Abstract
I am pleased to announce the launch of Genomics Insights–-a new peer reviewed open access journal for genomic biology, published by Libertas Academica.
Genomics Insights is an international forum for the communication of high-quality peer-reviewed research in genomic and post-genomic biology that will further understanding of living systems at all scales of organization. The journal considers research in genome structure and function, comparative and evolutionary genomics, structural genomics, functional genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and other ‘omes’ related to the genomic sciences. The journal welcomes cutting edge research in gene discovery, genetic and physical mapping, modern sequencing, genome-scale quantitative and population genetics, and development and use of new resources, technologies and techniques, as well as how findings can be applied to biological research and in an industrial context. Work in post-genomic biology and genomic medicine is also welcome and of increasing importance, including network, systems and synthetic biology. The journal also features applications of computational, statistical and mathematical methods of exceptional significance to the genomic sciences.
Almost every area of biology is enhanced by genomic knowledge these days, so the inception of Genomics Insights is timely. With hundreds of genomes and metagenome sequences currently available and thousand of genomic projects underway, the growth of genomic knowledge will continue to expand in years to come, and so will the need to deposit research in an effective vehicle for the dissemination of science. Genomics Insights responds to this need by providing novel insights into the biology of genomes and integrative views of biological systems and by following an open access model within a rigorous, fair and prompt peer-review framework that involves the opinion of at least two leading experts in the field and focuses on scientific quality, depth and scope.
Primary research communications are published as Articles and Letters. Research focusing on methodological or resource developments are published as Methods and Resource papers. The journal will also consider timely Commentaries, Reviews and Opinion papers, some of them invited. All submissions undergo a rigorous editorial peer review.
The journal will follow a fast publication schedule. Manuscripts are submitted online and peer review is managed electronically. Once accepted for publication, manuscripts are processed immediately and will be published within a few weeks.
Genomics Insights will be competing head-on with a number of existing subscription-based journals. However, there is clearly a niche for the new journal given the benefits it offers. For one, research will be made accessible without any restriction and at no cost to all internet users throughout the world.
Genomics Insights is published exclusively online. Articles follow a consistent format so that the visual impact will be high and equal to that of the best hard-copy publications. In contrast to paper-based journals, however, the electronic format allows the full use of digital technologies and permits the inclusion of large data sets, from field and laboratory studies, links to other web pages, animations, slide shows, video clips and unlimited colour, all at no additional charge. Open access means that all articles are freely available to all, worldwide, and at no cost to the reader. Authors retain copyright of their work and can grant anyone the right to reproduce and disseminate it, provided that it is correctly cited and no errors are introduced, under the Creative Commons “CC-BY” licence.
In hard-copy journals, the costs of publication are met by subscriptions, paid by the reader. In Genomics Insights, as in other open access journals, these costs are borne by the author in the form of a publication processing fee. Many grant-awarding bodies recognise the value of open access publishing by allowing their funds to be used for PPFs. Fee waivers and discounts are available on a case-by-case basis, and we shall make every effort to ensure that lack of funds does not impede the overall objective of publishing the best science, irrespective of authorship or country of origin.
I do not foresee that open access, online journals will totally replace the traditional print format in the immediate future, although this may be an increasing trend with time. I am certain, however, that the benefits of online publication, and the extra opportunities that digital technologies give to authors, will be increasingly recognised. Open access is of huge benefit to the researchers working in institutions around the world where institutional libraries are unable to afford subscription fees for a full range of journals.
I expect that Genomics Insights will attract manuscripts of the highest quality which are of the greatest possible benefit to readers. We encourage you to consider submitting your best work to the journal and encourage colleagues to do so as well. We are confident our journal will provide an exceptional publication forum for the new biology of this new century.
For further information on what we hope will be an exciting and highly useful new journal, please click on the “about the journal” link on the journal's web page.