PURE: Information and guidance

Introducing PURE

PURE is the University’s new research information system, coming from late autumn 2026. Widely used by universities and research institutions around the world, PURE brings together information about research, researchers and research activity in one place. It will provide a central source of research information, helping us manage and make better use of our research data, showcase research activity and support activities including REF 2029.

What will PURE mean for me?

As a researcher or research student, you’ll have a PURE profile covering your research, interests, expertise and wider activity. Much of this information will come from existing University systems, so you won’t be starting from scratch. Instead, you’ll have a strong starting point from which to develop your profile over time. The information brought into PURE will be supplemented by information you add about your research and wider activities. Technicians will also have PURE profiles, as will some Professional Services colleagues who are directly involved in research.

 

PURE will help to:

  • Reduce duplication: bringing research information together, reducing the need to maintain the same information in multiple places
  • Increase Visibility: make research and expertise more discoverable, helping colleagues and external audiences find out more about your work
  • Showcase a broader portfolio: of research activity, including interests, expertise, outputs and other contributions
  • Increase efficiency of existing activities: such as management reporting, promotion and recognition processes, and REF preparation
  • Support opportunities for collaboration: making connections between researchers, research activity and outputs

 

When will PURE be available?

PURE will be rolled out in two phases.
  • October to December. The focus will be on establishing PURE within the University, embedding new ways of working and enhancing profile information.
  • January to March: We will prepare for and launch the PURE Portal, providing a public showcase for research at Reading and making it easier for external audiences to discover our researchers, research, expertise and achievements.

 

What’s changing first?

The first phase of PURE will focus on research output deposit. Once this goes live, researchers will deposit new research outputs through PURE rather than directly into CentAUR. CentAUR isn't going away. It will remain the University’s full-text research repository, with PURE becoming the entry point for new deposits. Existing requirements for research output deposit, including Open Access requirements, will remain unchanged.

 

What do I need to do now?

To prepare for the change, there will be a pause in uploading outputs into CentAUR during October/November, with the exact date to be confirmed. If you have research outputs that need to be deposited, please make sure you’re up to date with your CentAUR deposits and Open Access requirements. We’ll provide further information about the timing of the pause and what you need to do before it happens.

 

What will I need to do once PURE is available?

You don't need to become a PURE expert straight away. Guidance and support will be provided as the system is introduced. Over time, you will be asked to:
  • deposit new research outputs through PURE
  • access and review your PURE profile
  • check that the information held about you and your research is accurate
  • add or enhance information where needed, including research interests and expertise
  • review what information is publicly visible
  • use the guidance and support available to help you get the most from PURE.

PURE will also provide functionality for researchers to nominate research outputs for assessment for REF. This will replace the current ROSS Tool in CentAUR once the PURE REF reviews feature is live.

 

Where does the information in my profile come from?

PURE will draw information from existing University systems as well as information you add yourself. Sources will include staff information from iTrent, research student information from RISIS and historic publications and research outputs from CentAUR. Information about research applications and awards will also come from Worktribe as the relevant integration is introduced.

This means that for many types of information, you will be reviewing, checking and enhancing information rather than creating everything from scratch. You will also be able to add research activities and achievements that are not currently captured systematically.

 

Getting ready for the PURE Portal

Your information in PURE will also form the basis of your public profile in the PURE Portal. The PURE Portal will draw on information held in PURE. Not everything held within PURE will be publicly visible. The Portal will provide a professional showcase for research at Reading, helping potential collaborators, funders and other external audiences discover researchers and their areas of expertise.

Ahead of the Portal launch, we’ll provide further guidance to help you review and enhance your profile and understand what information will be publicly visible.

 

Find out more and get support

This page will be updated as the PURE rollout progresses, with guidance on what you need to do and when.

You can also:

  • read the PURE FAQs for more detailed answers about PURE
  • look out for PURE updates through University research communications
  • contact PURE@reading.ac.uk with questions about the PURE implementation.