2016 - All Press Releases

New open access journal npj Precision Oncology announced by Springer Nature and The Hormel Institute

London, 19 April 2016

Submissions open today for npj Precision Oncology, a new open access, international, peer-reviewed journal that will publish cutting edge scientific research in all aspects of precision oncology, from basic science to translational applications to clinical medicine. The open access journal will be published by Springer Nature in partnership with The Hormel Institute University of Minnesota in Austin, Minnesota, United States.

Precision oncology deals with cancer diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment that is tailored specifically to the individual patient, based on the patient’s genetic and/or molecular profile. Dr. Magdalena Skipper, Executive Editor of Nature Partner Journals at Springer Nature said:

“Precision oncology is the growth area of precision medicine. A need exists for a journal where both preclinical and early clinical studies can be published together to help support this rapidly advancing field. As npj Precision Oncology will be open access, its articles will be able to be read and shared by anyone across the globe from researchers to clinicians to patients interested in the latest developments in precision oncology.”

npj Precision Oncology’s joint Editors-in-Chief are Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of the Hormel Institute and leader of the institute’s molecular and cellular biology research section, and Dr. Ann Bode, Associate Director of the Hormel Institute and leader of the institute’s cancer biomarkers and drug resistance research section.

Dr. Zigang Dong said: “We are partnering with Springer Nature to establish npj Precision Oncology as a leading journal that supports and assists dissemination of knowledge in this rapidly growing field.

"We have been able to successfully combine our world-class basic research findings here in the US with our translational and clinical studies conducted in the China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute (Zhengzhou, China). This international aspect plus our extensive local collaborations with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Centre combined with the launch of npj Precision Oncology positions The Hormel Institute to serve the scientific community and general public in this exciting area.”

Dr. Ann Bode said: “Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are good examples of the most exciting and active research areas in cancer in recent years.

Significant growth is occurring in translational oncology and this journal could include important single subject clinical trials rare responder studies, results of tissue analysis from clinical trials (e.g., biomarkers), studies of novel therapeutics and preventive agents that are effective only in a sub-set of animals or patients.”

In addition to publishing original basic science, translational and clinical research articles, npj Precision Oncology will also publish case reports, brief communications, commentaries, perspectives, and review articles. Each original research article will include a lay summary that will summarize the key issues with the goal of maximising the impact and reach of the research findings.

The npj Precision Oncology website can be found here, with the journal expected to launch its first content at the end of 2016. More information about the Nature Partner Journals programme can be found here.


ENDS

For more information contact:

Travis Taylor
Press Officer
Springer Nature
T: +44 (0)20 7843 4658
travis.taylor@nature.com

Mandie Siems
Communications Associate
The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
T: +1 507 437 9602
msiems@hi.umn.edu

About Nature Partner Journals

Nature Partner Journals are an online-only, open access series of journals, published by Springer Nature in partnership with global academic institutions, centres of excellence, philanthropic funders and membership associations. Launched in April 2014, the Nature Partner Journals series is a rapidly growing program, comprising of subject-specific titles covering both applied and basic science disciplines, which offer a high-quality open access option for authors within that field.

Nature Partner Journals adopt a modified set of Nature editorial standards, bringing together strong editorial leadership with world-class publication systems to deliver high-quality, peer-reviewed original research to the global scientific community. Transcending traditional research boundaries, innovative features such as lay summaries allow the Nature Partner Journals to serve as intersections for many disciplines and systems, opening up research to the wider public.

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is a leading global research, educational and professional publisher, home to an array of respected and trusted brands providing quality content through a range of innovative products and services. Springer Nature is the world’s largest academic book publisher, publisher of the world’s most influential journals and a pioneer in the field of open research. The company numbers almost 13,000 staff in over 50 countries and has a turnover of approximately €1.5 billion. Springer Nature was formed in 2015 through the merger of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media. Find out more: www.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature.

About The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota

Started in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is comprised of a group of highly successful medical scientists focused on determining the basic molecular mechanisms of cancer development to develop new anti-cancer agents. In 2014, The Hormel Institute started a major expansion to double the size of its facilities and staff by adding 20 state-of-the-art laboratories on its east side with better space for its International Center of Research Technology. The east addition is expected to be completed in early 2016 along with a new Live Learning Center on the Institute’s west side that will include a 250-seat lecture hall and advanced technology to facilitate international medical research collaborations and presentations. Overall, The Hormel Institute’s new expansion is expected to add about 120 faculty and staff jobs in the coming years, growing the Institute to about 250.