Review Commons, the EMBO preprint peer review platform, is introducing a significant new development where multiple publishers are joining forces to collaboratively run the peer review process on behalf of the platform. This is a noteworthy shift in the scientific publishing landscape, where journals traditionally compete for common resources like authors and reviewers.
Following a successful pilot phase with editors from Development and Journal of Cell Science (published by The Company of Biologists), editors from additional journals are now bringing their field-specific expertise to the Review Commons peer review process. The research topics include neuroscience (eLife), genetics and genomics (Genetics and G3) and further depth in cell and molecular biology (Journal of Cell Biology), which complements the editorial work already performed by the editors of the EMBO Press journals on behalf of Review Commons.
“This approach will enable Review Commons to develop as a shared infrastructure-a true “commons” for journal-agnostic preprint peer review,” says Thomas Lemberger, Review Commons Project lead.
This collaboration between like-minded editorial teams aims to provide better service to authors and reduce the burden on reviewers. Instead of each journal working independently and potentially engaging in redundant peer review cycles, Review Commons builds a “distributed system,” where editorial teams from partner journals assist in running the journal-agnostic peer review process, drawing from their pools of expert reviewers.
Timothy Behrens, neuroscientist and eLife Editor-in-Chief, says: “eLife has been a long-term supporter of Review Commons. We’re pleased to provide additional support by contributing the expertise of neuroscience Senior Editors and helping expand the reach of Review Commons to the wider neuroscience community.”
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Review Commons with the introduction of this dedicated editorial board. Not only will we be able to share the great work of our authors more efficiently, but we will also expand our community of resources,” says Ruth Isaacson, Senior Managing Editor, Genetics Society of America.
