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STAR Protocols is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal from Cell Press (Elsevier) that publishes step-by-step experimental and computational protocols. It began publication on 19 June 2020 (ISSN 2666-1667), and its name expands to “Structured, transparent, accessible, reproducible protocols”. For researchers in the biological sciences and neighboring fields, it is a place to publish a method as a citable article of its own instead of leaving it as a short methods paragraph.
What Is STAR Protocols?
Methods sections in research papers are often compressed, which can leave out reagent details and practical notes that another laboratory needs. STAR Protocols gives a method its own article with a fixed structure. Published articles contain the sections “Before You Begin”, “Key Resources Table”, “Materials and Equipment”, “Step-By-Step Method Details”, “Expected Outcomes”, “Limitations”, “Troubleshooting” and “Resource Availability” (checked in the open full text of PMC7757680).
The NLM Catalog lists the journal as a current serial with Cell Press, Cambridge, MA, as imprint, filed under the broad headings Biology and Science, and gives the MEDLINE abbreviation STAR Protoc. Its archive is deposited in PubMed Central, CLOCKSS and Portico, according to the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
Who Runs It and What It Covers
The publisher is Cell Press, part of Elsevier; DOAJ records Elsevier as publisher, and the NLM imprint places Cell Press in Cambridge, MA. Crossref lists 4,755 registered DOIs for the journal as of 2026-11-07.
The journal publishes protocols for laboratory and computational work in the life sciences and related areas. Many articles accompany research papers in Cell Press titles such as Cell, Cell Reports and Current Biology. A protocol on molecular or biochemical techniques may also be of interest to readers comparing biology and biochemistry. Check the journal’s information-for-authors page for the current scope statement and submission rules.
How Do You Search and Read a STAR Protocols Article?
Because the journal is indexed in PubMed and PubMed Central, the simplest route is to search there for “STAR Protoc” or for the technique you need, or to browse the journal on Cell Press or ScienceDirect. Once you open an article, the fixed section order helps you read it:
- Before You Begin: read this first, as it covers preparation that comes before the main procedure.
- Key Resources Table: lists the reagents, organisms, software and other resources the protocol uses.
- Materials and Equipment: gives recipes and equipment details.
- Step-By-Step Method Details: the procedure itself, grouped into stages.
- Expected Outcomes and Limitations: describe what results to anticipate and where the method does not apply.
- Troubleshooting: pairs each “Problem” with a “Potential Solution”.
- Resource Availability: names the Lead Contact and states where materials, data and code can be obtained.
When a protocol is computational, the data and code statement is the place to look for repositories. Documenting software the same way is covered in the README template guide.
Strengths and Limits
Strengths
- Structured reporting: every article follows the same section layout, so readers know where to find resources and troubleshooting.
- Citable output: protocols are indexed in PubMed and registered with Crossref DOIs, so the method itself can be cited.
- Open access and preservation: DOAJ records CC BY 4.0, CC BY-NC 4.0 and CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licensing options and archiving in PMC, CLOCKSS and Portico.
Limits
- Article Processing Charge: DOAJ lists an APC of USD 1,920. Fees change, so confirm the current amount and any waivers with the publisher.
- Writing effort: the fixed template asks for more documentation than an informal lab protocol.
- Peer review model: DOAJ lists single anonymous peer review, so reviewers know the authors but authors do not know the reviewers.
What Are the Alternatives to STAR Protocols?
Other venues also publish or share protocols. The table gives a general orientation only; check each platform’s own pages for current policies and fees.
| Platform | Type |
|---|---|
| STAR Protocols | Peer-reviewed open-access journal of structured protocols (Cell Press) |
| Nature Protocols | Journal of peer-reviewed protocols |
| protocols.io | Online platform for writing and sharing protocols; see the protocols.io concept entry |
| JoVE | Journal that pairs written methods with video |
| Bio-protocol | Journal of life-science protocols |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does STAR stand for in STAR Protocols?
The NLM Catalog gives the alternate title “Structured, transparent, accessible, reproducible protocols”.
Do I need a Cell Press paper to publish a protocol?
Many protocols accompany a research article, but whether a standalone protocol is accepted is set out in the journal’s information-for-authors page, which is the source to check before submitting.
How does peer review work?
DOAJ lists the review process as single anonymous peer review.
Which licenses can authors choose?
DOAJ lists CC BY 4.0, CC BY-NC 4.0 and CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
How is it different from a protocol repository?
STAR Protocols is a journal: its articles are indexed in PubMed and carry DOIs. A repository such as protocols.io is a platform for sharing and updating protocols; see its own pages for its review options.
Is STAR Protocols indexed in PubMed?
Yes. The NLM Catalog shows current indexing status “Y” and the abbreviation STAR Protoc.
Sources
All sources checked 2026-11-07.
- National Library of Medicine. NLM Catalog record for STAR Protocols (NLM Unique ID 101769501): https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/esummary.fcgi?db=nlmcatalog&id=101769501
- Directory of Open Access Journals. STAR Protocols record (ISSN 2666-1667): https://doaj.org/api/v3/search/journals/issn:2666-1667
- Crossref. Journal metadata for ISSN 2666-1667: https://api.crossref.org/journals/2666-1667
- Europe PMC. Full text of a STAR Protocols article (PMC7757680), used to confirm the section structure: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC7757680/fullTextXML
- Cell Press. STAR Protocols information for authors (linked from the DOAJ record): https://www.cell.com/star-protocols/information-for-authors
