knowledge and incredible passion for their own work and the community we’re building here. We are honoured to be working with them.
Looking Forward
Although we are thrilled with our success so far, we’re not even close to being finished. In the upcoming year, we will engage with even more people, publish even more articles and help advance even more ideas, innovations and processes through our Sudden Science program.
amazing partnerships
We have also established and are working toward some amazing partnerships. Pan-Access Science enables everyone to perform and publish high quality scientific experiments. Partnerships, such as the newly-created Center for Excellence in Infection Prevention and Control (USA) with Niall Wallace from Infonauts, and our new alliance with Professor Syed Sattar and team with their soon-to-open CREM Co Labs (Canada), will give access to our various research teams to perform experiments and to evaluate these innovations. By working in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved laboratories, high quality research and results are at our fingertips.
In our first year, we have established innovation partnerships with Infonauts, University of Buffalo, CREM Co labs, Knowlex, and Al-Moosa Specialist Hospital (Saudi Arabia). We will soon be announcing innovation partners in Nigeria, South Africa, New York, Texas, California, Quebec, Ontario, United Kingdom and Mexico.
If we cover it, it matters.
IC.tips is different and important because we improve upon and extend Open Access by providing FREE rapid peer review and publishing services, as well as accessible scientific services. We are engagers and implementers. Our goal is to introduce innovative products and processes that show promise in the fight against infectious disease and to ensure that those innovations are properly vetted. We do not exist to highlight or publish failed or flawed organizations, systems or innovations. As our body of work is starting to illustrate, working with us is the most effective method for market entry. If we cover it, it matters.
working with us is the most effective method for market entry
To those of you who have supported us through writing, reviewing, reading, commenting, donating or sponsoring, we thank you. You have truly made this an exciting and productive year.
Join. Contribute. Make A Difference.
Last Updated: January 31, 2017
