Journal profile · BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS
Current Protocols
ISSN 2691-1299 · John Wiley & Sons
Current Protocols: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2026 Xinrui edition); hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,890; 222 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Current Protocols is published by John Wiley & Sons and is classed under Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking. By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are CRISPR and Genetic Engineering, RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms and Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, together about 21.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Sound and reproducible laboratory methods are the foundation of scientific discovery. Yet, all too often, nuances that are critical for an experiment’s success are not captured in the primary literature but exist only as part of a lab’s oral tradition. The aim of Current Protocols is to provide the clearest, most detailed, and reliable step-by-step instructions for all protocols relevant to a given scientific subject area. Written by experts in the field and extensively edited to our exacting standards, the protocols are formatted to include all of the information necessary to perform an experiment in the laboratory—introduction, materials lists with sourcing information, detailed step-by-step instructions with helpful annotations, recipes for reagents and solutions, illustrative figures and information-packed tables. Each article provides invaluable discussions of data analysis and interpretation, background information, applications of the methods, important assumptions, key parameters, time considerations, and tips to help avoid common pitfalls and troubleshoot experiments. Current Protocols also publishes overviews which provide theory, strategic planning, and practical advice on particular laboratory methodologies. Current Protocols content is thoughtfully curated for optimal usage and to maximize contextual knowledge. Monthly issues allow Current Protocols to constantly evolve to keep pace with the newest discoveries and developments. First published in 1987, Current Protocols established the gold standard for protocol publications. With regularly updated and new protocols, this extensive collection covers the range of life sciences protocols needed for interdisciplinary research, including molecular and cell biology, bioinformatics, immunology, microbiology, genetics, neuroscience, protein science, pharmacology and toxicology, chemical biology, stem cell biology, plants, model organisms, nucleic acid chemistry, cytometry and more. Our essential laboratory techniques collection ensures that undergraduates and those with little laboratory experience can quickly master key methods.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 5%); most named United States 11, Germany 2, Mainland China 1, United Kingdom 1, Japan 1 (19 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- CRISPR and Genetic EngineeringBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.4%
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.1%
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.4%
- Pluripotent Stem Cells ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.4%
- Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.1%
- 3D Printing in Biomedical ResearchEngineering4.7%
- Cell Image Analysis TechniquesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemical Research Methods | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.04LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.83LetPub ·
- h-index
- 51OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 394OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.26OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 47.31%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 184LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,652 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 192 | 123 | 47 |
| 2025 | 222 | 126 | 274 |
| 2024 | 262 | 176 | 1,204 |
| 2023 | 334 | 233 | 3,087 |
| 2022 | 313 | 187 | 3,851 |
| 2021 | 329 | 186 | 12,046 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,890 / EUR 4,430 / GBP 3,910 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Article types accepted7, with length limits
- clinical protocolsClinical protocols are articles describing a detailed account of the hypothesis, rationale, and methodology of a proposed or ongoing piece of prospective clinic…Length not stated
- commentaryArticle Types Current Protocols does not impose length requirements on manuscripts (with the exception of Protocol Communications). The length of the manuscript…Length not stated
- hypothesisArticle Types Current Protocols does not impose length requirements on manuscripts (with the exception of Protocol Communications). The length of the manuscript…Length not stated
- overview articleAn overview article is presented as explanatory text with no protocol steps.Length not stated
- protocolArticle Types Current Protocols does not impose length requirements on manuscripts (with the exception of Protocol Communications). The length of the manuscript…main text ≤ 4,000 words · figures and tables ≤ 3
- protocol articleThe Protocol Article is the most common article type published in Current Protocols; unless otherwise noted in your invitation, please prepare your manuscript a…Length not stated
- updated overviewWe encourage authors of Overview Articles to submit updates to their original article, detailing new approaches, considerations and applications.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- Authorship Authorship
All listed authors should have contributed to the manuscript substantially and have agreed to the final submitted version. Review editorial standards and scroll down for a description of authorship criteria.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data Sharing and Data Availability
Data sharing expected; data availability statement required Model summary
This journal expects data sharing. All manuscripts accepted after April 1, 2021 are required to publish a data availability statement to confirm the presence or absence of shared data. If you have shared data, this statement will describe how the data can be accessed, and include a persistent identifier (e.g., a DOI for the data, or an accession number) from the repository where you shared the dat…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Reproduction of Copyright Material
If excerpts from copyrighted works owned by third parties are included, credit must be shown in the contribution. It is your responsibility to also obtain written permission for reproduction from the copyright owners. For more information visit Wiley’s Copyright Terms & Conditions FAQ. The corresponding author is responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce the material "in print and …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open Access
ORCID encouraged Model summary
This journal is a subscription journal that offers Open Access. You’ll have the option to choose to make your article open access after acceptance, which will be subject to an Article Publication Charge (APC). You can read more about APCs and whether you may be eligible for waivers or discounts, through your institution, funder, or a country waiver.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review 1. Submission and Peer Review Process
Single-anonymous peer review model Model summary
Contributions to Current Protocols are generally invited by the editorial board. If you have a suggestion for a topic, or would like to submit a protocol, please submit your proposal here. You may check the status of your submission at any time by logging on to submission.wiley.com and clicking the "My Submissions" button. For technical help with the submission system, please review Wiley’s Resear…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprint policy
Preprints accepted Model summary
Please find the Wiley preprint policy here. Current Protocols will consider articles previously available as preprints. You may also post the submitted version of a manuscript to a preprint server at any time. You are requested to update any pre-publication versions with a link to the final published article.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons
- ISSN
- 2691-1299
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 6, Issue 9 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Current Protocols
What CAS zone is Current Protocols in?
In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
Where are the editorial board members of Current Protocols based?
Of the 19 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 5%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (11), Germany (2) and Mainland China (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Current Protocols?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Current Protocols is indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Is Current Protocols open access, and what is the APC?
Current Protocols is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,890.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .