About JHEP Reports

Published since 2019, JHEP Reports is EASL’s first open access journal with a 2021 Impact Factor of 9.917.

JHEP Reports is an innovative Journal publishing articles on global issues in hepatology, with specific focus on clinical trials, novel diagnostics, precision medicine and therapeutics, cellular and molecular research, metabolism, cancer, microbiome, systems biology, epidemiology, and biotechnology advances and devices.

JHEP Reports publishes original papers, reviews, and letters to the Editor and follows the article-based publishing model. Articles are published as soon as they are accepted for publication and proofs have been prepared and approved by the author and Editors, without waiting for an issue to be compiled.

Key Journal Statistics

Since its launch, submissions have been doubling year on year. The Journal is expected to receive upwards of 1’500 submissions per year in 2024, approximately 80% of which are original research manuscripts. Fifty percent of submissions are from Europe, with the rest coming from the USA and Asia.

Submissions are processed by the Editorial Office within 1-2 business days. For manuscripts that are externally reviewed, authors are typically notified within 32 days of submission. Approximately 30% of submitted manuscripts are transferred from Journal of Hepatology. The current acceptance rate is approximately 20%.

Organizational Structure

Editorial Team

The JHEP Reports board of editors should consist of one Editor-in-Chief, one Deputy Editor and up to 10 Associate Editors. The exact number of editors can be adjusted based on editorial considerations.

Associate Editor duties include assigning new manuscripts to appropriate referees and making timely decisions in collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief.

Editorial Board

The members of the Editorial Board will assist the Editorial team in refereeing of manuscripts submitted for publication.

Members of the Editorial Board will be selected, by the Editor-in-Chief, based on their expertise and standing within the scientific discipline, knowledge of the subject matter, and reflection of the actual or anticipated geographic scope of the scientific discipline of the Journal.

Editorial Office and Publisher

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial team will be supported by the EASL Editorial Office, located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Editorial Office manages the submission, production, and promotion of the Journal’s content. The Editorial Office works closely with JHEP Reports publishing partner, Elsevier, on matters related to production, online presence, marketing, and new business opportunities.

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

General responsibilities

1. Publish the most authoritative, original, and high-quality research in JHEP Reports
2. Actively solicit the submission of the best work in emerging areas of importance in the field of liver disease and liver pathophysiology.
3. Promote the advancement of the field of hepatology, fostering the scientific exchange of ideas in all the subspecialty areas contained in JHEP Reports.
4. Boost readership by enhancing the quality and impact of the Journal.
5. Build the reputation of the Journal among clinical and translational investigators and basic researchers.
6. Act as the voice of the Journal, including representing the Journal at major scientific meetings in order to attract submissions.

Duties

1. Take responsibility for the scientific content of JHEP Reports.
2. Select members of the Editorial Team, ensuring diversity in terms of expertise, nationality and gender.
3. Invite authors to write review articles and other special papers.
4. Deal with conflicts of interest, ethical issues, errata, and retractions.
5. Monitor and constantly improve the editorial quality of JHEP Reports, in concert with the Associate Editors, and balancing the contents in the different sub-specialty areas.
6. Supervise the processes of peer review, reviewer selection, and communication with authors. Make every effort to ensure a rapid and efficient review of all submitted papers.
7. Maintain the flow of accepted papers on  a  schedule  for regular  monthly publication, and at a level that ensures the financial sustainability  of JHEP Reports
8. Report at least once a year to the EASL Governing Board, and to the EASL General Assembly, illustrating all the relevant figures related to the Journal’s activity and the general strategy.
9. Lead two annual meetings of the Editorial Team, including one in person at the time of the EASL Annual Meeting, and another one online.
10. Collaborate on a mutual basis with the editorial team of other EASL publications.
11. Work closely with EASL’s Editorial Office to accomplish these duties efficiently and effectively.

Tenure

The Editorship will begin on January 1st, 2024 and conclude December 31st, 2028. There will be a 3-month transitional period prior to the handover of this position.

Honoraria and Expenses

The Editor-in-Chief will receive an annual honorarium of €20’000, as approved by the EASL Governing Board. Honoraria for Deputy and Associate editors will be determined and approved by the EASL Governing Board.

Governance

The Editor-in-Chief will be responsible for, and have control over, the scientific content of the Journal, taking into account the Aims & Scope and the editorial policies of the Journal and the institutional and financial objectives established by the EASL Governing Board. EASL will not interfere in the evaluation, selection, or editing of individual articles, either directly or by creating an environment in which editorial decisions can be influenced.

The Editor-in-Chief shall have full authority over the editorial content of the Journal, with the exception that EASL Governing Board decisions concerning the publication of statements are not subject to the editorial authority of the Editor-in-Chief.

All matters related to the finances of the Journal are the sole responsibility of the EASL Governing Board and are managed by the EASL Office Managing Director under the control of the EASL Treasurer and EASL Secretary General. The Editor-in-Chief shall not be involved in any financial contributions, neither by soliciting nor obtaining any sponsorship, to the Journal.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Recognized researcher/scientist in clinical or basic and translational research (familiarity with clinical, and basic translational research a plus).
• A distinguished record of scholarly contributions, with many high-quality publications and prior experience as a reviewer in the field of hepatology or a related field.
• High level contribution to the field of hepatology and scientific recognition.
• Strong leadership qualities and the ability to work constructively with those involved in the publication process.
• Strong organisational skills, and the ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure.
• The ability and intention to protect sufficient time to carry out their duties as Editor-in-Chief, with an estimated time commitment of 20 percent.
• Previous experience as editor, preferably as Editor-in-Chief or Co-Editor.

To apply

To apply, applicants should provide the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining relevant skills, experience, and interest in the role
• A current curriculum vitae
• A vision statement including:
• The specific objectives and strategies to achieve them, including increasing readership, reputation and impact factor
• Evaluation of JHEP Reports content, layout and policies and any recommendations for change.
• An analysis of the current challenges facing the field of scientific publishing and how they can affect JHEP Reports.
• A description of the proposed editorial team, including names, affiliation, and area of interest.
• Vision of how EASL journals can work together collaboratively.
• Any other information deemed appropriate.

Review Criteria

1. The candidates will be evaluated in terms of reputation, experience, and integrity. The Editor-in-Chief is expected to be located at an academic institution and will hold a full-time, nationally and internationally recognized position. The individual must be perceived as unquestionably fair-minded and must be capable of leading a strong team. The Editor-in-Chief must be sensitive to the economics of the Open Access publication model and include economic considerations in their decision-making.
2. The proposed team of editors will be evaluated for their reputation, experience, and integrity. Particularly attention will be paid to balance and diversity; proposals with effective gender balance will be favoured. To that end we strongly encourage candidates to consider gender, age, expertise and geographic location when selecting the members of the editorial team.
3. The Editor-in-Chief’s vision for the publication will be evaluated in terms of its achievability and its potential to bring and maintain the Journal in a prominent position within the specialty. The challenges facing the publishing industry must be taken into consideration.

Please submit your application to Dr Joël Walicki at joel.walicki@easloffice.eu

Application deadline: December 31, 2022

Successful applicants will be invited for an interview during the first quarter of 2023.