Aims & Scope

Aims

In vivo studies with model organisms are critical for uncovering the complex interactions between genes, cells, organisms and their environment. As a Springer Nature journal, LabAnimal is dedicated to publishing the latest innovations in in vivo science & technology. In addition, LabAnimal also strives to provide the in vivo community with expert opinions on a range of topics through reviews and perspectives, as well as important news in industry, policy and regulatory matters impacting basic and preclinical research.

LabAnimal encourages submissions of innovative methods and techniques that improve and expand the use of model organisms in the lab, and research that deepens our basic understanding of model organisms and the opportunities/challenges for modeling human health and disease. 

For primary research articles, authors should submit the ARRIVE guidelines checklist as supplemental material along with their manuscripts. For any areas in the ARRIVE guidelines that do not apply to their manuscript, authors should mark N/A. 

Data policy: the goal of LabAnimal is to provide the in vivo community with knowledge critical for developing and improving the use of model organisms in the laboratory, and we support a transparent approach to publishing. Authors of submitted primary research manuscripts are required to provide numerical data sets used for analysis and figures in a readily accessible form via supplementary material, public repository, or provide a statement of data availability. Authors of published papers are also required to make any code, materials or protocols associated with the paper promptly available to readers without undue qualifications.

Scope

The journal’s broad scope covers invertebrate and vertebrate models and a wide breadth of in vivo methods and topics including, but not limited to:

  • Phenotyping
  • Genetics
  • Behavior
  • Development
  • Microbiome
  • Imaging
  • Bioinformatics
  • High-throughput methods
  • Omics methods and data (phenomics, genomics, metabolomics)
  • Novel platforms for physiology and behavior
  • Chimeras and applied stem cell technologies
  • Disease models
  • Stress and pain
  • Experimental design
  • Preclinical studies
  • Vivarium innovations
  • Aging