====== Brain & Spine ======

**Journal**:: ''Brain & Spine''  
**Publisher**:: Elsevier, official journal of [[https://www.eurospine.org|EUROSPINE]] and [[https://www.eans.org|EANS]]  
**Access**:: Open-access  
**Impact Factor**:: ~1.9 (CiteScore 2.1, 2023–2024)  
**APC**:: ~€1,780 (50% waiver for society members)  
**Editors-in-Chief**:: Frank Kandziora, Wilco Peul  

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===== ✅ Strengths =====

  * **Open-access visibility** :: Freely accessible; boosts dissemination.
  * **Society-backed** :: Official journal of EUROSPINE and EANS.
  * **Multidisciplinary scope** :: Includes spine & brain surgery, biomechanics, navigation, epidemiology, bioethics, molecular biology, etc.
  * **Ethical peer-review** :: Double-blind review, COPE-aligned policies.
  * **Early recognition** :: Indexed in Scopus, Web of Science.
  * **Quality promotion** :: Reviewer incentives like “Reviewer of the Year”.

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===== ⚠️ Weaknesses =====

  * **Modest Impact Factor** :: ~1.9 — lower than competitors like ''Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine'' (~3.1).
  * **Expensive APC** :: ~€1,780 per article; even with 50% waiver, may be a barrier.
  * **Reputation still developing** :: Young journal, still consolidating standing.
  * **Bibliometric volatility** :: IF and CiteScore may not fully reflect scientific rigor.

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===== 🔍 Summary Table =====

^ Attribute ^ Assessment ^
| **Scope & relevance** | Broad, multidisciplinary |
| **Access** | Fully open-access |
| **Peer review** | Double-blind, international board |
| **Impact** | Moderate; improving |
| **Costs** | High APC unless discounted |
| **Best for** | Translational research, EU-based collaborations |

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===== 🧭 Recommendations =====

  - Ideal for authors prioritizing accessibility and wide reach.
  - Less suited for those seeking high-impact journal prestige.
  - Society members should apply APC discounts.
  - Review thematic fit carefully before submission.

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**Final Verdict**:: ''Brain & Spine'' is a legitimate, ethically reviewed, and strategically positioned European journal with increasing relevance. A strong candidate for open-access publication—especially for translational or multidisciplinary spine-brain work—though not yet a top-tier citation vehicle.
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