Integrative Biology

1.0 General policy

1.1 Mission

Integrative Biology provides a unique venue for research that allows expansion of our knowledge of biology by gaining new insights into important biological and biophysical questions through the application of (novel) enabling quantitative tools and/or technologies (from the nanoscale to the macroscale).

Articles in Integrative Biology focus on three principles:

• Insight: New understanding of biological mechanisms/processes/phenomena.
• Innovation: Use of new technology to enable biological insight.
• Integration: The assimilation of technology into biology. 

1.2 Scope

Integrative Biology publishes novel biological research, based on innovative experimental and theoretical methodologies, that enhances our capability to gain new insight into important biological questions. In particular, the journal welcomes submissions that contribute to quantitative understanding of how component properties at one level in the dimensional scale (nano to macro) determine biosystem behaviour at a higher level of complexity. Such research is typically inter- or multi-disciplinary, calling upon expertise and technologies from the physical sciences, engineering, computation and mathematics. It can also extend to synthetic systems, whether used to elucidate fundamental principles of biological function or in applications.

Integrative Biology aims to drive forward discovery and analysis within biology through the elucidation of basic biological phenomena and processes which can allow us to: view, interrogate and investigate molecules as well as cells or their contents; model accurately how these processes/systems work; investigate and model complexity; and engineer new solutions to biological problems.

Integrative Biology is an inter- and multi-disciplinary journal, utilising enabling quantitative technologies, both experimental and computational to characterise biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels through the exploitation of the convergence of biology with physics, chemistry, engineering, imaging and informatics. The journal welcomes Critical, Tutorial and Frontier reviews; Primary Research papers (including fundamental and theoretical papers); and Perspectives. Manuscripts should be written such that they are accessible to scientists in all disciplines associated with the journal and highlight the significance of their work in relation to Insight, Innovation and Integration (see section 2.1) and the likely impact on the relevant scientific communities.

Submissions must provide new biological insight achieved through the innovative use of enabling technologies. Studies that would typically be covered by Integrative Biology include:

• Studying rare or disease-specific cells using new or improved methods, technologies or devices
• Analysis and imaging of mechanical signal transduction
• Innovative applications of imaging across scales
• Biochemical gradients to study migration and chemotaxis
• Devices/systems that recapitulate in vivo structure/function
• Engineered/synthetic micro and nanoenvironments to understand cell-matrix signalling
• Micro and nanofluidics to study mammalian cells
• Nanofluidics to study polymer properties (protein structure/function, DNA replication repair)
• Integrative modelling of molecular, cellular or tissue processes
• Devices and technologies for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring disease
• Cell sub-type identification/measurement
• Nanotechnologies, devices and systems for exploring and elucidating biological systems
• Synthetic biology
• Design and re-engineering of biological systems
• Prediction of dynamic behaviour and effectiveness of drugs
• Systems to monitor and optimise therapeutics in vivo
• High-throughput approaches for systems biology
• New miniaturised platforms for elucidating biological events and processes
• Biomimetic systems
• Quantitative models of cell-cell communication
• Quantification of extracellular analytes related to cellular processes
• Biological phenomena and processes at the nanoscale
• Validation of novel technologies against current 'standards/tradition'
• Single cells-metabolic systems and mechanisms
• Metabolism of cells, proteins, amines, tissues, antibodies etc.