The Lancet

The Lancet
source
Title	The Lancet
Abbreviation	Lancet
Discipline	Medicine
Language	English
Editor	Richard Horton
Publisher	Elsevier
Country	United Kingdom
History	1823–present
Frequency	Weekly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	168.9 (2022)
ISSN	0140-6736
EISSN	1474-547X
Website	www.thelancet.com
CODEN	LANCAO

The Lancet. It is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious peer-reviewed general medical journals, founded in 1823 by the English surgeon Thomas Wakley. Published weekly by Elsevier, it is renowned for its global focus on public health and its influential research that often shapes medical practice and health policy. The journal's name was inspired by the surgical instrument and the concept of illuminating knowledge, reflecting its founding mission to challenge the medical establishment of the time.

History

The journal was established in London by Thomas Wakley, who was also a member of Parliament and a coroner, as a radical voice to reform the medical profession and expose corruption. Its early years were marked by campaigns against the Royal College of Surgeons of England and for the Anatomy Act 1832, which aimed to regulate the supply of bodies for dissection. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it published seminal work, including early reports on anaesthesia and the germ theory of disease. It maintained editorial independence through ownership by the Wakley family until 1991, when it was acquired by the Dutch publishing conglomerate Elsevier.

Content and features

Each weekly issue publishes original research, review articles, editorials, and correspondence across all medical disciplines, with a strong emphasis on global health. Notable regular features include the Commissions, which are major multidisciplinary reports on critical issues like climate change and universal health coverage. The journal also publishes several specialty sister journals, such as *The Lancet Oncology* and *The Lancet Global Health*. Its content spans clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and commentary on health policy, often focusing on issues affecting low- and middle-income countries.

Impact and influence

It consistently ranks among the top medical journals by impact factor, reflecting the high citation rate of its published articles. Its research has directly influenced major health initiatives, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The publishing of landmark studies, like the 2006 INTERHEART study on risk factors for myocardial infarction, has changed clinical guidelines worldwide. Its annual Countdown report on health and climate change is a key document for policymakers at forums like the World Health Assembly.

Editors and editorial policies

The editor-in-chief since 1995 has been Richard Horton, who has been a prominent and sometimes controversial advocate for global health justice. The journal maintains a rigorous peer-review process and has editorial offices in London, New York, and Beijing. Its editorial stance is famously independent, often publishing provocative commentaries on political issues affecting health, such as the Iraq War and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It was one of the first major journals to require trial registration in public databases like ClinicalTrials.gov.

Controversies and criticisms

The journal has faced significant controversy, most notably for a 1998 paper by Andrew Wakefield that falsely suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, which it later fully retracted in 2010. Its publication of politically charged commentaries, including an open letter criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza, has drawn accusations of bias from groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Some researchers have also criticized its high-profile publishing model for potentially exacerbating publication bias and the "hype" around certain medical findings.

Related publications

The Lancet family has expanded to include numerous specialty journals, such as *The Lancet Neurology*, *The Lancet Psychiatry*, and *The Lancet Digital Health*. It also publishes regional editions, including *The Lancet Regional Health – Americas* and *The Lancet Regional Health – Europe*. These offshoots operate under the same editorial standards but focus on specific disciplines or geographical health priorities, extending the brand's reach and influence across the entire spectrum of medical science and practice.

Category:Elsevier academic journals Category:Medical journals published in the United Kingdom Category:Publications established in 1823