JCI Impact Factor & JCI Insight Impact Factor : Ranking, Scope, and Comparison
The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) holds an official impact factor of 13.6 for the year 2024, (it was 13.3 in 2023) reaffirming its position as a leading publication in the field of experimental and clinical medicine.
Understanding the standing of a scientific journal is essential for both established biomedical researchers and students entering the field. Among the numerous metrics available, the impact factor remains one of the most referenced indicators of a journal’s scientific influence. For those navigating the complex landscape of academic publishing, particularly within translational and clinical research, the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) and its companion journal, JCI Insight, often stand out.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current impact factors for both journals, contextualizes their relevance, and examines how they compare within the broader ecosystem of biomedical publishing.
What Is JCI？
Founded way back in 1924, the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) is no rookie. It’s published by the American Society for Clinical Investigation and has grown into a multidisciplinary powerhouse. Its scope is vast—covering everything from molecular mechanisms of disease to early clinical investigations across immunology, oncology, metabolism, and neuroscience.
Since 2022, JCI has been fully open access, meaning all of its articles are freely available upon publication. This change dramatically boosts the visibility and accessibility of the research published within, ensuring that discoveries reach a global audience without barriers.
JCI Impact Factor and Metrics
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Factor (2024) | 13.6 | JCI Official Site |
| Impact Factor (2023) | 13.3 | Journal Citation Reports |
| Scimago Journal Rank (SJR, 2024) | 4.721 | Scimago Journal Rankings |
| H-index | 558 | Resurchify |
| Global Rank (Medicine) | #37 | Research.com |
| Open Access Status | Yes (since 2022) | JCI Official Website |
That number, 13.6, tells us that on average, papers published in the last two years were cited roughly thirteen to fourteen times in 2024. For a biomedical journal, especially one with such a broad scope, this is a mark of significant influence.
Contextualizing JCI Among Its Peers
When evaluating the status of JCI, it is helpful to compare it with similar high-profile journals:
- PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences): Renowned across disciplines
- Nature Communications: Broad in scope, high in visibility
- Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM): Closely aligned in focus with JCI
- eLife and Science Translational Medicine (STM): Forward-leaning in scope and format
JCI continues to hold a prestigious position within this cohort, offering a blend of historical gravitas and contemporary relevance.
Where Does JCI Stand Among Other Journals?
It’s one thing to know the numbers, but how does JCI stack up globally? Here’s a quick snapshot of various ranking metrics:
| Platform | Rank / Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Research.com | #37 | Global medicine journal ranking |
| Resurchify | H-index: 558 | Long-term citation strength |
| Scimago SJR | 4.721 (JCI), 2.917 (Insight) | Citation-weighted prestige |
| Clarivate JCR | Top 5% in category | Based on 2024 impact factor |
Clearly, JCI is a leader in medicine journals worldwide, and JCI Insight is making strong inroads as a respected open-access option.
JCI Insight: The Open-Access Sibling
Speaking of JCI, let’s turn to JCI Insight – its open-access sister journal, launched in 2016 by the same society. JCI Insight shares JCI’s mission of publishing high-quality biomedical research, but it emphasizes translational studies. It’s open-access (gold OA) from the start. Think of JCI Insight as the “free to read” arm for solid, clinically relevant papers that might not fit JCI’s select mold. Its scope ranges “from preclinical to clinical” work. In fact, the journal welcomes submissions across many specialties – immunology, oncology, metabolism, vascular biology, and more – with an emphasis on basic and translational science.
JCI Insight Impact Factor
JCI Insight Impact Factor 2024 is 6.1.
Here’s the scoop on JCI Insight’s impact factor and editorial profile:
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Factor (2024) | 6.1 | JCI Insight About Page |
| Impact Factor (2023) | 6.3 | Journal Citation Reports |
| Scimago Journal Rank (SJR, 2024) | 2.917 | Scimago Journal Rankings |
| Quartile (Medicine) | Q1 | Scimago |
| Open Access Status | Gold OA (since 2016) | JCI Insight Website |
| Publishing Focus | Translational and Clinical Research | JCI Insight Scope |
While its impact factor is roughly half of JCI’s, 6.1 is still impressive, especially for a journal less than a decade old. JCI Insight provides a venue for clinically relevant, translational work that might not fit JCI’s tighter selectivity but still demands broad visibility.
JCI vs. JCI Insight
To clear any confusion, here’s a quick table comparing the two journals:
| Feature | JCI | JCI Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | American Society for Clinical Investigation | Same |
| Impact Factor (2024) | 13.6 | 6.1 |
| Scope | Broad biomedical + early clinical studies | Translational and clinical research |
| Founded | 1924 | 2016 |
| Open Access Since | 2022 | 2016 |
| Editorial Selectivity | High | Moderate |
| Target Authors | Mechanistic, high-impact studies | Clinically relevant, translational studies |
Choosing between these journals is less about which one has the higher number and more about where your research fits. JCI is the go-to for groundbreaking mechanistic science; JCI Insight is excellent for applied and clinical investigations.
Why Publish in JCI or JCI Insight?
Choose JCI if:
- You're reporting in-depth mechanistic studies with translational or clinical implications.
