We are excited to introduce you to ImmunoHorizons, a new journal published by The American Association of Immunologists (AAI). ImmunoHorizons is an online, open-access journal for publication of primary research articles that advance knowledge in basic and translational immunology. The overall mission of ImmunoHorizons is to highlight studies performed with rigorous methodology resulting in robust conclusions of interest to immunologists. One opportunity being offered by ImmunoHorizons is that authors do not have to wait to have complete mechanistic or functional characterization to publish. For example, we envision publishing studies that describe novel cell types, present large descriptive datasets, outline novel methods, assays, or computational tools, or present initial characterizations of novel reagents including mouse strains, clones, and Abs, even if biological insights have not been fully realized. Many of us have experienced the disappointment of completing a carefully designed research study that yielded conclusive and informative results, only to find that the results do not fit a particular journal’s definition of significance or novelty. For exactly these cases, we now offer ImmunoHorizons as an ideal forum in which to publish your research.
To help us in this mission, we have recruited four outstanding Senior Editors, each specializing in a major area of immunology research. Mark Kaplan, Indiana University School of Medicine, will oversee articles focused on Adaptive Immunity; Robert Modlin, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, will handle articles on Infectious Disease; Luc Van Kaer, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, will be responsible for articles on Innate Immunity; and Cathryn Nagler, University of Chicago, will oversee articles on Clinical and Translational Immunology. To assist the Senior Editors, we have also recruited a panel of Associate Editors whose collective expertise encompasses a broad range of subdisciplines in immunology.
Two independent tracks are available for submission of research articles to ImmunoHorizons. One track will be for excellent manuscripts that were not accepted for publication in The Journal of Immunology (The JI), not because of the quality of the science, but rather because they were too descriptive or could not provide a complete mechanism. Upon recommendation of The JI Deputy Editor and approval of the authors, these manuscripts will be transferred as is from The JI to ImmunoHorizons, along with all of the accompanying reviews and editorial evaluations. These manuscripts will be evaluated for publication by the Editors-in-Chief of ImmunoHorizons, with input from the four Senior Editors. Our goal is to rapidly publish articles requiring only modest revision and no additional rounds of peer review. The other track will be for new submissions made directly to ImmunoHorizons. These manuscripts will be sent to two practicing scientists and a Senior Editor for thorough peer review.
In an age of ever-expanding options for publication, why choose ImmunoHorizons? We believe it is of significant value that work of interest to immunologists be published collectively in journals devoted to, and read by, immunologists rather than being scattered to the wind. Moreover, as an AAI journal, authors can have complete confidence in a fair editorial process, as generations of immunologists have experienced with The JI.
ImmunoHorizons, like The JI, will be professionally managed by the AAI, a nonprofit professional association dedicated to the field and the scientists who define it. Highly experienced AAI staff will assist authors and the Editorial Board as we establish this new forum for immunology.
We are pleased to provide an online, open access journal that is exclusively devoted to publishing research in immunology, and we look forward to seeing your exciting research articles coming across our desks.
- Copyright © 2017 The Authors
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