In a major shift in the field of immunology publishing, a group of editors from the Journal of Clinical Immunology (JoCI), a Springer Nature publication, have resigned to establish a nonprofit open-access journal in collaboration with Rockefeller University Press. This decision follows tensions between the editors and Springer over editorial independence and the publisher’s push to increase the number of published papers.
The Dispute Over Open Access and Editorial Control
The controversy began when Jean-Laurent Casanova, former co-editor-in-chief of JoCI, and his editorial team faced growing pressure from Springer Nature to expand publication output as the journal transitioned to a fully open-access model. Casanova, an infectious diseases geneticist at The Rockefeller University, voiced strong concerns about the publisher’s stance, stating, “A publisher cannot instruct me to publish everything.”
Another key issue was the exclusion of the Clinical Immunology Society (CIS)—which previously managed JoCI—from editorial decisions. Springer Nature insisted on sole authority over the selection of editorial board members, a move that alienated professional societies engaged in the journal. By December 2024, Casanova and all 11 associate editors had resigned, leaving JoCI to continue under new editorial leadership.
A New Nonprofit Venture: Journal of Human Immunity
In response, Casanova and his team launched the Journal of Human Immunity, a new open-access initiative backed by Rockefeller University Press and the International Alliance for Primary Immunodeficiency Societies (IAPIDS). The journal aims to provide a high-quality alternative to commercial publishers while ensuring that surplus funds are reinvested into the research community rather than corporate shareholders.
The article processing charge (APC) for the new journal will be $3,500, significantly lower than JoCI’s nearly $5,000 APC. Additionally, waivers will be available for authors from low- and middle-income countries, and discounts will be offered to IAPIDS members.
What This Means for Scholarly Publishing
This move highlights an ongoing trend in academic publishing, where researchers and editors are challenging the commercialization of scholarly journals. Over the past few years, editors from multiple journals have resigned over similar issues, often citing profit-driven publishing models that prioritize quantity over quality.
With the Journal of Human Immunity set to begin publishing this spring, the immunology community now has a nonprofit alternative dedicated to editorial independence, affordability, and reinvesting in scientific research.
This development signals a potential shift in scholarly publishing, reinforcing the growing influence of researcher-led, nonprofit publishing models as a response to the evolving challenges of open-access science.