Journal of Pancreas · JPAN
Aims and Scope
The Journal of Pancreas publishes research on the pancreas and its diseases, exocrine and endocrine, from basic science to surgery.
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
- DOI prefix 10.14302
- Published by Open Access Pub
What the journal sets out to do
To publish rigorous research on the structure, function and diseases of the pancreas, including pancreatitis, pancreatic neoplasms and disorders of the endocrine pancreas.
To report advances in diagnosis, imaging, surgery, endoscopic and interventional treatment, and medical and oncologic therapy.
To support the laboratory and translational science on which better understanding and prevention of pancreatic disease depend.
To make this research openly available, so that scientists, clinicians and surgeons can read and reuse it freely.
Research areas
JPAN considers research on any aspect of the pancreas and its diseases. The six areas below are examples, arranged as the pancreas is read from head to tail along its main duct, and form part of a wider field.
Pancreatitis
Acute, chronic, autoimmune and groove pancreatitis, their complications and management.
Pancreatic neoplasms
Ductal adenocarcinoma, cystic and intraductal neoplasms, and neuroendocrine tumors.
Diagnosis
Imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, biomarkers and pathology.
Surgery and therapy
Pancreatic surgery, endoscopic and interventional treatment, oncology and emerging therapies.
Endocrine pancreas
Islet biology and disorders of the endocrine pancreas, including diabetes of pancreatic origin.
Basic and translational science
Pancreatic anatomy, physiology, disease models, genetics and prevention.
Topics the journal welcomes, including
- Pancreatic anatomy, embryology and physiology
- Acinar cell biology and exocrine secretion
- Acute pancreatitis and its local and systemic complications
- Chronic pancreatitis and exocrine insufficiency
- Autoimmune and groove pancreatitis
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- Cystic and intraductal pancreatic neoplasms
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
- Early detection and surveillance of people at high risk
- Hereditary and genetic pancreatic disease
- Cross-sectional imaging and endoscopic ultrasound
- Biomarkers and liquid biopsy
- Pathology and cytology of the pancreas
- Pancreatic surgery, including minimally invasive approaches
- Endoscopic and interventional therapy
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy
- Islet biology and diabetes of pancreatic origin
- Islet and pancreas transplantation
- Pancreatic disease in children and in systemic disease, including cystic fibrosis
- Nutrition, supportive care and quality of life
Contributions from the biomedical, clinical, laboratory, surgical, imaging, data and computational sciences are welcome when they address a question about the pancreas. A topic that is not named above is within scope when it meets that test.
Designs and approaches welcomed
JPAN considers laboratory, clinical, surgical and population research. Study designs are reported within the article types listed below; a clinical trial, a cohort study or a translational study, for example, is submitted as Original Research.
- Laboratory and translational
- Studies of cells, tissues, organoids and animal models, and work that connects laboratory findings to patients.
- Observational studies
- Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies, registry analyses and imaging or pathology series.
- Intervention studies
- Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials of medical, endoscopic, surgical and procedural treatment.
- Diagnostic research
- Studies of imaging, endoscopic, laboratory and molecular tests, including accuracy and prediction studies.
- Surgical and technical series
- Reports of operative, endoscopic and interventional techniques and their outcomes.
- Evidence synthesis
- Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and scoping reviews.
- Modeling and data science
- Statistical, computational and machine-learning models that are validated on pancreatic tissue or clinical data.
- Qualitative and mixed methods
- Research on patient experience, decision-making and care pathways in pancreatic disease.
What makes a manuscript a fit
Manuscripts are assessed for their relevance to the pancreas, the soundness of their methods and whether their conclusions are proportionate to the evidence.
Case reports
Case Reports, including short case series, are accepted when the case carries a clear lesson for diagnosis, management or understanding of pancreatic disease.
Commentaries and letters
Commentaries and Letters are accepted when they make a reasoned argument, supported by evidence and cited sources, on a question in pancreatology or on work published in JPAN.
Computational and theoretical work
Computational and theoretical studies are accepted when their findings are validated on pancreatic tissue or clinical data.
Unsupported opinion, meaning assertion without evidence or reasoned argument, is outside the journal's scope.
Article types
The journal publishes the article types below. Guidance on the structure, abstract and reporting standard for each type is given in the Instructions for Authors.
Original Research
Empirical studies of the pancreas and its diseases, from laboratory and translational work to clinical, surgical and population studies. Clinical trials are classified as Original Research.
Review
Narrative and systematic syntheses of the evidence on a defined question, including Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Short Communication
Concise reports of a focused or preliminary finding of importance to pancreatology.
Case Report
Individual cases or short case series with a clear lesson for diagnosis, management or understanding of disease.
Methods or Technical Note
New, adapted or validated methods, techniques and protocols, including surgical, endoscopic and imaging techniques.
Data Note
Descriptions of datasets and resources of value to pancreas research, with their collection, quality and access.
Commentary
Evidence-based argument on a current question in pancreatology or on published research.
Letter
Brief responses to articles published in the journal, or short observations of relevance to the field.
Where a manuscript sits between types, authors choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter, and the editors confirm the classification. A short case series is classified as a Case Report, a clinical trial or translational study as Original Research, a scoping or systematic review as a Review, and a study protocol or technique description as a Methods or Technical Note.
Scope questions
Is my topic within scope?
A manuscript is within scope when it addresses a question about the pancreas, whatever its discipline or setting. If you are unsure, send the title and abstract to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org before submitting.
Does JPAN consider case reports?
Yes. Case Reports and short case series are an accepted article type when the case carries a clear lesson for the field. Consent for publication is required where applicable.
Are laboratory and translational studies within scope?
Yes. Basic and translational research on the exocrine and endocrine pancreas is part of the journal's scope and is submitted as Original Research.
Can I submit work that has been posted as a preprint?
Yes. Posting a preprint is compatible with submission to JPAN. Cite the preprint and its DOI in the cover letter.
Preparing a submission
Read the Instructions for Authors and the Editorial Policies before submitting.