Annual Report 2024 for Exploration of Medicine

Exploration of Medicine (EM) is a peer-reviewed, open-access online journal that publishes cutting-edge research offering substantial insights into various areas of medicine. Under the leadership of Professor Lindsay A. Farrer from Boston University, EM has established itself as a platform for high-quality scientific contributions. 

Since its launch in February 2020, EM has been indexed in prominent databases such as Scopus, DOAJ, Google Scholar, and CAS, reflecting its growing recognition within the academic community. In June 2023, EM achieved its first Scopus CiteScore of 1.8 (CiteScore 2022), which increased to 2.1 (CiteScore 2023) in June 2024, marking continued progress in its development. As of 2024, EM has published 268 articles, garnered 788 citations (Source: Dimensions), and assembled an editorial board of 87 distinguished members from 16 countries and regions, with an average H-index of 50. Additionally, EM has released 37 special issues covering diverse medical fields, attracting hundreds of thousands of views and further solidifying its impact in the scientific community.

In 2024, EM experienced growth with more submissions, increased citations, and successful collaborations with international conferences. These achievements are a result of the ongoing efforts of our editorial board, authors, reviewers, and readers, and they set the stage for further progress in the years to come.

Key Achievements in 2024

The Editorial Office is pleased to present the following key highlights for the year 2024:

• Submissions: A total of 357 submissions were received, including 166 original articles (46% of total submissions).

• Publications: 67 articles were published, 28 of which were original articles (42% of total publications).

• Citations: As of 2024, EM has garnered 788 citations and the mean citation reached to 2.94 (Source: Dimensions).

• Special Issues: 9 Special Issues were released, led by expert guest editors from various countries.

• Editorial Board: 14 new members were welcomed from 8 countries/regions, bringing the Editorial Board to 87 members.

• Editorial Meetings: The second Editorial Board meeting was held.

• Databases: Achieved the CiteScore 2023 of 2.1, ranking Q2 in the category “General Medicine”.

• Journal Promotion & Collaboration: The journal successfully collaborated with three academic conferences.

Submission and Publication

Volume and Types

In 2024, EM received 357 submissions, published 67 publications. Since its launch in 2020, the journal has seen a consistent increase in submissions, with a remarkable annual growth rate of 75.75%, rising from 54 submissions in 2020 to 357 in 2024. By the end of 2024, EM had surpassed 1,000 total submissions, highlights EM's expanding reach in medical research. 

Figure 1. Annual Submission Volume, Publication Volume

Additionally, it is worth noting that the proportion of original articles (OAs) submitted has remained stable at 45-47% over the past three years, approaching half of all submissions. At the same time, OA publications have increased both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of publications, rising from 27% in 2022 to 42% in 2024. As of 2024, the publication rate of original articles reached 34% (based on a total of 268 publications), reflecting a healthy and sustainable growth trajectory [Figure 2]. Looking ahead to 2025, EM will continue to prioritize the publication of high-quality research, with a particular focus on maintaining a balanced distribution of publication types while further supporting the dissemination of high impact original articles.

Figure 2. Types of Publications (by December 31, 2024)

Authors

In 2024, EM published 67 articles, contributed by 67 corresponding authors from 27 countries. Leading countries included Italy, the USA [Figure 3]. Among the authors were many distinguished experts, such as our Editor-in-Chief, Professor Lindsay A. Farrer (Boston University, H-index of 106), Professor Lillian Barros (Prague Institute of Technology, H-index of 90), and Professor Rhoda Au (Framingham Heart Study, H-index of 82). Notably, 39 authors had an H-index greater than 30. The participation of these accomplished researchers has significantly enhanced the journal’s academic influence and reputation.

Figure 3. Country Distribution of Corresponding Authors

Article Metrics

Of the 67 articles published in 2024, EM achieved notable engagement and impact: 30 articles were viewed more than 1,000 times, 11 were downloaded more than 50 times, and the article citation rate reached to 25.37%. This strong performance underscores the journal’s potential for continued growth and impact in the years ahead.

