Cell Reports

Cell Reports. It is a weekly, peer-reviewed open access scientific journal covering the life sciences, published by Cell Press. The journal was launched in 2012 as an expansion of the flagship Cell family, aiming to publish high-quality research across a broad spectrum of biomedical science. Its scope encompasses all areas of fundamental and translational biology, with a particular emphasis on rigorous, insightful studies that advance understanding of cellular and organismal function.

Overview

The journal operates under the editorial leadership of Steve Mao and is part of the prestigious Cell Press portfolio, which also includes titles like Neuron and Immunity. It publishes original research articles, known as Reports, that are concise yet comprehensive, alongside resources and commentaries. The editorial board includes prominent scientists such as Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz and Tony Hunter, who help maintain the journal's high standards. Research spans from molecular mechanisms to systems-level analyses, often integrating techniques from CRISPR gene editing to advanced microscopy and Computational biology.

History and scope

Launched in January 2012 by Cell Press, a division of Elsevier, the journal was created to address the growing volume of high-quality research in the life sciences that demanded rapid publication. Its founding was influenced by the success of the Cell brand and the need for a venue with the rigor of that journal but a broader topical reach. The scope is intentionally wide, publishing significant findings in areas including Stem cell biology, Metabolism, Genomics, Proteomics, and Developmental biology. It also features interdisciplinary work that bridges fields like Bioengineering and Chemical biology, with studies often relevant to human diseases investigated at institutions like the Broad Institute and Max Planck Society.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in major scientific databases, which is critical for the dissemination of its research to the global community. These services include the Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Chemical Abstracts Service. Coverage in these indices, particularly the Web of Science, ensures that articles contribute to key metrics like the Journal Impact Factor and are readily discoverable by researchers at organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and European Molecular Biology Organization. This indexing supports the journal's role in informing ongoing studies in venues from Nature to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Editorial policies and impact

The journal employs a rigorous peer-review process managed by professional editors with scientific backgrounds, ensuring a fair and rapid evaluation of submissions. A key policy is its commitment to open science, offering authors a choice between traditional subscription access and Gold open access publication. The editorial team, which has included figures like John S. Tregoning in advisory roles, emphasizes transparency and reproducibility, often requiring data deposition in repositories like Gene Expression Omnibus or the Protein Data Bank. With an impact factor consistently above 8.0, it is recognized as a leading venue in its field, influencing research directions at universities from Harvard University to the University of Cambridge and informing work presented at conferences like the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting.

Notable articles

Since its inception, the journal has published numerous influential studies that have advanced biological understanding. A landmark 2013 paper on the DNA damage response in Cancer cells elucidated new mechanisms of Genomic instability. Another highly cited study detailed a novel CRISPR-based screening method for identifying Tumor suppressor genes, with implications for Precision medicine. Research on SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry mechanisms, published during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided critical early insights for Vaccine development. Other notable work includes discoveries in Circadian rhythm regulation by Neurotransmitters and the role of specific MicroRNA in Heart development, contributing to fields championed by researchers like Shinya Yamanaka and James P. Allison.

Category:Cell Press academic journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 2012 Category:Weekly journals