- Aims and Scope
- ISSN 2576-2818 (online)
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Aims and Scope
The Journal of Fertility Biomarkers publishes research on the biological markers of fertility, infertility and reproductive health in humans and animals: how they are discovered, measured, validated and used to understand reproductive function.
What the journal sets out to do
JFB publishes research on biological markers of fertility, infertility and reproductive health in humans and animals: discovery, mechanistic, clinical and methodological studies of gametes, implantation and the endometrium, reproductive hormones, molecular and genetic markers, reproductive immunology, clinical reproductive medicine, pregnancy outcomes, and comparative and animal reproduction.
The journal aims to publish methodologically sound research that clarifies what reproductive markers measure and how reliably they do so, to advance the methods on which that research depends, and to make the results freely available to researchers, clinicians, laboratory scientists and animal-reproduction specialists in every region of the world.
The title is read broadly. A biomarker may be a hormone, a protein, a gene-expression or epigenetic signature, an immune or inflammatory measure, a morphological or functional feature of a gamete or embryo, or an imaging or laboratory measure, and the journal considers it in women, men, embryos, pregnancy and animal species.
Where the journal's research sits
JFB welcomes discovery, mechanistic, clinical and methodological research on markers of reproductive function in humans and animals. Areas are listed to illustrate the scope, not to close it.
Gamete quality
Oocyte maturation and developmental competence; sperm function, morphology and DNA integrity; oxidative stress in gametes.
Implantation and the endometrium
Endometrial receptivity, decidualization, embryo–maternal signaling and early embryo viability markers.
Reproductive hormones
Ovarian reserve markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone, gonadotropin and steroid signaling, and metabolic hormones in reproduction.
Molecular and genetic markers
Gene expression, epigenetic and microRNA signatures, genetic variants and chromosomal integrity in reproductive tissues.
Reproductive immunology
Immune and inflammatory markers in fertility, implantation and pregnancy, including immunological findings in unexplained infertility.
Clinical reproductive medicine
Ovarian stimulation and assisted reproduction, fertility preservation, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and male infertility.
Pregnancy and reproductive outcomes
Markers that inform pregnancy course, pregnancy loss and reproductive outcomes across the life course.
Comparative and animal reproduction
Fertility markers in livestock and other species, and animal models that inform human reproductive research.
From discovery to clinical use
The journal considers work at every stage of a marker's development.
- Discovery and mechanism
- Analytical validation
- Clinical validation
- Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy
- Methods and assay development
- Animal and in vitro models
Studies of human reproduction and studies in animals or in vitro systems are considered on the same terms, provided the work addresses a marker of reproductive function, fertility or pregnancy outcome. Work in obstetrics, gynecology or andrology that addresses such a marker is within scope.
Formats the journal accepts
All types are handled in the same way, and the order of review does not depend on article type or payment. Validation, cohort and diagnostic-accuracy studies are classified as Original Research, and a case series as a Case Report. Preparation guidance is in the Instructions for Authors.
- Original Research
Experimental, clinical, laboratory, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, diagnostic-accuracy, validation and trial studies reporting new findings.
- Review
Narrative or critical reviews, mini-reviews, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses that follow a documented search and selection method.
- Methods or Technical Note
New or validated assays, protocols, sample-handling procedures, analysis pipelines or techniques, with evidence of how they perform.
- Short Communication
Brief reports of complete, focused findings.
- Data Note
Descriptions of a dataset with its collection methods and potential reuse.
- Case Report
Reports of an individual patient, animal or event of wider interest, including case series.
- Commentary
Reasoned, evidence-based viewpoints on research, clinical practice or policy.
- Letter
Brief, evidence-based responses to published articles or short reports of timely findings.
- Editorial
Pieces written by the editors or by authors invited by the editors.
What a manuscript needs
- The work addresses a marker of fertility, infertility, reproductive function or pregnancy outcome, in humans or animals.
- Methods are described in enough detail to be repeated, including how specimens were collected, handled and measured, and conclusions are proportionate to the evidence.
- Research involving human participants or human biological samples reports ethics approval and informed consent, or a documented decision of the ethics committee on consent, where applicable.
- Research on live animals reports approval from an institutional animal ethics committee, the welfare measures used and, where applicable, the ARRIVE items.
- The work is original, is not under consideration elsewhere, and follows the journal's Editorial Policies.
Manuscripts outside the subject area, and manuscripts that do not meet the ethical or reporting requirements, are not suitable for publication.
Not sure the work fits?
Send a brief inquiry to the editorial office before submitting. When ready, submit through ManuscriptZone or the simple submission form. Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.