NPJ Precision Oncology Impact Factor 2024
By 2024 NPJ Precision Oncology has racked up impressive metrics – a two-year impact factor of 8.0, over 1.6 million downloads in 2024 alone, and turnaround times measured in days.
Imagine a sharpshooter’s crosshairs zeroing in on a tumor cell – that’s the vibe behind NPJ Precision Oncology. Launched in late 2016, this open-access journal (a Nature Partner Journal) quickly carved out a niche in the exploding field of precision oncology. It’s not just about high-powered lab studies; NPJ Precision Oncology explicitly welcomes everything from genomic analyses to case reports and clinical briefs. This journal is meant to be right on target for cutting-edge cancer research.
What NPJ Precision Oncology Aims For？
NPJ Precision Oncology was conceived as a one-stop-shop for targeted cancer science.
The founding press release explains that precision oncology involves tailoring cancer care to each patient’s genetic profile. Editors highlighted that the journal would publish all aspects of this field – from basic molecular discoveries to early clinical trials, even case reports and commentaries. In other words, if you have an oddball patient case or a tiny “n=1” trial that reveals something about personalized therapy, NPJ Precision Oncology will consider it. This broad scope is intentional: its editors describe targeted therapy and immunotherapy as “the most exciting and active research areas in cancer”, and NPJ Precision Oncology is built to shine a light on those stories.
Beyond content type, the journal’s structure is streamlined. It’s fully open access (articles freely available), and backed by the Nature portfolio, so it follows high standards.
Review speed is famously fast: for instance, in 2022 the median time from submission to first decision was only 8 days, and by 2024 it was 10 days. That’s practically warp speed in academic publishing! The idea is that scientists can aim, shoot, and see their work published (or at least get feedback) without long delays.
The Scoreboard: Impact Factor and Other Metrics
The 2024 impact factor for npj Precision Oncology is 8.0, matching its 5-year impact factor, also at 8.0. This places the journal among the leading titles in the precision oncology space. Published by Nature Portfolio, it specializes in research on targeted cancer therapies, personalized medicine, and molecular oncology. It’s fully open access and indexed in **SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded)**.
Here’s a quick breakdown of its core metrics for 2024:
- Impact Factor: 8.0
- 5-Year Impact Factor: 8.0
- Immediacy Index: 1.9
- Eigenfactor Score: 0.00910
- Article Influence Score: 2.964
- SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper): 1.541
- SJR (SCImago Journal Rank): 3.370
What do these numbers mean in real terms? Think of the Impact Factor as an average citation score—on average, each article published in the last two years was cited 8 times. That’s quite strong for a niche oncology journal. The Immediacy Index tells us NPJ’s articles are often cited within the same year of publication—meaning its work gets noticed fast. The Eigenfactor and Article Influence Score add more nuance by considering the quality and breadth of those citations across disciplines.
Still, it’s worth remembering: no single number tells the whole story. Nature Portfolio itself notes (in line with the DORA declaration) that metrics like JIF can be influenced by a few highly cited articles. But in NPJ Precision Oncology’s case, the consistency across metrics speaks for itself.
SCImago further confirms its standing. With an SJR of 3.370, the journal ranks firmly in Q1—the top 25% of all oncology journals. Its h-index currently stands at 46, meaning at least 46 of its papers have been cited 46 times or more. In short: npj Precision Oncology isn’t just scoring citations—it’s producing sustained, influential work that keeps shaping the field.
How NPJ Precision Oncology’s Impact Factor Has Evolved？
Here’s the scoop for NPJ Precision Oncology (data from Scopus-based reports, which track citations per article over two years):
| Year | Impact Factor (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4.00 |
| 2019 | 5.36 |
| 2020 | 7.20 |
| 2021 | 9.64 |
| 2022 | 7.38 |
| 2023 | 6.48 |
| 2024 | 7.81 |
These numbers show some big swings. NPJ Precision Oncology burst onto the scene: its first few years saw the IF roughly double each time, peaking around 9.6 in 2021. That jump reflects the field’s excitement around the journal at that time. After 2021, the rate dipped (to ~6.5 by 2023), possibly as the novelty wore off or as citation patterns stabilized. Then it rebounded to ~7.8 in 2024. In fact, Resurchify (which tracks Scopus metrics) notes a ~20% increase from 2023 to 2024. In short: NPJ’s “score” has had ups and downs – typical for a young, specialized journal – but the latest figures show another rise.
These citation trends also match a surge in readership. For instance, total citations of NPJ articles jumped from about 1,015 in 2021 to 2,481 in 2024. In other words, papers in the journal more than doubled their annual citation count in a few years. That correlates with the impact factor climbs. (By contrast, older journals often grow their citation footprint more slowly.) So, NPJ Precision Oncology has not only high influence per paper, but also growing total influence, as cancer researchers notice more of its content.
Beyond the IF: Reads, Speed, and Other Numbers
While the impact factor grabs headlines, npj Precision Oncology demonstrates excellence across multiple metrics. Reader engagement is one such standout: full-text article downloads surged from 543,000 in 2022 to over 1.6 million in 2024. That’s a massive reach, highlighting the journal’s relevance in both research and clinical communities.
