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Briefings in Bioinformatics is a peer-reviewed journal published by Oxford University Press (Oxford Academic). This page is for researchers deciding whether to read or submit to it: it gives the journal’s scope, the metrics and indexing its own page states, and the submission mechanics set out in its author instructions. All journal facts below are taken from the journal’s About and General Instructions pages, read on 2026-11-07.
What is Briefings in Bioinformatics?
Briefings in Bioinformatics is a journal, not a database or software tool. Its About page describes it as an international, interdisciplinary journal that publishes reviews, new methods, case studies and opinion articles on databases and analytical tools used in genetics, molecular biology and systems biology. The scope also names genomics, proteomics, structural bioinformatics and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in biomedicine. The online ISSN is 1477-4054.
What is bioinformatics in brief?
Going by the journal’s own scope statement, bioinformatics here means the databases and analytical methods used to work with biological data, from genomes and proteins to systems-level models. The word “briefings” in the title points to the journal’s review-oriented emphasis: surveys of tools and methods alongside new methods and case studies.
Who publishes it and how is it indexed?
The publisher is Oxford University Press, and the journal has been fully open access since January 2024. The About page lists indexing in Science Citation Index Expanded, Current Contents/Life Sciences, BIOSIS Previews, EMBASE, DOAJ, CAB Abstracts, Global Health and ProQuest.
| Item | What the journal’s page states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (Oxford Academic) | About |
| Online ISSN | 1477-4054 | About |
| Clarivate Impact Factor (2025) | 7.3 | About |
| Five-year Impact Factor | 8.1 | About |
| Access model | Fully open access since January 2024 | About |
| Median time to first decision | 8 days from submission | About |
The metrics are as stated by the journal’s page, read 2026-11-07. Clarivate publishes the authoritative figures each year, so cite the current Journal Citation Reports value if you need it in a document.
Is Briefings in Bioinformatics a good journal?
This page does not rate journals. What can be said from the journal’s own statements is what a researcher would weigh: an Impact Factor of 7.3 and a five-year figure of 8.1 (2025, as stated), indexing in Science Citation Index Expanded and other major databases, and single-anonymized peer review with, typically, three reviewers. An impact factor is one journal-level metric and says little about any single article; compare it with the indexing, review process and fit with your topic. To compare titles in your field, see the guide to JANE Journal Finder.
What is the impact factor of the journal Bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics is a different Oxford University Press title, not Briefings in Bioinformatics, and it has its own metrics. The 7.3 figure above belongs to Briefings in Bioinformatics only. The same caution applies to BMC Bioinformatics, a BMC title covered in BMC Bioinformatics impact factor.
How to submit: what the author instructions require
The journal’s General Instructions page sets out the following, as read on 2026-11-07:
- Submit through the journal’s ScholarOne Manuscripts site (mc.manuscriptcentral.com/bib); an account is needed.
- The submitting author must supply an ORCID iD.
- Expect a technical check with Paperpal Preflight at submission.
- Disclose in the cover letter any related preprint and any use of AI.
- Review is single-anonymized, typically with three reviewers; authors may suggest and exclude reviewers. iThenticate screening may be used.
- The page gives an average time to first decision of about 20 days and an aim to decide within two months.
- After acceptance, choose a licence from those offered: CC BY, CC BY-NC, US Government Licence, Crown Copyright or Open Government Licence.
Publication fee
The instructions state that an open access charge applies, payable through the SciPris portal or under a Read and Publish agreement, with discounts for authors in low- and middle-income countries. They state that editorial decisions are not affected by payment and that charges are in US dollars excluding tax. The page quotes a specific figure only for book reviews (3,625 USD, with a 20% society member discount), so the charge for other article types is set by the journal’s charge schedule at submission. See also open access.
Strengths and limits
- Stated strengths: broad indexing, fully open access, a stated median of 8 days to first decision, and a scope that accepts review and methods articles.
- Limits to note: the scope is tools and methods, so it is not a venue for purely clinical or wet-lab studies; the author instructions give no general fee, so cost depends on article type.
Alternatives
| Title | Publisher | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bioinformatics | Oxford University Press | Separate journal with its own metrics and instructions |
| BMC Bioinformatics | BMC | Separate journal; see BMC Bioinformatics impact factor |
FAQ
Is Briefings in Bioinformatics a journal?
Yes. It is a peer-reviewed journal from Oxford University Press with online ISSN 1477-4054, fully open access since January 2024.
What is its impact factor?
The journal’s About page states a 2025 Clarivate Impact Factor of 7.3 and a five-year figure of 8.1.
How long does review take?
The About page states a median of 8 days from submission to first decision; the General Instructions give an average of about 20 days.
Does the journal charge a fee?
An open access charge applies, with the amount depending on article type; see the Publication fee section above.
Sources
- Briefings in Bioinformatics: About the journal, Oxford Academic, read 2026-11-07.
- Briefings in Bioinformatics: General Instructions, Oxford Academic, read 2026-11-07.
