Aims & Scope

International Journal of Thorax publishes original research on the biomechanics, physiology, and biomedical engineering of thoracic systems, focusing on non-clinical investigations of respiratory mechanics, thoracic biomaterials, medical devices, and tissue engineering applications.

Respiratory Biomechanics Thoracic Biomaterials Medical Device Engineering Tissue Engineering Physiological Modeling

We do NOT consider clinical diagnosis, patient treatment protocols, surgical techniques, or clinical outcome studies. Our focus is on the scientific principles and engineering foundations underlying thoracic systems.

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Core Research Domains

Respiratory Biomechanics & Physiology

Pulmonary mechanics and airflow dynamics
Chest wall biomechanics and compliance
Respiratory muscle physiology and function
Gas exchange mechanisms and diffusion modeling
Ventilation-perfusion relationships
Computational fluid dynamics in airways

Typical fit: Computational modeling of airflow patterns in diseased versus healthy bronchial trees using particle image velocimetry.

Thoracic Biomaterials & Scaffolds

Biocompatible materials for thoracic applications
Scaffold design for lung tissue engineering
Mechanical properties of pleural membranes
Biodegradable polymers for respiratory devices
Surface modification for reduced inflammation
Material characterization and testing protocols

Typical fit: Mechanical characterization of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds for tracheal tissue engineering with tensile testing and biocompatibility assays.

Medical Devices & Instrumentation

Respiratory monitoring device development
Mechanical ventilator design and optimization
Bronchoscopic instrument engineering
Thoracic imaging device technology
Sensor integration for respiratory parameters
Device-tissue interaction mechanics

Typical fit: Design and benchtop validation of a novel pressure sensor array for real-time pleural pressure mapping during mechanical ventilation.

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Systems

Lung organoid development and characterization
Cell-scaffold interactions in thoracic tissues
Bioreactor design for lung tissue culture
Decellularization protocols for lung matrices
Vascularization strategies for engineered tissues
Mechanical conditioning of tissue constructs

Typical fit: Development of a perfusion bioreactor system for mechanical conditioning of decellularized lung scaffolds with quantitative assessment of extracellular matrix preservation.

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Secondary Focus Areas

Computational Modeling

Finite element analysis of thoracic structures, multiscale modeling of respiratory systems, and simulation of physiological processes in silico.

Imaging Technology

Development of imaging modalities for thoracic visualization, image processing algorithms, and quantitative analysis methods for structural assessment.

Biomechanical Testing

Novel testing methodologies for thoracic tissues and materials, standardization of mechanical characterization protocols, and validation frameworks.

Artificial Intelligence Applications

Machine learning for biomechanical prediction, AI-driven device optimization, and automated analysis of physiological data in research settings.

Microfluidics & Lab-on-Chip

Microfluidic models of pulmonary systems, organ-on-chip platforms for respiratory research, and miniaturized testing devices.

Biomimetic Systems

Bio-inspired design of respiratory devices, synthetic analogs of thoracic structures, and nature-inspired material development.

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Emerging Research Frontiers

Selective Consideration - Additional Editorial Review Required

4D Bioprinting: Additive manufacturing of dynamic thoracic tissue constructs with time-dependent mechanical properties.

Smart Biomaterials: Stimuli-responsive materials for adaptive thoracic devices and self-regulating tissue scaffolds.

Mechanobiology: Cellular responses to mechanical forces in thoracic tissues and mechanotransduction pathways.

Nanotechnology: Nanoscale materials and devices for respiratory applications, including nanoparticle delivery systems.

Wearable Sensors: Non-invasive monitoring technologies for respiratory mechanics in research environments.

Digital Twins: Virtual replicas of thoracic systems for predictive modeling and device testing simulations.

Note: Manuscripts in these emerging areas undergo additional editorial assessment to ensure alignment with our biomedical science focus. Clinical applications must be clearly distinguished from fundamental research contributions.

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Explicitly Out of Scope

We Do Not Consider

Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment

Patient diagnostic protocols, clinical treatment guidelines, therapeutic interventions, disease management strategies, or clinical outcome assessments. These belong in clinical medicine journals.
Surgical Techniques & Procedures

Operative methods, surgical approaches, procedural innovations, or perioperative management. Surgical research should be submitted to specialty surgical journals.
Clinical Trials & Patient Studies

Randomized controlled trials, observational patient studies, epidemiological investigations, or clinical cohort analyses. These require clinical research venues.
Pharmacological Interventions

Drug efficacy studies, pharmacokinetics in patients, clinical pharmacology, or medication trials. Pharmaceutical research belongs in pharmacology journals.
Pure Clinical Imaging

Radiological diagnosis, clinical imaging interpretation, or imaging-based patient management without substantial device development or image processing innovation.

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Article Types & Editorial Priorities

Priority 1

Fast-Track Review

Original Research Articles (3,000-6,000 words)
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Methods & Protocols (novel techniques)
Technical Notes (device development)

Priority 2

Standard Review

Short Communications (1,500-2,500 words)
Data Notes (datasets with validation)
Perspectives & Commentaries
Review Articles (invited or proposed)

Rarely

Selective Consideration

Case Reports (only with significant technical innovation)
Opinion Pieces (by invitation only)
Letters to the Editor (substantive technical content)

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Editorial Standards & Requirements

Reporting Guidelines

ARRIVE for animal studies, MDAR for materials/methods, PRISMA for systematic reviews, and discipline-specific checklists as applicable.

Data Availability

Raw data, code, and materials must be deposited in recognized repositories. Data availability statements required for all research articles.

Ethics Compliance

Institutional review board approval for human tissue studies. IACUC approval for animal research. Ethics statements mandatory.

Preprint Policy

Preprints on recognized servers (arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv) welcomed. Must be disclosed during submission. Does not affect consideration.

Reproducibility

Detailed methods enabling replication required. Statistical analysis plans, sample size calculations, and validation protocols must be transparent.

Conflict of Interest

Full disclosure of financial relationships, patent applications, and commercial interests. Industry collaborations must be transparent.

Editorial Performance Metrics

21 days Average First Decision

28% Acceptance Rate

45 days Submission to Publication

Open Access Model (APC)

Ready to Submit Your Research?

Ensure your manuscript focuses on biomedical science principles, device engineering, or tissue engineering—not clinical applications. Review our author guidelines for detailed submission requirements.

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International Journal of Thorax

International Journal of Thorax – Aim And Scope