Skip to main content

Peer-review policy

Peer-review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess submitted manuscripts for originality, validity and significance to help editors determine whether the manuscript should be published in their journal. You can read more about the peer-review process here.

BMC Biology operates a single-blind peer-review system, where the reviewers are aware of the names and affiliations of the authors, but the reviewer reports provided to authors are anonymous. The benefit of single-blind peer-review is that it is the traditional model of peer review that many reviewers are comfortable with, and it facilitates a dispassionate critique of a manuscript.

BMC Biology considers articles across all fields of biology that are of interest to a broad readership of biologists and/or represent an exceptional advance within a specific field. Manuscripts are initially assessed by our in-house editors and, if appropriate, in consultation with relevant members of our authoritative Editorial Board, and those that are deemed of interest are sent for peer review. Peer reviewers are asked to assess the scientific soundness of articles, with special attention to whether sufficient detail is provided for a proper assessment, and they may also comment on the interest levels and the extent of the advance reported. Editorial Board Members may provide advice on manuscripts submitted but are not involved in the final decisions. The overall editorial responsibility for the journal is with the Chief Editor.

  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Team
  • Collections
  • Join the Editorial Board
  • Sign up for article alerts and news from this journal
  • Manuscript editing services
  • Contact Us
  • Annual Journal Metrics

    • 2022 Citation Impact
      5.4 - 2-year Impact Factor
      7.1 - 5-year Impact Factor
      1.461 - SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper)
      2.324 - SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

      2023 Speed
      10 days submission to first editorial decision for all manuscripts (Median)
      180 days submission to accept (Median)

      2023 Usage 
      2,378,081 downloads
      3,761 Altmetric mentions 

  • Peer Review Taxonomy

    This journal is participating in a pilot of NISO/STM's Working Group on Peer Review Taxonomy, to identify and standardize definitions and terminology in peer review practices in order to make the peer review process for articles and journals more transparent. Further information on the pilot is available here

    The following summary describes the peer review process for this journal:

    • Identity transparency: Single anonymized
    • Reviewer interacts with: Editor
    • Review information published: None.

    We welcome your feedback on this Peer Review Taxonomy Pilot. Please can you take the time to complete this short survey.

  • Announcements

    BMC Biology is recruiting new Editorial Board Members

    We are looking for Editorial Board Members in all fields of biology. If you are interested in becoming an EBM please see this page.

    Portable peer review

    BMC Biology supports portable peer review by sharing reviews and evaluating papers based on existing reports. Learn more here.

  • BMC Biology is a member of the Neuroscience Peer Review Consortium.