Engagement beyond academia also matters. In 2024, npj Precision Oncology accumulated 2,182 Altmetric mentions, including coverage in news outlets, X (formerly Twitter), and blogs. These numbers suggest its research is not only read but discussed and shared — a sign of growing influence across scientific and public spheres.
Fast Decisions, Faster Publishing
For authors, submission speed is crucial. In 2024, the median time from submission to first editorial decision was just 10 days. That’s significantly faster than the industry average. Compare that with journals that may take weeks just to acknowledge a submission — npj Precision Oncology’s responsiveness stands out.
Even from submission to acceptance (including peer review and revisions), the journal maintains efficiency, with a median time of 187 days. In the world of oncology research, where findings can be time-sensitive, speed doesn’t just benefit authors — it accelerates the entire scientific dialogue.
More Than Metrics: A Mission-Driven Journal
Metrics matter, but npj Precision Oncology positions itself as more than just a numbers game. From its launch, the editorial board emphasized building “a global community that advances the field of precision oncology” (editorial). That means prioritizing research that matters, including original studies, case reports, and translational breakthroughs.
One More Tool in Your Precision Toolkit: PubMed.ai’s Research Report
Reading high-impact journals like npj Precision Oncology is exciting—no doubt. But let’s be honest: staying on top of the literature, connecting ideas, and turning that into structured research writing? That’s a beast of a task.
This is where PubMed.ai steps in. If you’re already combing through PubMed.ai for related papers, you might want to try our Research Report feature—it’s kind of a hidden gem. What it does is pretty clever: based on your search activity, PubMed.ai will:
- Understand your research topic and scope
- Find additional relevant PubMed literature
- Generate a structured academic report with the standard format: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusion
- Package the report as both PDF and Word documents, including full references
- Email it directly to your inbox so you can start citing or editing immediately.
It’s like having a research assistant who never sleeps (and never misses a citation). Especially when you’re exploring dense, fast-moving areas like precision oncology, tools like this can shave hours off your workflow—and give you something tangible to work from.
So, whether you’re summarizing a batch of npj Precision Oncology case reports or preparing your next grant draft, PubMed.ai’s Research Report gives you a head start. Think of it as precision reading—for the age of precision medicine.
FAQs
What is the NPJ precision Oncology Impact Factor?
By the latest reports, NPJ Precision Oncology’s two-year impact factor is 8.0 (2024) . This ties its 2-year and 5-year impact factors at 8.0, indicating consistent citation rates. (For comparison, the 2022 impact factor was 7.9.) Keep in mind impact factors change yearly as new citation data comes in. For the most up-to-date metrics, check the NPJ Precision Oncology Journal Metrics page on Nature .
Does NPJ Precision Oncology publish case reports?
Yes. Unlike many high-impact journals that focus only on large trials or reviews, NPJ Precision Oncology explicitly includes case reports among its article types. The founding editors noted that the journal will publish “important single subject clinical trials [and] rare responder studies” along with other formats. This means if you have a unique patient case illustrating precision therapy or an unusual molecular finding, NPJ Precision Oncology is a suitable venue (and it’s open access).
How has NPJ Precision Oncology’s impact factor trended over time?
The journal’s impact factor has generally been high and growing since launch. It climbed from about 4.0 in 2018 to a peak near 9.6 in 2021, according to Scopus-based reports. After a dip to ~6.5 in 2023, it rebounded to ~7.8 in 2024. In practical terms, NPJ Precision Oncology had a rapid early rise and has remained a strong performer. Check the year-by-year trend table above or Resurchify’s analysis for details.
Is npj Precision Oncology a good journal?
Yes, npj Precision Oncology is widely regarded as a reputable and high-quality journal in the field of cancer research. As part of the Nature Portfolio, it maintains rigorous peer-review standards and offers open access to all articles, making research widely accessible. Its 2024 impact factor is 8.0, placing it firmly in the top quartile (Q1) of oncology journals. The journal is especially valued for publishing a wide range of content—from cutting-edge genomic studies to clinical case reports—and for its rapid editorial turnaround (about 10 days to first decision). For researchers in personalized or targeted cancer therapy, it’s considered a go-to source for credible and impactful findings.
How do I submit to NPJ Precision Oncology and find its guidelines?
You can find all author instructions and submission details on the NPJ Precision Oncology website (Springer Nature). Click “Publish with us” or “About the journal” there. Note that it’s an open-access journal with an article processing charge (APC) of around €2990 (≈$3490 USD). If you’re curious about acceptance rates or editorial standards, NPJ Precision Oncology prides itself on rigorous peer review and rapid decisions (typically ~10 days to first decision). In short: prepare your manuscript per Nature Portfolio guidelines, and the journal’s site (and its research metrics pages) will keep you informed on timelines and focus areas.
Have a question about medical research, clinical practice, or evidence-based treatment? Access authoritative, real-time insights: PubMed.ai is an AI-Powered Medical Research Assistant.