Aims & Scope
Journal of Pancreas (JPAN) publishes original research, systematic reviews, and clinical studies advancing the understanding of pancreatic structure, function, pathophysiology, and therapeutic interventions across the full spectrum of pancreatic health and disease.
Pancreatic Physiology
Pancreatitis
Pancreatic Cancer
Diabetes Mellitus
Surgical Interventions
Diagnostic Imaging
⚠ Scope Boundary: We do NOT consider submissions focused primarily on non-pancreatic organs, general sleep medicine, or psychiatric pharmacology without direct pancreatic relevance.
Core Research Domains
Pancreatic Physiology & Endocrinology
- Islet cell biology and insulin secretion mechanisms
- Exocrine pancreatic function and enzyme regulation
- Pancreatic development and regeneration
- Endocrine-exocrine interactions
- Glucose homeostasis and metabolic regulation
- Pancreatic hormone signaling pathways
Typical Fit: Studies examining molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion in beta cells, pancreatic enzyme synthesis regulation, or developmental biology of pancreatic organogenesis.
Pancreatic Inflammatory Diseases
- Acute pancreatitis: etiology, pathogenesis, management
- Chronic pancreatitis: progression, complications, treatment
- Autoimmune pancreatitis and IgG4-related disease
- Hereditary pancreatitis and genetic risk factors
- Pancreatic necrosis and pseudocyst formation
- Post-ERCP pancreatitis prevention and management
Typical Fit: Clinical trials evaluating novel therapeutic approaches for acute pancreatitis, genetic studies of hereditary pancreatitis mutations, or epidemiological analyses of pancreatitis risk factors.
Pancreatic Neoplasia & Oncology
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma biology and treatment
- Neuroendocrine tumors: diagnosis and management
- Cystic neoplasms (IPMN, MCN, SCN)
- Molecular carcinogenesis and tumor microenvironment
- Targeted therapies and immunotherapy approaches
- Surgical oncology and perioperative outcomes
Typical Fit: Translational research on pancreatic cancer biomarkers, clinical outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy, or molecular profiling studies identifying therapeutic targets.
Diagnostic & Therapeutic Interventions
- Advanced imaging: EUS, MRCP, CT protocols
- Endoscopic interventions and ERCP techniques
- Minimally invasive and robotic surgery
- Pancreatic transplantation and islet cell therapy
- Interventional radiology procedures
- Novel diagnostic biomarkers and liquid biopsy
Typical Fit: Comparative effectiveness studies of diagnostic imaging modalities, technical innovations in endoscopic drainage procedures, or outcomes research in pancreatic surgery.
Secondary Focus Areas
Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders
- Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with pancreatic focus
- Pancreatogenic diabetes (Type 3c)
- Insulin therapy and glucose monitoring technologies
- Artificial pancreas systems and closed-loop control
- Metabolic complications of pancreatic disease
Genetic & Molecular Research
- Genetic mutations in pancreatic disease susceptibility
- Epigenetic regulation of pancreatic function
- Signal transduction pathways (Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch)
- Gene therapy approaches for pancreatic disorders
- Pharmacogenomics in pancreatic disease treatment
Congenital & Developmental Disorders
- Annular pancreas and pancreatic malformations
- Cystic fibrosis-related pancreatic insufficiency
- Congenital hyperinsulinism
- Pancreatic agenesis and hypoplasia
- Prenatal diagnosis of pancreatic anomalies
Multidisciplinary Approaches
- Gut-pancreas axis and microbiome interactions
- Nutritional management in pancreatic disease
- Pain management in chronic pancreatitis
- Palliative care in advanced pancreatic cancer
- Quality of life and patient-reported outcomes
Emerging Research Frontiers
Explicit Exclusions
Out of Scope
✗ Primary Sleep Medicine & Psychiatric Pharmacology
Rationale: Studies focused on insomnia, melatonin, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or paroxetine without direct pancreatic disease context (e.g., drug-induced pancreatitis, metabolic effects on pancreatic function) belong in specialized psychiatry or sleep medicine journals.
✗ Non-Pancreatic Gastrointestinal Disorders
Rationale: Gallbladder disease, biliary dyskinesia, cholecystokinin studies, or duodenal pathology without clear pancreatic involvement or interaction should be submitted to hepatobiliary or general gastroenterology journals.
✗ General Antibiotic Pharmacology
Rationale: Studies on levofloxacin, fluoroquinolones, or general antibiotic efficacy without specific focus on pancreatic infections, drug-induced pancreatitis, or pancreatic abscess management are better suited for infectious disease or pharmacology journals.
✗ Non-Pancreatic Neurological Conditions
Rationale: Hydranencephaly and other primary neurological disorders without pancreatic manifestations or metabolic connections fall outside our scope and should be directed to neurology journals.
✗ General Cholesterol & Lipid Metabolism
Rationale: Broad cholesterol studies without specific pancreatic context (e.g., lipid-induced pancreatitis, pancreatic lipase function) belong in endocrinology or cardiovascular journals.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track
High-Impact Research
- Original Research Articles
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Clinical Trials
- Novel Methodologies
- Translational Studies
Priority 2: Standard
Specialized Contributions
- Short Communications
- Technical Notes
- Data Reports
- Perspectives & Commentaries
- Imaging Case Series
Priority 3: Selective
Limited Consideration
- Single Case Reports (exceptional only)
- Opinion Pieces (invited)
- Letters to Editor
- Historical Perspectives
- Educational Reviews
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- ARRIVE for animal research
- CARE for case reports (when accepted)
- STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
Data & Ethics Requirements
- Open data sharing encouraged (repository deposition)
- IRB/Ethics committee approval required for human studies
- IACUC approval required for animal research
- Clinical trial registration (ClinicalTrials.gov or equivalent)
- Conflict of interest disclosure mandatory
- Patient consent for identifiable information
Preprint & Publication Policy
- Preprint deposition permitted and encouraged
- No prior publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Conference abstracts acceptable
- Duplicate submission prohibited
- Preregistration of clinical trials required
- Transparent reporting of funding sources
Peer Review Process
- Single-blind peer review standard
- Minimum two independent reviewers
- Statistical review for quantitative studies
- Ethics review for sensitive research
- Post-publication peer review enabled
- Transparent editorial decision criteria
Editorial Performance Metrics
Publication Timeline & Transparency
21 days
Median Time to First Decision
35%
Overall Acceptance Rate
45 days
Median Time to Publication
Open
Access Model
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your work aligns with our core domains and meets our editorial standards, we invite you to submit your manuscript for peer review. Our editorial team is committed to fair, rigorous, and timely evaluation of all submissions.
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