Stem Cell Reports: Excellence in Publishing
“To me, Stem Cell Reports stands out as a much more vibrant and inclusive journal, covering all aspects of stem cell research. [The journal] serves the entire community as an integrative and inclusive hub publishing new results from diverse stem cell research fields. It also provides a vibrant platform for shaping emerging stem cell research directions,” said Jianping Fu, PhD, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, USA.
Professor Fu sums up how far we have come. In the past 10 years, Stem Cell Reports has evolved into the voice of the global stem cell field and an essential read for the impactful science, opinions, reviews, and insights from leading scientists in the global stem cell research community. While the ISSCR’s official journal drives stem cell research and science policy forward by sharing important advances and commentaries on emerging issues in the field, there are additional exciting ways the journal is helping authors to highlight their work for our readership.
We are expanding the reach of the research and its authors. Each month I invite authors to join me on The Stem Cell Report, our podcast that explores interesting science and the inspiration behind the research. Launched in April 2021, we have hosted 22 episodes averaging 700 downloads per episode. I really enjoy the opportunity to talk with the authors about their science, its impact, and get to know them a bit. You have the opportunity to be a guest when you publish in Stem Cell Reports. We also select research to promote to the science press, and we share published work on the journal’s and ISSCR’s social media channels, programming that reaches thousands of scientists in the field.
We recognize what a competitive field stem cell research has become. Several innovations at the journal are designed to help authors expedite publication of their exciting new findings in a timely fashion. First, Stem Cell Reports can now accept direct transfer of manuscripts from other Cell Press titles. We are also now part of Community Review with Cell Press, a mechanism that allows authors to submit their manuscript for simultaneous consideration by multiple Cell Press titles of their choosing. Second, we recognize that first class research may fail to gain acceptance at top tier journals for reasons unrelated to its overall quality. Therefore, we offer a fast-track mechanism, whereby authors whose manuscript has been reviewed and declined at a leading journal can submit the manuscript, along with screen shots of the reviews and their revision and rebuttal, to us for assessment at the editorial level. If the study meets our criteria, we will accept it without further review. Finally, we recognize that from time to time, many authors may wish to report novel findings that may not be yet fully developed into an in-depth story in a short and succinct form. Our Reports format is ideal for manuscripts of this nature. I remind our readers of a time when research reports in Nature consisted of four figures and no supplemental material. I encourage authors to consider the Reports format when it is appropriate for their work.
Not only does publishing in Stem Cell Reports offer authors an excellent showcase for their work, but the funds from the journal support groundbreaking ISSCR initiatives that benefit the field, most recently the Standards for Human Stem Cell Use in Research, which was released in early June. Additional initiatives include the Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, global public policy activities, and the development clinical and public education resources.
I encourage you to visit Stem Cell Reports to learn more about the research we publish. If you have not already, take a look at @the_isscr on Instagram to see the cover art from the last 10 years selected by editors that is part of our 10-year anniversary recognition. And follow the journal on X (formerly Twitter) @stemcellreports to keep up with what we publish each month.
The journal plays an essential role in moving the field forward, both through the impactful science it publishes and the important work it enables the society to perform. I hope to see your work submitted soon!
Martin Pera
Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports
@martinperaJAX