Aims and Scope
Insights in Biology and Medicine serves as a premier interdisciplinary platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research that bridges fundamental biological discoveries with clinical applications. Our scope encompasses the entire spectrum of life sciences research, from molecular mechanisms to population health, with a particular emphasis on translational studies that advance medical practice and therapeutic development.
Primary Aims
The journal pursues several core objectives that guide our editorial direction and content selection:
Interdisciplinary Integration
To foster dialogue and collaboration between basic scientists, clinical researchers, and healthcare practitioners by publishing research that demonstrates clear connections between biological mechanisms and medical applications.
Methodological Innovation
To advance research methodologies by featuring studies that develop, validate, or creatively apply novel techniques, technologies, and analytical approaches in biology and medicine.
Clinical Translation
To accelerate the translation of basic research findings into clinical practice by highlighting studies with clear implications for disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or healthcare delivery.
Global Health Impact
To address pressing global health challenges by publishing research that examines biological and medical questions in diverse populations and healthcare settings worldwide.
Educational Advancement
To serve as an educational resource for students, trainees, and practicing professionals by publishing comprehensive reviews, methodological guides, and studies with clear pedagogical value.
Scope and Research Areas
The journal welcomes submissions across the following major research domains, with particular interest in interdisciplinary work that spans multiple categories:
Molecular and Cellular Biology
This section encompasses fundamental research on biological processes at molecular and cellular levels, with emphasis on mechanisms relevant to human health and disease.
Specific Topics Include:
- Gene Regulation and Expression: Transcriptional control, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs, and regulatory networks
- Protein Structure and Function: Protein folding, post-translational modifications, enzyme mechanisms, and structural biology
- Cell Signaling Pathways: Receptor-ligand interactions, second messengers, signal transduction cascades, and cellular communication
- Membrane Biology: Membrane structure, transport mechanisms, organelle dynamics, and intracellular trafficking
- Cell Cycle and Division: Cell cycle regulation, mitosis, meiosis, and cell fate decisions
- Stem Cell Biology: Pluripotency, differentiation, reprogramming, and regenerative mechanisms
Genetics and Genomics
Research in this area focuses on the structure, function, and variation of genomes, and their relationship to biological processes and disease susceptibility.
Specific Topics Include:
- Medical Genetics: Monogenic disorders, complex trait genetics, genetic risk prediction, and genotype-phenotype correlations
- Functional Genomics: Genome-wide association studies, functional annotation of genetic variants, and regulatory genomics
- Epigenomics: DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, and their roles in disease
- Population Genetics: Genetic diversity, evolutionary genetics, and ancestry-related health disparities
- Pharmacogenomics: Genetic determinants of drug response, adverse reactions, and personalized prescribing
- Cancer Genomics: Somatic mutations, tumor evolution, clonal heterogeneity, and genomic biomarkers
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
This section covers research on microorganisms, host-pathogen interactions, antimicrobial mechanisms, and infectious disease epidemiology and treatment.
Specific Topics Include:
- Bacterial Pathogenesis: Virulence factors, toxin mechanisms, adhesion, invasion, and intracellular survival
- Virology: Viral replication cycles, host-virus interactions, antiviral immunity, and emerging viruses
- Antimicrobial Resistance: Resistance mechanisms, transmission dynamics, and novel therapeutic approaches
- Host-Microbe Interactions: Commensal relationships, microbiome studies, and mucosal immunity
- Vaccine Development: Antigen discovery, vaccine platforms, adjuvants, and immunization strategies
- Diagnostic Microbiology: Rapid diagnostics, point-of-care testing, and surveillance systems
Immunology and Inflammation
Research focusing on immune system function, regulation, and dysregulation in health and disease, including autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiency, and cancer immunology.
Specific Topics Include:
- Innate Immunity: Pattern recognition receptors, inflammasome activation, and antimicrobial defense mechanisms
- Adaptive Immunity: Lymphocyte development, antigen recognition, immunological memory, and vaccination
- Immunological Tolerance: Central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms, regulatory cells, and autoimmune prevention
- Cancer Immunology: Tumor microenvironment, immune evasion, checkpoint inhibitors, and cellular therapies
- Inflammatory Diseases: Mechanisms of chronic inflammation, inflammatory mediators, and anti-inflammatory therapies
- Translational Immunology: Biomarker discovery, immunomonitoring, and immunotherapeutic development
Neuroscience and Neurology
Studies examining the nervous system in health and disease, from molecular and cellular neuroscience to cognitive function and neurological disorders.
Specific Topics Include:
- Neurodevelopment: Neural patterning, synaptogenesis, circuit formation, and developmental disorders
- Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and related proteinopathies
- Neuroinflammation: Glial cell function, neuroimmune interactions, and inflammatory CNS disorders
- Neuropharmacology: Drug targets, neurotransmitter systems, and therapeutic development
- Systems Neuroscience: Neural circuits, brain networks, and integrative brain function
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience: Learning, memory, decision-making, and neuropsychiatric disorders
Cancer Biology and Oncology
Research on the molecular basis of cancer, tumor biology, cancer therapeutics, and clinical oncology, with emphasis on translational applications.
Specific Topics Include:
- Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors: Cancer driver genes, signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets
- Tumor Microenvironment: Stromal interactions, angiogenesis, immune infiltration, and metastasis
- Cancer Metabolism: Metabolic reprogramming, nutrient sensing, and metabolic dependencies
- Cancer Stem Cells: Tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and differentiation therapy
- Precision Oncology: Biomarker development, targeted therapies, and treatment personalization
- Cancer Prevention and Early Detection: Screening strategies, risk assessment, and chemoprevention
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
Research on the biology of cardiovascular system, metabolic regulation, and related disorders including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Specific Topics Include:
- Cardiac Biology: Cardiomyocyte function, cardiac development, and heart failure mechanisms
- Vascular Biology: Endothelial function, vascular remodeling, and atherosclerosis
- Metabolic Regulation: Insulin signaling, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism
- Obesity and Diabetes: Adipose biology, insulin resistance, and complications
- Hypertension and Vascular Disorders: Blood pressure regulation, vascular inflammation, and therapeutic approaches
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Development and application of computational methods, algorithms, and software tools for analyzing biological and medical data.