Table 1. Top 5 most viewed articles published in 2024

Highly Cited Paper Award 2024

Launched in 2020, the Highly Cited Paper Award highlights exceptional papers that demonstrate notable academic impact and scholarly value, while encouraging global contributions to the scientific community. As of the end of 2023, EM has recognized 9 high-impact papers, significantly enhancing the journal's citation count and contributing to its growing international academic influence.

In 2024, the EM editorial team, in collaboration with citation data from the Web of Science (WOS) and the professional evaluation from Editor-in-Chief Lindsay A. Farrer, carefully selected the award-winning papers based on their scholarly merit and contributions to their respective fields [Table 2]. After evaluation, two articles from Dr. Nermeen A. Elkasabgy’s special issue Exploration of Medicine belong to the special issue Exploration of 3D and 4D Printing in the Biomedical and Personalized Medicine Fields: Merits and Challenges stand out.

Table 2. Winning Papers of Highly Cited Paper Award 2024

Journal Impact

Indexing

In 2024, the journal achieved the CiteScore 2023 of 2.1, up from 1.8 of 2022. This increase, while seemingly small, is significant in the academic field. This means that over the past year articles published in EM journal have had a wider impact in academia, attracting more researchers' attention and citations. In addition, out of a total of 636 journals in General Medicine, EM ranked 239th, located in Q2 region. This progress is closely related to the support and contribution of the majority of scientific researchers and professionals. (Scopus preview - Scopus - Exploration of Medicine)

Figure 4. Scopus CiteScore of EM

Citation Performance

As of 2024, EM has published a total of 268 articles and received 788 citations, reflecting a significant increase in its academic influence. The mean citation has risen to 2.94, up from 2.24 in 2023, demonstrating a notable improvement in the quality and impact of the journal's content. Since its inclusion in Scopus in March 2022, EM has experienced consistent growth in both total citations per year and mean citation rates. As a journal that has not been established for long time, EM is still in the process of establishing its reputation, and the steady rise in citations suggests a positive trajectory. Under this trend, the total and mean citation of EM are expected to continue growing, reflecting the journal's gradual development and increasing recognition within the academic community. 

Figure 5. Annual Total Citation and Mean Citation (Source: Dimensions)

Manuscript Processing

Manuscript Processing Time

In 2024, the average time from submission to acceptance was 83.9 days, and the time from acceptance to publication dropped significantly by 50.6 days (a 42.9% decrease), compared to 2023, reflecting substantial gains in editing and production efficiency. In 2025, EM will continue to focus on optimizing the submission-to-acceptance timeline to improve author satisfaction and attract more high-quality submissions.

Reviewers

In 2024, 362 reviewers participated in the peer review process, with the average H-index of 32. The average number of valid comments received in the first round of peer review is 3.5. Their expert feedback has significantly enhanced the quality of submissions, strengthening the journal's academic reputation.

Figure 6. Leading Country Distribution of 2024 Reviewers

Editorial Board

Editorial Board Composition

In 2024, we were delighted to welcome 14 new Editorial Board members from 8 countries, including the USA, China, Italy, Chile, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, further enhancing the journal's international reach. These distinguished experts bring a wealth of knowledge in fields such as cardiovascular medicine, dentistry, endocrinology, genetics, neuroscience, oncology, ophthalmology, and regenerative medicine. We deeply appreciate their commitment to supporting the journal’s scientific mission and advancing its impact in the global research community. 

Figure 7. Newly Joined Editorial Board Members in 2024

By the end of 2024, the Editorial Board of the journal had grown to 87 members from 16 countries/regions, including 1 Chief Editor, 11 Associate Editors, and 75 Editorial Board Members, with an impressive average H-index of 50. Among them are distinguished experts in various fields of medicine, such as Professor Giovanni Targher (Universitaria Integrata of Verona, H-index of 107), Professor Louis Gabriel Navar (Tulane University School of Medicine, H-index of 81), Professor Haijun Yu (Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS, H-index of 70), Professor Weihong Tan (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, H-index of 156), etc.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all editorial board members for their invaluable contributions in 2024, including leading special issues, submitting papers, handling manuscripts, and promoting the journal at conferences. The unwavering support of our editorial board has been the driving force and foundation behind the journal’s rapid development and continued expansion. As we move into 2025, we look forward to deepening our collaboration and engagement with the editorial board to achieve new goals and help EM reach even greater milestones.

