Aims & Scope
International Journal of Translational Research (IJTR) publishes preclinical research that bridges fundamental biological mechanisms to therapeutic applications, focusing on disease models, biomarker discovery, and translational pathways from bench to bedside.
Preclinical Models
Biomarker Discovery
Mechanism-to-Application
Translational Pathways
Disease Mechanisms
Scope Boundary: We do NOT consider clinical trial outcomes, patient care protocols, or treatment efficacy studies without mechanistic translational components.
Core Research Domains
Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms
- Genomics and proteomics in disease pathogenesis
- Cell signaling pathways and molecular targets
- Gene regulation and epigenetic modifications
- Cellular stress responses and adaptation mechanisms
- Molecular basis of disease progression
- Protein-protein interactions in disease states
Typical Fit Example
Identification of novel protein biomarkers in preclinical cancer models with validation in patient-derived xenografts, demonstrating translational potential for early detection.
Preclinical Disease Models
- Animal models of human disease
- Patient-derived xenografts and organoids
- In vitro disease modeling systems
- Genetically engineered model organisms
- Model validation and translational relevance
- Comparative pathology and mechanism studies
Typical Fit Example
Development of a novel transgenic mouse model recapitulating human neurodegenerative disease with characterization of molecular pathways for therapeutic targeting.
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
- Diagnostic and prognostic biomarker identification
- Pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarkers
- Multi-omics biomarker integration
- Biomarker validation in preclinical models
- Liquid biopsy and non-invasive biomarkers
- Imaging biomarkers and molecular signatures
Typical Fit Example
Discovery and preclinical validation of circulating microRNA panels for early disease detection, with mechanistic insights into their biological origins and stability.
Therapeutic Development & Mechanisms
- Drug target identification and validation
- Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine approaches
- Gene therapy and cell-based therapeutics
- Drug delivery systems and nanotechnology
- Mechanism of action studies in preclinical models
- Immunotherapy and targeted therapy development
Typical Fit Example
Preclinical evaluation of novel nanoparticle-based drug delivery system with mechanistic studies of cellular uptake, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy in disease models.
Secondary Focus Areas
Cross-Disciplinary Integration
- Systems biology and network medicine
- Computational modeling of disease mechanisms
- Bioinformatics and data integration
- Medical imaging and molecular visualization
- Biostatistics in translational research
Methodological Innovations
- Novel experimental techniques and platforms
- High-throughput screening methodologies
- Advanced imaging and detection technologies
- CRISPR and genome editing applications
- Single-cell analysis technologies
Disease-Specific Mechanisms
- Cancer biology and oncogenesis
- Cardiovascular disease mechanisms
- Neurodegenerative disease pathways
- Infectious disease host-pathogen interactions
- Metabolic and endocrine disorders
Immunology & Inflammation
- Immune system mechanisms in disease
- Inflammatory pathway characterization
- Immunogenetics and immune profiling
- Autoimmunity and immune dysregulation
- Immune-based therapeutic strategies
Emerging Research Frontiers
Explicitly Out of Scope
The following topics are NOT considered for publication:
Clinical Trial Outcomes & Patient Care Studies
Rationale: IJTR focuses on preclinical mechanistic research. Clinical efficacy studies, treatment protocols, and patient outcome analyses without translational mechanism components belong in clinical journals.
Epidemiological Studies & Public Health Surveys
Rationale: Population-level health studies, disease prevalence surveys, and health policy research lack the molecular/cellular mechanism focus required for translational science.
Healthcare Management & Health Economics
Rationale: Administrative, economic, and healthcare delivery topics do not align with our bench-to-bedside translational research mission.
Purely Descriptive Clinical Case Reports
Rationale: Case reports without mechanistic investigation, biomarker validation, or translational insights do not contribute to understanding disease mechanisms or therapeutic development.
Medical Device Engineering Without Biological Validation
Rationale: Pure engineering or instrumentation studies without biological mechanism investigation or preclinical validation are outside our translational biology focus.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track Review
Expedited Editorial Processing
Original Research Articles
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Methods & Protocols
Biomarker Validation Studies
Priority 2: Standard Review
Regular Editorial Timeline
Short Communications
Technical Notes
Data Descriptors
Perspectives & Commentaries
Rarely Considered
Exceptional Circumstances Only
Opinion Pieces
Hypothesis Articles
Case Reports (without mechanism)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must adhere to appropriate reporting standards:
ARRIVE
MIQE
PRISMA
STARD
STROBE
Data Transparency
Authors must provide access to underlying data, protocols, and analytical code. Raw data deposition in public repositories is strongly encouraged for all omics studies and required for genomics research.
Ethics & Reproducibility
All animal studies require institutional ethics approval. Human-derived samples require informed consent documentation. Detailed methods must enable independent replication of findings.
Preprint Policy
We welcome submissions previously posted on preprint servers. Authors must disclose preprint DOI at submission and update preprint with publication details upon acceptance.
Editorial Decision Metrics
21
Days to First Decision
32%
Acceptance Rate
45
Days to Publication
$1,299
Article Processing Charge