- You want durable impact over time.
Choose JCI Insight if:
- You need faster publication and open access.
- Your findings are important but scoped to a narrower mechanistic niche.
Both are published by the ASCI, and both undergo strict peer review, though Insight offers a quicker route.
Strategic Considerations for Authors
For those deciding between JCI and JCI Insight—or other journals altogether—the following criteria are worth considering:
- Alignment with journal scope and audience
- Acceptance rates and publication timelines
- Open access options and associated costs
- Citation trends within specific subfields
Impact factor, while important, should complement rather than dictate these considerations.
Rankings and What They Mean
Of course, Impact Factor is just one measure of a journal’s influence. Let’s consider other rankings and metrics. For example, Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) accounts for the prestige of citations. In 2024, JCI’s SJR was 4.721 (Medicine Q1), while JCI Insight’s SJR was 2.917 (also Q1). In plain terms, these SJRs place both journals among the elite in “Medicine (miscellaneous)”.
Beyond SJR, other stats tell the same story. The Resurchify site lists JCI’s overall global rank as 318 and highlights its high H-index of 558. (An H-index of 558 means 558 JCI articles have each been cited at least 558 times – a sign of lasting influence.) Research.com shows JCI as rank 37 in the Medicine category. (JCI Insight, being newer, isn’t listed there yet.) In short: JCI is routinely in the top 20–30 of medicine journals, and JCI Insight is proving its worth in the rankings too.
The bottom line is clear: JCI and JCI Insight consistently sit at the top of their field. They’re both Q1 journals, meaning they’re in the upper 25% of prestige for biomedical journals. So even if Impact Factor isn’t the whole story, these additional metrics confirm that both journals are highly influential.
Why Impact Factor Matters for You
A high impact factor often means wider readership and visibility. If your paper goes into JCI, it has the potential to be seen and cited by a very broad audience. It also looks strong on a CV – hiring and tenure committees often notice when candidates publish in “high-impact journals.”
Let’s be honest: academic careers can hinge on these metrics. Publishing in JCI can be a big boost. Conversely, knowing JCI’s status helps you plan. If you have a groundbreaking clinical discovery, aiming for JCI might be worth it; if you have solid translational work, JCI Insight is a great open-access target. It’s a bit like choosing a restaurant: a Michelin-star venue (JCI) promises something special, but you still need to check the menu (scope) to make sure it fits your work.
That said, don’t chase the IF blindly. Many excellent journals have lower IFs but are perfect for certain topics. Still, with the data in hand, you now know that JCI’s official Impact Factor is 13.6 for 2024 and JCI Insight’s is 6.1. Both journals have wide scopes and stellar reputations backed by these metrics.
In summary: Armed with these IF numbers, you have a clearer picture of where these journals stand. Use that knowledge wisely as you plan your publications – and remember, while numbers aren’t everything, they’re a good signpost of quality.
PubMed.ai: Elevate Your Literature Game
Impact factors tell part of the story—but when you’re deep into JCI or JCI Insight papers, you'll need more:
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Whether you're drafting a manuscript, reviewing literature, or planning future experiments, PubMed.ai helps you cut through noise and focus on what actually moves science forward.
Also Read: Explore the NEJM Impact Factor and why it dominates clinical publishing
FAQs
What is the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) impact factor for 2024?
According to the official JCI website, the Journal of Clinical Investigation’s impact factor for 2024 is 13.6. (The 2023 impact factor was 13.3.) This high number keeps JCI among the top journals in its field.
What is the impact factor of JCI Insight?
JCI Insight’s 2024 impact factor is 6.1 (with the 2023 value at 6.3). JCI Insight is the open-access companion to JCI, focusing on clinically relevant biomedical research across many specialties.
How does JCI compare to other medical journals?
JCI is considered a top-tier medicine journal. Its 2024 impact factor (13.6) and Scimago Journal Rank (~4.72) place it in the first quartile of all medical journals. For example, research.com ranks JCI #37 in the medicine category. Few specialty journals exceed JCI’s impact factor or prestige.
What topics does JCI publish?
JCI publishes a broad range of biomedical research (basic science through early clinical studies). Its topics include autoimmunity, cardiology, endocrinology, neuroscience, and more.
Where can I find JCI’s official impact factor and metrics?
The official JCI website (“About” page) lists the current impact factor, and the Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate) publishes it annually (usually mid-year). For example, JCI’s About page shows “Impact Factor: 13.6 (2024)”. Other sources like Scimago (for SJR) and Resurchify (for h-index and rank) provide related data, but the JCI site and JCR are the authoritative sources.
How do JCI and JCI Insight differ in scope?
JCI covers broad biomedical and early clinical research with a high selectivity bar; JCI Insight focuses on translational and clinical studies, welcoming a wider variety of clinically relevant research.
Is JCI fully open access?
Yes, since 2022, JCI publishes all articles as open access, increasing accessibility and reach. JCI Insight has been gold open access since its launch in 2016.
Which journal should I choose—JCI or JCI Insight?
JCI is more selective and suited for high-impact work in translational research, while JCI Insight provides a valuable platform for strong studies that benefit from open access visibility.
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