Figure 8. 2024 Editorial Board Distribution by Countries/Regions

Editorial Board Meeting

On June 27, 2024, the second editorial board meeting was successfully held, led by Professor Lindsay A. Farrer, and Professor Margaret M. DeAngelis, Professor Elizabeth Ann L. Enninga, Professor Carlos M. Ferrario, Professor Amedeo Lonardo, Professor Hongzhou Lu, et al, a total of more than 20 editorial board members in attendance. Everyone engaged in a lively and productive discussion on the journal’s development history, current challenges, and future plans. The editorial board members actively participated, offering valuable insights and suggestions. Following the meeting, the editorial office shared the meeting summary with all editorial board members, receiving numerous positive responses. The dedication and contributions of all participants continue to drive the journal’s growth and success.

Figure 9. The Second Editorial Board Meeting

Special Issue

In 2024, EM released 9 special issues, covering a variety of topics including prostate cancer, oral health, cardiovascular medicine, artificial intelligence, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, oncology, HIV, and cancer. These issues were led by guest editors from around the world, with an average H-index of 37. 

Additionally, EM successfully completed 4 special issues focused on cutting-edge topics such as exceptional longevity, 3D/4D printing in biomedical fields, RNA research, and clinical applications of cannabis. Each of these issues garnered over 10,000 reviews in 2024, underscoring their significant influence and widespread engagement within the academic community. These collections were guided by distinguished guest editors, including Professor Calogero Caruso (University of Palermo, H-index of 69), Professor Marco Ragusa (Università degli Studi di Catania, H-index of 38), and Professor Staci Gruber (McLean Hospital, H-index of 44), with other renowned experts. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these editors for their invaluable contributions. The success and growing recognition of these special issues would not have been possible without their expertise, dedication, and unwavering support.

Table 3. Newly Released Special Issues in 2024 (Open for Submission)

Figure 10. Some of the Completed Special Issues in 2024

Journal Promotion and Collaboration

Social Media Engagement

As of December 31, 2024, EM has 6,978 linkedin friends, 2,709 page followers, and 305 Twitter followers. By sharing a variety of content, such as newly published articles, announcements, updates on editorial board members, and special issue highlights, EM has successfully engaged with a broader audience, further enhancing the journal's visibility and influence across platforms.

Conference Collaborations

In 2024, EM significantly enhanced its visibility by collaborating with three major academic conferences, broadening its exposure to diverse medical communities and strengthening its professional network. Our board members, Prof. Prabir Patra and Prof. Hua Su, played a huge role in this process, such as distributing leaflets at these conferences, introducing EM to attendees and promoting the journal's mission and content. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to collaborate with more editorial board members, guest editors and conferences to further promote the journal and expand its reach within the academic and medical communities.

Table 4. Conference Collaborations in 2024

Figure 11. Prof. Prabir Patra of EM Editorial Board Promotes Journal at 2024 BMES Annual Meeting

Figure 12. EM Proudly Sponsored the 30th Congress of the International Society of Hypertension - ISH 2024

Figure 13. Prof. Hua Su Showcased EM at International Stroke Conference 2024

Conclusion

2024 was a remarkable year for Exploration of Medicine, marked by significant achievements in submissions, publications, citations, and special issues, reflecting its growing influence in the academic field. We are deeply grateful to our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their invaluable support and contributions. Their dedication has been essential to our progress, and we look forward to another year of success and growth.

As we look ahead to 2025, the journal remains committed to publishing high-quality research, enhancing its CiteScore, expanding its presence in more databases, and fostering international collaborations. With the continued support of our global network, EM is poised for even greater success in the coming years. We are confident that the journal will continue to evolve and strengthen its position as a leading platform for cutting-edge research in medicine. The future holds vast potential for EM, and together, we will continue to make meaningful contributions to the medical community and beyond.

Best Regards,

EM Editorial Office

Contact Us: emjournal@explorationpub.com

EM Website: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/em

Submission Link: https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/emed

2024 Annual Report of Exploration of Medicine.pdf