New Global Hematology Journal Strives to Feature Innovative and Adaptable Research

Jorge Cortes, MD

To shine a light on research occurring in underrepresented parts of the world and learn more about different populations, techniques, and strategies for care, the new peer-reviewed, open-access journal Blood Global Hematology has been created, said Jorge Cortes, MD, the inaugural editor-in-chief.¹ The first articles will be published online in early 2025, and in addition to publishing high-quality research, local adaptions of clinical guidelines, and epidemiology and public health analyses, opinion articles will also be featured in the journal.^1,2

“The idea of this journal is to learn from parts of the world where their approach is different, not better, not worse, just different,” Cortes said in an interview with OncLive^®. “Understanding those elements can help everybody, so it’s a space for those investigators with a particular focus in low- and middle-income countries to present the research, show us what is happening in their field and their area, how they’re making advances, and how they’re making innovations with the resources that they have.”

The global publication that is joining the Blood journals portfolio will have no submission fee to support authors, and papers can also qualify for a discounted article publication fee.^1,2 Submissions have opened as of fall 2024 for the online-only journal and once an article passes initial editorial evaluation, the peer-review process will take place with at least 2 external reviewers editing each piece.²

“We are hoping for original research [in] populations [and] studies that they’ve used. [If] they modified a regimen [or] developed a new regimen that uses resources that are available when some of the newest drugs or methodologies are not available in their areas [that is key],” Cortes said. “Epidemiologic, public health research is very important for us to understand the characteristics of the disease [in different] populations [as well as] the genetics—all of that is very valuable.”

As editor-in-chief, Cortes will establish an international editorial board with representation from low- and middle-income countries. Cortes is director for the Georgia Cancer Center and the Cecil F. Whitaker Jr., GRA Eminent Scholar Chair in Cancer in Augusta.

“[The research featured will also] describe populations that we know very little about because they’re not in our genetic profiling [and it will] describe the use of health resources in a different way,” Cortes said. “We can learn about their population, and everybody benefits from learning from each other. Sometimes this kind of research is more impactful because it’s applicable to more places all over the world; [there are] approaches that may be great but are not available to everybody.”

In addition to featuring globally focusedoriginal manuscripts on basic laboratory, translational, and clinical investigations in hematology, ASH publications noted that observational studies that are of smaller scale but high impact in certain regions of the world will also be highlighted. Prospective studies that optimize available resources and use novel approaches, population health studies and analyses, description of care-delivery systems, and adaptations of medical guidelines for regional applicability will also be included in Blood Global Hematology.

“We also want to give a space to regional and local guidelines for managing certain diseases,” Cortes said. “How [were] they adapted [from] guidelines that are published by entities like the European LeukemiaNet or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network? How are these [guidelines] adapted and made applicable to parts of the world? Those are the types of things that we are particularly interested in for this journal.”

Furthermore, the journal will discuss health care delivery challenges in low- and middle-income countries and clinical cases offering insights on disease biology, diagnosis, or management of hematologic malignancies.

“The focus of the journal is to give space to the research that happens in parts of the world that are underrepresented in the major journals related to hematology. There’s very good research that happens in low- and middle-income countries. It may not be the type of research that we are used to seeing in Western countries and in the traditional literature because it’s not on the newest drug or the latest technology, but it’s research that adapts to populations [and] takes advantage of the resources,” Cortes said.

References

1. ASH names editor-in-chief of new journal: Blood Global Hematology. News release. American Society of Hematology. April 16, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://www.hematology.org/newsroom/press-releases/2024/ash-names-editor-in-chief-of-new-journal-blood-global-hematology
2. New from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). News release. Blood global hematology. Updated April 15, 2024. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://ashpublications.org/journals/pages/news?utm_source=eblast&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=bloodexpansion