Elsevier and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics announce the forthcoming launch of Genetics in Medicine Open

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics(opens in new tab/window) (ACMG), the only nationally recognized US medical professional organization solely dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics, and Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, are delighted to announce the January 2023 launch of a new gold open access, online only journal: Genetics in Medicine Open(opens in new tab/window) (GIM Open), an Official Journal of the ACMG.

GIM Open will complement ACMG’s flagship journal Genetics in Medicine(opens in new tab/window) (GIM), also published by Elsevier, and is designed to meet the evolving needs of the global medical genetics and genomics community and expand its open access publishing options. Published under Creative Commons license, all GIM Open articles will be immediately, permanently, and openly available online for readers to view, download, share, and reuse. This will enable authors to more easily comply with funder and institutional mandates, even as requirements continue to evolve.

ACMG’s decision to expand the breadth of its openly available content directly supports its mission to improve personal and public health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics; advocacy, education, and clinical research programs; and the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare.

“I am excited about our new gold open access journal that will be available to anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world independent of financial resources or library access. GIM Open will be an international journal with a focus on medical genetics and genomic medicine including all aspects of therapy,” noted ACMG retiring Chief Executive Officer Maximilian Muenke, MD, FACMG, who led the development of the new journal. “It will be a trail blazer for diversity, equity, and inclusion from a double anonymous review process of manuscripts, to the Editor-in-Chief and an editorial board that truly reflects our society in the United States and around the world. We are fortunate to work with our colleagues Robert D. Steiner, MD, FAAP, FACMG, and Jan Higgins, PhD, ELS, from GIM and our publisher Elsevier on the start of this new venture. As a medical geneticist who thinks that genomic medicine is the present and future of medicine, GIM Open will educate healthcare professionals to contribute to optimal patient care everywhere.”

GIM Open’s eminent international editorial board will be led by Editor-in-Chief Bo Yuan, PhD, FACMG(opens in new tab/window), Baylor College of Medicine, an internationally recognized expert in the field. “I am tremendously honored and excited to serve as the founding editor of this new journal that will actively support open science for the medical, scientific and research professionals in a broad range of specialties who comprise our ACMG community,” said Dr. Yuan. “Collectively, members of the editorial board and I are dedicated to the rapid dissemination of high quality, authoritative and cutting-edge medical genetic knowledge both within and beyond the genetics community with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.”

Louise Curtis, Senior Vice President, Life Sciences and Social Sciences, Elsevier, commented, “We are extremely pleased to expand our publishing portfolio with ACMG, building on our collaborative partnership with this prestigious society that began in 2022 with publication of GIM. Launching GIM Open strongly aligns with our mission to help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society, and we share the commitment to inclusion and diversity at the heart of this exciting new venture.”

GIM Open manuscript processing will include rigorous double anonymous peer review, a rapid submission to publication decision turnaround time, and an expedited publication timeline. Detailed instructions for authors and information regarding open access and publishing fees can be found here(opens in new tab/window). Manuscript submission will open as of October 25, 2022. Papers submitted to GIM may be considered for publication in GIM Open if deemed more appropriate for that journal.

It is Elsevier’s intention to submit GIM Open for inclusion in the major abstracting and indexing services at the earliest opportunity.

As one of the fastest-growing open access publishers in the world, nearly all of Elsevier's 2,700 journals enable open access publishing, including 600 fully open access journals. In 2021, Elsevier published 119,000 gold or pay-to-publish open access articles, an increase of more than 46% over 2020, making Elsevier one of the largest open access publishers in the world.

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Notes for editors

About Genetics in Medicine Open (GIM Open)

Genetics in Medicine Open (GIM Open)(opens in new tab/window) is an open access journal with a broad focus on medical genetics and genomic medicine including all aspects of therapy. It will have a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion and will have a double anonymous review process for submitted manuscripts.

Positioned as an official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the companion journal of Genetics in Medicine, GIM Open aims to be an international journal publishing research studies that advance the knowledge, understanding, and practice of medical genetics and genomic medicine for all continents. GIM Open welcomes submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Commentaries and Brief Reports in the areas of clinical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, reproductive medicine, cancer genetics, pharmacogenomics, clinical trials, population genetics, public health, genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk, bioinformatics, methodologies, clinical implementation, ELSI (ethical, legal and social issues), genetic counseling, and practical standards and guidelines.

Manuscripts reporting animal models providing clinically relevant insights into human disease mechanisms and potential therapeutics are also welcome. Manuscripts of candidate disease gene discoveries based on a small cohort size but solidified by a high standard of scientific rigor, validity and reproducibility may be considered. Rare case reports may be considered if they fill a knowledge gap in populations underrepresented in genetics research or experiencing health disparities, or inform exceptionally significant actionability in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics. GIM Open promotes studies that include diverse especially under-represented populations.

About Elsevier and society partnerships

Elsevier has long-standing partnerships with over 600 learned societies worldwide, helping them to realize their missions and inspire and support their communities. We pride ourselves on consistently delivering outstanding publishing outcomes through strategic insight, reliable finances, global dissemination, embracing open science and open access, and championing the needs of the communities we jointly serve. www.elsevier.com/societies

About American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)(opens in new tab/window) is the only nationally recognized medical professional organization solely dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics, and the only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization. The ACMG is the largest membership organization specifically for medical geneticists, providing education, resources and a voice for nearly 2,500 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80 percent of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG’s mission is to improve health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health.

About the Editor-in-Chief

Bo Yuan, PhD, FACMG(opens in new tab/window) is an Associate Professor of the Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) and the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). He is also a Division Director of the Clinical Laboratories of HGSC. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Nankai University in China, he came to the United States and completed his PhD training in molecular and human genetics at BCM. He then received the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) fellowship at BCM and was subsequently board-certified in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Clinical Cytogenetics.

Dr. Yuan is an active laboratory geneticist and academic researcher with interest in characterizing new mechanisms of human genetic disorders, investigating, developing and implementing tools to improve molecular diagnostics and genomic data interpretation, and enhancing the visibility of genomic medicine in clinical care. He has authored and co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Yuan is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). He is also a contributing member of other professional communities, including the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), ClinGen Variant Curation Expert Panel, and ACMG evidence-based guideline (EBG) workgroup. He has also been a longtime reviewer for a number of journals.

About Elsevier

As a global leader in scientific information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making with innovative solutions based on trusted, evidence-based content and advanced AI-enabled digital technologies.

We have supported the work of our research and healthcare communities for more than 140 years. Our 9,500 employees around the world, including 2,500 technologists, are dedicated to supporting researchers, librarians, academic leaders, funders, governments, R&D-intensive companies, doctors, nurses, future healthcare professionals and educators in their critical work. Our 2,900 scientific journals and iconic reference books include the foremost titles in their fields, including Cell Press, The Lancet and Gray’s Anatomy.

Together with the Elsevier Foundation(opens in new tab/window), we work in partnership with the communities we serve to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world.

Elsevier is part of RELX(opens in new tab/window), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information on our work, digital solutions and content, visit www.elsevier.com.