Aims & Scope
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Pathology (JCDP) publishes mechanistic research elucidating molecular pathways, cellular dysfunction, and pathophysiological processes underlying human disease, with emphasis on biomarker discovery and disease model development.
Molecular Pathogenesis
Disease Mechanisms
Biomarker Discovery
Cellular Pathology
Pathophysiology
Core Research Domains
Molecular Pathogenesis
- Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of disease initiation
- Signaling pathway dysregulation in pathological states
- Molecular targets in disease progression
- Gene-environment interactions in disease susceptibility
- Protein misfolding and aggregation pathologies
- RNA biology in disease mechanisms
Typical Fit Example:
"Elucidating the role of KRAS mutations in activating downstream MAPK signaling cascades that drive cellular transformation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma"
Cellular & Tissue Pathophysiology
- Cellular stress responses and adaptation mechanisms
- Autophagy and apoptosis in disease contexts
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic reprogramming
- Endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response
- Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in pathology
- Tissue remodeling and fibrotic processes
Typical Fit Example:
"Investigating mitochondrial oxidative stress and ATP depletion as drivers of cardiomyocyte dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy models"
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
- Novel molecular biomarkers for disease detection
- Prognostic and predictive biomarker identification
- Liquid biopsy and circulating biomarker analysis
- Proteomic and metabolomic profiling in disease
- MicroRNA and exosome-based biomarkers
- Validation of biomarkers in preclinical models
Typical Fit Example:
"Discovery and validation of circulating microRNA signatures that correlate with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma development in chronic hepatitis B patients"
Disease Models & Mechanisms
- Development and characterization of disease models
- In vitro cellular models of pathological processes
- Animal models recapitulating human disease
- Organoid and 3D culture systems for disease modeling
- Mechanistic studies using genetic manipulation
- Comparative pathology across model systems
Typical Fit Example:
"Characterization of a novel transgenic mouse model expressing mutant tau protein that recapitulates key neuropathological features of frontotemporal dementia"
Secondary Focus Areas
Immunopathology & Inflammation
Molecular mechanisms of immune dysregulation, inflammatory signaling cascades, autoimmune pathogenesis, immune cell dysfunction in disease states, and cytokine-mediated pathological processes. Focus on mechanistic understanding rather than clinical immunology.
Neoplastic Pathobiology
Molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, cancer cell signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment interactions, metastatic cascade mechanisms, and oncogene/tumor suppressor function. Emphasis on pathophysiology rather than oncology treatment.
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
Host-pathogen molecular interactions, microbial virulence mechanisms, cellular responses to infection, pathogen-induced cellular dysfunction, and molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance. Focus on disease mechanisms, not clinical microbiology.
Methodological Innovations
Novel techniques for molecular pathology analysis, advanced imaging modalities for disease visualization, high-throughput screening platforms, computational pathology approaches, and artificial intelligence applications in mechanistic disease research.
Emerging Research Frontiers
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track
Expedited Review
- Original Research Articles
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Methods & Resources
- Brief Communications
Priority 2: Standard
Regular Review Timeline
- Short Communications
- Technical Notes
- Data Reports
- Perspectives
Priority 3: Selective
Case-by-Case Evaluation
- Case Reports (with mechanistic insights)
- Opinion Pieces
- Commentaries
- Letters to Editor
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- ARRIVE 2.0: Animal research reporting standards
- MIQE: qPCR experiment reporting guidelines
- PRISMA: Systematic review and meta-analysis protocols
- STROBE: Observational studies with molecular components
- REMARK: Biomarker prognostic studies
Data & Materials Policy
- Raw data deposition in public repositories required
- Omics data: GEO, ArrayExpress, or equivalent databases
- Protein structures: PDB deposition mandatory
- Reagent availability and sharing statements
- Code availability for computational analyses
Ethics & Compliance
- IRB/Ethics committee approval for human samples
- IACUC approval for animal studies
- Informed consent documentation
- Biosafety and biosecurity compliance
- Conflict of interest disclosure
Preprint & Prior Publication
- Preprint deposition encouraged (bioRxiv, medRxiv)
- Conference abstracts do not preclude submission
- Thesis chapters acceptable if not previously published
- Duplicate publication strictly prohibited
- Preprint DOI must be declared at submission
