Next‐generation signaling: Powering the future of publications in the Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling

TL;DR

The paper discusses the progress and future plans of the Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, focusing on improving peer review and publishing processes.

Contribution

The paper introduces the transition to a new AI-integrated platform to enhance manuscript handling and peer review efficiency.

Findings

JCCS has seen growth in submissions, readership, and article diversity.

The journal is transitioning to Wiley's REX platform to streamline manuscript handling.

Future plans include special issues on emerging topics and increased international engagement.

Abstract

The Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling (JCCS) is dedicated to advancing understanding of how intracellular and extracellular signaling coordinate environmental sensing, gene regulation, and tissue homeostasis and how their dysregulation or misinterpretation contributes to disease. Reflecting on my first year as editor‐in‐chief, I am pleased to highlight the journal's continued progress and strategic development. Submissions, readership, and article diversity have grown steadily, driven by the commitment of authors, reviewers, editors, and publishing staff. JCCS remains selective yet inclusive in scope, emphasizing high‐quality studies that illuminate signaling processes in health and disease. Ongoing initiatives to reduce decision times and enhance the expertise and global representation of our editorial and reviewer communities reinforce peer review as a rigorous collaborative enterprise. A key milestone ahead is the transition of JCCS manuscript handling to Wiley's Research Exchange (REX) platform, which integrates submission, integrity screening, and peer review within a unified system. This platform leverages artificial intelligence tools, metadata extraction, and ORCID integration to improve efficiency, transparency, and ethical oversight. Looking forward, JCCS aims to strengthen peer review, introduce special issues on emerging topics in cell communication, and foster greater international engagement to advance the field's scientific and collaborative frontiers.