Databases
The University of Cambridge subscribes to hundreds of specialist databases to support teaching, learning and research. Almost all of these can be accessed from wherever you are if you have Raven credentials. The A-Z list of databases provides links to all the subscribed resources you can access through the University in one place. To help you even more, we've prepared a list of useful scientific databases and resources for supporting lab work.
We have curated a selection of resources relevant to the topics covered by PDN on this page but note that this is not an exhaustive list.
Database highlights
| Resource name | Why use it? | Access |
|---|---|---|
| American Physiological Society | The American Physiology Society publishes 15 globally recognised scholarly journals and a book monograph series, all on the topics surrounding physiology. This provides a rich resource literature for those looking specifically at the discipline of physiology. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| Annual Reviews | Annual Reviews aims to capture current understanding of a topic, including what is well supported and what is controversial. With a list of titles that includes topics like cancer biology, physiology, neuroscience, and pathology, there is a wide range of literature on offer through this resource. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| bioRxiv | bioRxiv is an online archive of unpublished preprints for the life sciences. By publishing here, authors can make their findings immediately available to the scientific community. |
bioRxiv is an open access resource and does not require a log in |
| e-Anatomy | e-Anatomy is an award-winning interactive atlas of human anatomy. Explore over 6,700 anatomic structures and more than 870,000 translated medical labels. Images in: CT, MRI, Radiographs, Anatomic diagrams and nuclear images. Available in 12 languages. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| Instant Anatomy | Instant Anatomy was created by Robert Whitaker who is an author recommended on several human anatomy papers. The site gives opportunities to learn all about human anatomy of the body with diagrams, lectures, podcasts, questions, MCQs and apps. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| PubMed | PubMed contains 16 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles. Includes links to full text articles and related resources. |
PubMed is an open access resource and does not require a log in |
| Scopus | Scopus is a navigation tool covering the world's largest collection of abstracts, references and indexes of scientific, technical and medical (STM) literature. Seamless links to full-text articles and other library resources make Scopus quick, easy and comprehensive. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| Web of Science | Web of Science is an online scientific citation indexing service that provides a comprehensive citation search. It gives access to multiple databases that reference cross-disciplinary research, which allows for in-depth exploration of specialised sub-fields within an academic or scientific discipline. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
Ebooks
As everyone works in different ways and prefers different formats, we try to provide as many core readings for our students in electronic as well as paper form. As a result, we have a wide range of ebook packages for you to tap into. Most of these can be accessed seamlessly through searching iDiscover but we've highlighted a few key ones that may be of interest to anyone studying or researching in a PDN subject.
| Resource name | Why use it? | Access |
|---|---|---|
| BSAVA manuals | The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) manuals are the practical answer for veterinary professionals. These user-friendly and highly illustrated books which cover the range of small animal veterinary topics, including medicine and surgery, diagnostics, exotic pets, veterinary nursing and practice management |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| ClinicalKey Student | ClinicalKey Student brings together hundreds of Elsevier medical titles in one place. With core readings for medical and veterinary sciences students, this is an essential resource for clinical study and research. Logging in to a personal profile unlocks additional functionality such as bookmarking, highlighting and note-making options. |
Users are required to create a personal profile to access ClinicalKey content. Click on 'New user? Register here' in the log in box once you've clicked on the link below. |
| LWW Total Access Collection | The LWW Total Access collection brings together multiple medical book and journal titles into one place. Core readings for medical and veterinary sciences students are included so this is another essential resource for clinical study and research. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
| Springer Biomedical and Life Sciences | The Biomedical and Life Sciences eBook Collection brings together up-to-date resources from trusted authors working around the world in all aspects of life: from patterns of infectious transmission to processes responsible for the loss of biodiversity. |
For off-campus access, University members will be prompted for their Raven ID |
Ejournals
Most recent research can be found online through the many journal titles that we subscribe to. Whether you're reading for a lecture, trying to work out a new method for a project, or putting together a literature review, many articles can be found through our databases (see above) or through using iDiscover to search for journal titles and articles.
If you find something that is not available to you, it may be that you need to request a copy of an article through our Request a Digital Copy service. Further information can be found on the Request a Digital Copy guide or you can ask the PDN Librarian for help.
Install the Lean Library button
Compatible with most browsers, Lean Library is a browser extension that will automatically detect when you have access to something. This access might be provided through the University of Cambridge's subscriptions, or it might be an Open Access version. This will reduce the need for hours spent trying to log in to different websites or hitting paywalls and will give you quick access to what you need.
If all else fails, Lean Library will direct you to one of our services to help you get access to the resource from another institution or collection.
