Launching a New Scholarly Journal in an Emerging Research Ecosystem: Reflections from the Founding Editor

By Atul Kaushik Jul 20, 2026 111 0

Launching a new scholarly journal often seems exciting in principle. However, once the process begins, editors quickly realize that establishing a credible publication platform requires much more than selecting a title and inviting manuscripts. As the founding editor of Innovations in Biomedical and Allied Health Research, the official journal of SBS University, India, I have experienced firsthand the opportunities, complexities, and challenges associated with creating a new academic journal in an emerging research ecosystem.

The motivation for launching the journal originated from a growing need within our institution and the broader research community. Researchers in biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, allied health sciences, and interdisciplinary health-related fields often face difficulties in identifying suitable publication venues that adequately represent the breadth of their work. While numerous journals exist globally, there remains a need for credible platforms that support interdisciplinary research and provide opportunities for emerging scholars to disseminate their findings.

Laying the Foundations
One of the earliest challenges involved defining the journal's scope and identity. In today's highly competitive publishing environment, a new journal must clearly demonstrate its purpose and relevance. We spent considerable time discussing the aims, scope, and target audience of the journal. Ultimately, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach encompassing biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, clinical research, physiotherapy, public health, agricultural sciences, and digital health innovations. This decision was intended to foster collaboration across disciplines while maintaining a strong focus on health-related research.

Building the editorial structure proved equally challenging. A journal's credibility depends significantly on the expertise and commitment of its editorial team. Identifying experienced scholars willing to serve as Associate Editors, Section Editors, and Editorial Board members required extensive networking and consultation. Beyond academic expertise, we sought individuals who shared a commitment to maintaining high standards of peer review, publication ethics, and scholarly integrity.

Another significant lesson emerged during the development of editorial policies and workflows. Many researchers and institutions underestimate the effort required to establish robust editorial processes. Author guidelines, reviewer instructions, ethical policies, conflict-of-interest declarations, plagiarism screening procedures, and manuscript handling protocols all needed careful development. We quickly realized that transparent and standardized procedures are essential not only for operational efficiency but also for building trust among authors and reviewers.

The Challenges of Building a Journal
Attracting quality submissions remains one of the most difficult challenges faced by newly established journals. Researchers naturally prefer journals that are already indexed and widely recognized. New journals face a difficult paradox: they need quality manuscripts to establish credibility, yet credibility is often needed to attract quality manuscripts. To address this challenge, we actively engaged with researchers, faculty members, and professional networks, emphasizing the journal's commitment to rigorous peer review and academic excellence.

The issue of visibility is another challenge that deserves greater attention. Many editors assume that obtaining an ISSN, assigning DOIs, and launching a website are sufficient to establish a journal's presence. In reality, visibility requires a long-term strategy. Indexing in databases, increasing discoverability through metadata standards, assigning DOIs, maintaining publication consistency, and promoting published content all contribute to a journal's recognition. For new journals, indexing should be viewed as a long-term objective rather than an immediate achievement.

Technology has played a vital role in our journal development efforts. Open-source publishing platforms and digital editorial tools have significantly reduced barriers that previously limited journal creation. However, technology alone does not guarantee success. Editorial judgment, reviewer engagement, and publication quality remain the most important determinants of a journal's reputation. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, may improve administrative efficiency, but they cannot replace the critical role of editors in evaluating scientific merit and ensuring research integrity.

Financial sustainability is another challenge that deserves careful planning. While university-supported journals may initially receive institutional backing, long-term sustainability requires strategic planning. Decisions regarding open access, publication costs, digital infrastructure, and operational resources must be carefully considered. Sustainable growth depends on balancing accessibility, quality, and financial viability.

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is that trust represents the foundation of scholarly publishing. Authors must trust that their work will receive fair evaluation. Reviewers must trust that their contributions are valued. Readers must trust that published articles meet rigorous academic standards. Building this trust takes time and requires consistent adherence to ethical and professional principles.

Lessons for Future Journal Founders
The journey of establishing Innovations in Biomedical and Allied Health Research has reinforced my appreciation for the dedication required to build a successful journal. While challenges remain, the experience has demonstrated that new journals can play an important role in strengthening research culture, supporting emerging disciplines, and expanding opportunities for scholarly communication.

For institutions and editors considering launching a new journal, my advice is straightforward: invest early in editorial quality, develop clear policies, build a committed editorial team, and focus on long-term credibility rather than short-term metrics. In scholarly publishing, reputation is earned gradually through consistent quality, transparency, and service to the research community.

Launching a journal is not simply an administrative project; it is an investment in the future of scholarship. Although the road to recognition may be long, the opportunity to create a platform that supports scientific discovery and academic collaboration makes the effort worthwhile.

Keywords

Scholarly journals journal development founding editor editorial leadership editorial workflows research integrity scholarly publishing journal sustainability peer review journal visibility

Atul Kaushik

Prof. Dr. Atul Kaushik is a distinguished academician and researcher with over 24 years of teaching and research experience, including 15 years of international academic service in a Foreign University, where he held pivotal roles such as Dean of Academic Affairs, Research Coordinator, and Expatriate Faculty at Asmara College of Health Sciences and Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences. Prof. Kaushik holds a PhD from HNB Garhwal University(2008) and a Master's in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from CCS University, Meerut (2001). He has a prolific research portfolio that includes over 50+ Articles, 4 books, and 4 patents (India and UK) in the areas of Pharmaceutical chemistry, Medicinal plants Drug Discovery, and Ethno pharmacology. His notable contributions include the development of innovative curricula, pioneering research on the medicinal properties of traditional plants, and impactful contributions on funded projects supported by WHO, ICMR, DST, and DSIR. During his stay in Africa he was elected as President of the Indian cultural & Welfare Association (ICWA), Asmara, Eritrea. He was also selected to present the NEP 2020 policy at Embassy of India, Asmara. As an academic leader, he has successfully supervised numerous Masters of Science and Pharmacy students, guiding them in research that bridges traditional knowledge and scientific validation. His professional affiliations include Vidwan, Scopus, and Researcher ID, where his work has garnered considerable citations and academic recognition.

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Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of their affiliated institutions, the Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE), or the Editor’s Café editorial team.

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