ASGCT Journal Molecular Therapy Sees Boost in Impact Factor

June 23, 2010 - PRLog -- MILWAUKEE – Molecular Therapy, the official journal of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, received a significant increase in its impact factor, a widely-accepted measure of a scientific journal’s importance in the field. This is the sixth consecutive year that Molecular Therapy’s impact factor has increased.

The 2009 impact factor was 6.239, up from 5.970 in 2008. Impact factor is calculated as the average number of times a journal’s articles are cited in the two years following publication.

“This increase in the journal’s impact factor underscores the continued success of the Society in accomplishing two of its major goals – to promote research and development of gene and cell therapies, and in communicating important scientific results,” said Barrie Carter, PhD, ASGCT President. “This achievement also reflects strenuous efforts by the journal’s editors, reviewers and contributors to strive for ever higher quality standards for published science.”

Molecular Therapy, published by Nature Publishing Group, has the highest impact factor of any journal in its field and is the only journal among that group to see an overall increase in its impact factor over the last three years

“Papers in Molecular Therapy are now cited roughly 50 percent to 100 percent more often than those in the nearest competitor journals, and we are the only journal with an impact factor greater than 5,” said Molecular Therapy editor Rob Frederickson, PhD. “We strive to publish articles of high quality, of broad interest to the readership and of high potential impact, while at the same time ensuring that we continue to provide a forum for publication of the broad purview of research represented by the Society and its members.”

Thompson Reuters released the impact factors in its annual Journal Citation Reports on June 17.

Launched in 2000, Molecular Therapy is the official journal of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. The journal is committed to publishing high quality, independently peer-reviewed research and cutting-edge reviews and commentaries, material that promote the sciences in genetics, medicine and biotechnology.

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The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) is a professional non-profit medical and scientific organization dedicated to the understanding, development and application of genetic and cellular therapies and the promotion of professional and public education in the field. For more information on ASGCT, visit its website, www.asgct.org.