Specific Topics Include:
- Biological Data Mining: Pattern recognition, machine learning, and knowledge discovery in biomedical datasets
- Systems Biology: Network analysis, pathway modeling, and multi-scale integration
- Structural Bioinformatics: Protein structure prediction, molecular docking, and drug design
- Clinical Informatics: Electronic health record analysis, clinical decision support, and predictive modeling
- Single-Cell Analytics: Computational methods for single-cell sequencing data and spatial transcriptomics
Article Types
The journal publishes several types of contributions, each serving distinct purposes within the scientific discourse:
| Article Type | Description | Word Limit | Review Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Articles | Original research reports presenting novel findings of broad significance | 6,000 words | Full peer review |
| Short Communications | Concise reports of preliminary findings or technical advances | 3,000 words | Expedited review |
| Review Articles | Comprehensive syntheses of current knowledge in emerging fields | 8,000 words | Editorial review |
| Methodology Papers | Detailed descriptions of novel methods with validation data | 5,000 words | Technical review |
| Case Studies | Detailed clinical cases with novel biological insights | 2,500 words | Clinical review |
| Perspectives | Opinion pieces on emerging trends or controversial topics | 2,000 words | Editorial review |
| Correspondence | Letters discussing previously published articles | 1,000 words | Editorial review |
Methodological Standards
The journal maintains high standards for methodological rigor and reporting transparency across all research domains:
Experimental Design and Statistics
All studies must demonstrate appropriate experimental design, including proper controls, randomization, blinding where applicable, and adequate sample sizes with statistical power calculations. Statistical methods should be clearly described and appropriate for the data structure and research questions.
Reproducibility and Transparency
Authors are encouraged to provide detailed methodologies, share data and code where feasible, and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines (e.g., ARRIVE for animal studies, CONSORT for clinical trials, STROBE for observational studies).
Ethical Standards
All research involving human participants, animal subjects, or biological materials must demonstrate appropriate ethical approval and oversight. Studies must comply with relevant ethical guidelines and regulations.
Out-of-Scope Topics
While the journal maintains a broad scope, certain types of submissions are generally considered outside our focus:
- Purely descriptive studies without mechanistic insights or clear biological/medical significance
- Case reports that do not provide novel biological insights or clinical implications
- Studies with inadequate statistical power or methodological flaws that preclude meaningful conclusions
- Research that does not adhere to ethical standards for human or animal research
- Articles focused exclusively on educational methodologies without biological/medical research component
- Purely computational studies without biological validation or clear biomedical application
Special Considerations
Interdisciplinary Work
The journal particularly encourages submissions that bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries. Interdisciplinary studies should:
- Clearly articulate the research question from multiple disciplinary perspectives
- Integrate methodologies or conceptual frameworks from different fields
- Demonstrate how the interdisciplinary approach provides insights not achievable within a single discipline
- Discuss implications for both basic biology and clinical medicine
Negative Results
The journal welcomes well-designed studies reporting negative or null results that address important biological or medical questions. Such submissions should:
- Clearly state the research hypothesis and its significance
- Demonstrate adequate statistical power to detect meaningful effects
- Provide complete methodological details to allow assessment of study quality
- Discuss implications of the negative findings for the field
Replication Studies
The journal considers replication studies that attempt to verify important published findings. Replication studies should:
- Clearly identify the original study being replicated
- Justify the importance of replication for the specific finding
- Follow the original methodology as closely as possible, with any deviations clearly justified
- Use appropriate statistical methods for assessing replication
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the journal consider studies that are purely basic science without immediate clinical applications?
Yes, the journal publishes high-quality basic science research that advances fundamental biological understanding. However, authors should articulate the potential long-term implications for medicine or human health in their discussion section.
Are clinical trials without mechanistic studies within scope?
Clinical trials are welcome, particularly those that include biomarker studies, mechanistic sub-studies, or detailed analysis of treatment responses that provide biological insights. Purely descriptive clinical trials may be better suited to specialized clinical journals.
Does the journal publish studies involving plant biology or non-mammalian systems?
Studies using non-mammalian model systems are welcome if they address fundamental biological questions with clear relevance to human biology or disease. Research focused exclusively on plant-specific processes without medical relevance is outside our scope.
Are bioinformatics studies without experimental validation considered?
Computational studies are valued, but those making biological claims generally require experimental validation. Purely computational papers are considered if they introduce novel methodologies with demonstrated utility or provide important insights through re-analysis of existing data.
Does the journal consider studies with small sample sizes?
Sample size requirements vary by research question and methodology. Studies with small sample sizes should include power calculations and acknowledge limitations. For certain research questions (e.g., rare diseases, detailed mechanistic studies), small sample sizes may be justified.
Editorial Priorities
The journal's editorial team particularly encourages submissions that:
- Address urgent global health challenges
- Develop or apply innovative methodologies
- Challenge existing paradigms or provide novel conceptual frameworks
- Include diverse populations or address health disparities
- Promote open science through data and code sharing
- Facilitate collaboration across disciplines and sectors
Scope Alignment Check: Authors uncertain about whether their work fits the journal's scope are encouraged to submit a pre-submission inquiry including the abstract and a brief description of the study's significance to [email protected]. The editorial team provides prompt feedback on scope alignment.