Scope

1. FOCUS AND SCOPE

BIOCIENCIAS (ISSN: 0124-0110, e-ISSN: 2390-0512), established in 2000, is an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal published semiannually by the Universidad Libre de Colombia, Barranquilla Branch. It has a transdisciplinary character with a focus on the various areas of Medical and Health Sciences. Its editorial process is guided by the publication standards for peer-reviewed journals established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

BIOCIENCIAS primarily publishes original and unpublished scientific and technological research articles, review articles, reflection articles, and clinical case reports, seeking to provide a space for academic dialogue and the dissemination of knowledge in a globalized context, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in medicine, biotechnology, biological sciences, public health, and education.

2. MISSION AND VISION

BIOCIENCIAS promotes the dissemination and exchange of scientific knowledge in the various areas of Medical and Health Sciences through the publication of original research, review articles, reflection articles, and clinical case reports of high academic and scientific quality. From a transdisciplinary perspective, it fosters academic dialogue, ethical research, and the generation of knowledge that contributes to the advancement of medicine, biotechnology, biological sciences, public health, and health education at both national and international levels.

BIOCIENCIAS aims to become a leading scientific journal in the national and international fields of Medical and Health Sciences, recognized for its editorial quality, scientific rigor, and ethical commitment. It seeks to consolidate itself as a space for academic dissemination and discussion among researchers, healthcare professionals, and scientific communities, contributing to the strengthening of research, innovation, and the advancement of knowledge in biosciences and related fields.

3. THEMATIC ORIENTATION AND TARGET AUDIENCE

BIOCIENCIAS articles cover different areas of Medical and Health Sciences and are organized into sections aimed at disseminating scientific research and reflections in fields such as:

  • Medicine and Clinical Sciences
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
  • Public Health, Epidemiology, and Health Education

BIOCIENCIAS is a scientific journal intended for researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, and students interested in deepening their understanding of the various areas of Medical and Health Sciences from a transdisciplinary and global perspective. The journal promotes dialogue between research, clinical practice, and scientific innovation, seeking to contribute to the strengthening and advancement of knowledge at both national and international levels.

4. ARTICLE TYPES AND LANGUAGE

BIOCIENCIAS publishes only articles resulting from scientific and technological research in two languages (Spanish and English). These are defined by the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) as original academic documents that present in detail the results derived from completed research or technological development projects, with a minimum of 30 cited bibliographic references.

Occasionally, the editorial committee may select certain articles, based on their subject matter and relevance to readers, to be translated into Spanish or English. This version in a language different from the original will be published simultaneously on the OJS platform with an explanatory note regarding its complementary nature to the original article.

5. PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

BIOCIENCIAS is published semiannually (January–June and July–December), and the call for article submissions remains permanently open.

6. FUNDING

BIOCIENCIAS is a journal of Universidad Libre financed exclusively through institutional resources. This independence guarantees a rigorous and transparent editorial process without charging fees for article submission, evaluation, or publication. As a result, authors may publish their work free of charge, thereby promoting the dissemination of knowledge.

7. OPEN ACCESS, COPYRIGHT, AND PUBLICATION LICENSE

BIOCIENCIAS promotes the unrestricted dissemination of knowledge. As a signatory of the Budapest Open Access Initiative, it guarantees free and open access to all content. Authors retain the moral rights to their works but grant publication rights to Universidad Libre under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

8. CROSSREF POLICY

BIOCIENCIAS complies with the highest international publishing standards. Each published article is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), and its metadata are shared with Crossref to facilitate indexing, retrieval, and citation.

9. CONTENT ARCHIVING

To ensure the long-term preservation of its contents, BIOCIENCIAS uses the LOCKSS system, a digital preservation initiative that creates multiple backup copies distributed across different locations. In addition, the journal respects authors’ rights and allows the self-archiving of articles in institutional or personal repositories. This policy promotes the dissemination of knowledge and increases the visibility of research while guaranteeing long-term access to information.

10. RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTENT

BIOCIENCIAS encourages enriching and diverse academic debate; however, responsibility for the content of published articles lies exclusively with the authors. The positions and statements presented are the result of academic and research work and do not necessarily represent the official position of Universidad Libre or the other participating institutions.

11. INDEXING
Selective Databases (BBCS):

Dialnet

DOAJ

OpenAlex

LILACS

BIBLAT

PERIÓDICA

Other Databases:

Latindex

EBSCO

MIAR

12. EDITORIAL TEAM

12.1 EDITOR

The editors of BIOCIENCIAS are selected by Universidad Libre from among distinguished academics with extensive experience in various areas of Law. This rigorous selection process guarantees the continuity of interdisciplinarity, quality, and objectivity in the journal’s contents. For the 2024–2028 term, the Editor-in-Chief is:

Jesús Iglesias Acosta, M.Sc. 
Editor-in-Chief

Universidad Libre – Barranquilla Branch, Colombia  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5398-052X

12.2 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

The Editorial Committee, composed of distinguished academics from various fields of Medicine and Health Sciences, is responsible for ensuring the relevance, timeliness, and quality of the content published in BIOCIENCIAS. In alignment with the journal’s mission and vision, the Committee works to promote high-quality research and ensure compliance with the highest academic standards. For the 2024–2028 term, the members of the Editorial Committee are as follows: