About APCR
What We Publish
APCR welcomes original research articles, brief reports, systematic and scoping reviews, meta-analyses, case reports with notable diagnostic insights, technical notes, method validations, quality improvement studies, image essays with educational value, commentaries, letters to the editor, and perspectives on policy or ethics in pathology. We value studies that demonstrate methodological rigor—appropriate controls, validated assays, reproducible analytical pipelines, and transparent data availability.
Clinical and Translational Reach
- Anatomic Pathology: tumor histomorphology, digital/AI-assisted pathology, subspecialty organ systems.
- Clinical Pathology/Lab Medicine: hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical chemistry, transfusion medicine, quality management.
- Molecular Diagnostics: NGS panels, minimal residual disease assays, bioinformatics, variant interpretation frameworks.
- Precision Medicine & Trials: biomarker qualification, companion diagnostics, lab developed tests, trial correlative studies.
- Education & Workforce: competency-based training, quality indicators, digital pathology implementation.
Scope note: A detailed “Aims & Scope” entry is provided separately in the navigation; the above is a concise overview for readers landing on this About page. Editorial Standards & Peer Review
APCR operates a double-blind peer review process: identities of authors and reviewers are not disclosed during evaluation. Authors should upload a Title Page (author details) and a Blinded Manuscript as separate files to preserve anonymity.
Reviewer Criteria
Manuscripts are assessed for originality, clinical relevance, methodological soundness, clarity of reporting, and ethical compliance (IRB/IEC approvals, consent for identifiable images, animal welfare). Where applicable, we encourage adherence to domain reporting standards (e.g., REMARK for tumor markers, STARD for diagnostic accuracy, PRISMA for systematic reviews).
Editorial Board & Leadership
APCR’s board includes senior academics and clinicians with expertise spanning diagnostic subspecialties. Public pages list Editor-in-Chief names and selected editors.
Open Access Model & Copyright
APCR publishes all content in open access. Articles are made immediately and permanently available online. The journal does not levy submission fees; Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply only after acceptance. The APC page for APCR confirms no submission charges and notes that an article processing fee is charged upon acceptance to cover editorial and production services. Specific currency amounts are not listed on the current APC page.
License: Unless otherwise stated, APCR intends to publish under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license to maximize reuse with attribution. If licensing on a given article differs (e.g., CC BY-NC), the PDF and HTML will specify the applicable rights.
Indexing, Visibility & Archiving
APCR provides open access dissemination and highlights streamlined editorial workflows and constructive peer review. The journal’s indexing/visibility page outlines author benefits and links to core policy pages (Open Access, Aims, Instructions, Editorial Guidelines, Licensing, Copyright).
APCR’s E-ISSN 2640-2874 is registered with the ISSN Portal, which lists “Archives of pathology and clinical research” as an online resource with ISSN-L 2640-2874. Inclusion in that registry supports discoverability and cataloging.
Back issues and current content can be explored via the “Current Issue” and “Previous Issue” listings on the site.
Research Integrity & Ethics
APCR upholds internationally recognized guidance for publication ethics. Editors and reviewers are expected to follow COPE principles for handling suspected misconduct, conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, and corrections/retractions. Authors must disclose ethical approvals for studies involving humans or animals and obtain consent where images or clinical details could identify individuals.
- Authorship and contributorship should reflect material contributions; use of contributor roles (CRediT taxonomy) is encouraged.
- Data availability statements should indicate where datasets, code, and materials can be accessed; controlled-access repositories are acceptable for sensitive data.
- Plagiarism checks are performed (iThenticate is referenced on site assets); text recycling is assessed contextually.
- Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions follow best-practice taxonomies with permanent article‐level notices and DOIs.
Quality, Timelines & Author Experience
We strive to provide prompt, constructive decisions without compromising rigor. Editorial triage targets suitability and ethical compliance, followed by masked peer review. Reviews focus on clinical applicability, reproducibility, and clarity. Where major revisions are requested, editors provide structured guidance to help authors succeed. The journal’s pages emphasize a “friendly and hassle-free publication process,” short production times after acceptance, and regular feedback.
Article Types & Typical Decisions
Article Type | Typical Components | Notes |
---|---|---|
Original Research | Structured abstract, methods with reproducible detail, statistics plan, ethics statements, data availability | Pre-registered protocols welcomed. |
Systematic Review/Meta-analysis | PRISMA checklist, comprehensive search strategies, bias assessment | Protocol registration recommended (e.g., PROSPERO). |
Case Report/Series | Clinical context, imaging/histology plates, differential diagnosis, learning points | Written patient consent required for identifiable material. |
Brief Report/Technical Note | Concise methods, validation metrics, limitations | Ideal for assay optimization or workflow innovations. |
Commentary/Editorial | Perspective on practice-changing evidence, policy implications | Invited or unsolicited with strong rationale. |
Contact the Editorial Office
For questions about scope, submissions, or APC invoices, reach us at:
Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
These addresses are listed on the Editorial Board contact page.
Ready to submit? Visit the Author Guidelines and then proceed to the submission portal.