Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe
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PublicationsCIRSE InsiderCVIR: The leading journal in IR

CVIR: The leading journal in IR

August 2, 2024

In the rapidly evolving field of interventional radiology (IR), maintaining a leading position among academic journals is no small feat. The Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR) journal has consistently proven its prominence as a cornerstone in the dissemination of groundbreaking research and clinical advancements. Despite minor fluctuations in its impact factor, CVIR’s stability and unwavering commitment to quality and innovation have solidified its status as the top IR journal worldwide; with a current impact factor of 2.8.

We spoke with Prof. Klaus Hausegger, CVIR editor-in-chief, to reflect on the journal’s achievements and vision.

CIRSE: CVIR has consistently been recognized as a leading journal in the field of IR. What do you believe are the key factors that have contributed to maintaining this status over the years?

Hausegger: Publishing high-quality scientific papers is the key to success. However, this success does not occur in isolation. A constant effort to enhance the quality of reviews and streamline the manuscript flow is another crucial factor. Our team continuously strives to improve the services for our readers and authors.

We work hard to ensure that we remain at the forefront of publishing innovative, high-quality research. It is in our utmost interest to be recognized by the members of our scientific society as the main target journal for new research which takes place in the IR community. A good current example is the hot topic of musculoskeletal embolization procedures, where we published several “latest research” papers, and there are many to follow.

Prof. Hausegger speaking at CIRSE 2023 in Copenhagen.
Prof. Hausegger and CIRSE President Prof. Binkert with the CVIR 2023 editor’s medal winners, Dr. Robbert S. Puijk and Prof. Ulf Teichgräber. 
Participants listen during a CVIR writing workshop.

CIRSE: Can you share your editorial vision for CVIR and how it aligns with the current trends and future directions in interventional radiology?

Hausegger: The landscape of scientific publishing has changed significantly during the last decade. As with many other aspects of academic life, speed and diversity have increased.

This requires that the journal undergoes continuous improvement. For instance, visual abstracts have been introduced as a new feature, taking a step toward making the journal more multimedia-oriented. The next phase will involve a stronger integration of videos, particularly for technical reports. Although the journal currently operates as a “hybrid journal,” with some open-access papers and the majority still being subscriber-based (around 70%), the long-term concept aims for “golden open-access,” where all manuscripts are open access papers. This transition reflects the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing.

CIRSE: What are some changes or challanges CVIR has faced in recent years?

Hausegger: Scholarly publishing has become highly competitive. Nowadays, authors no longer have a single dedicated journal where they submit their manuscripts. Instead, they consider various factors when choosing a journal:

  • Reputation: Authors assess the reputation of the journal. Well-established journals with a strong track record tend to attract more submissions.
  • Impact factor: The impact factor is another crucial consideration. Authors look at how influential a journal is within its field. Higher impact factors often indicate greater visibility and readership.
  • Manuscript management and speed: Efficient manuscript handling and quick publication are essential. Authors prefer journals that streamline the submission process and provide timely feedback.

In addition, the spectrum is widening. New and diverse topics are gaining prominence:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI): As AI research grows, journals receive more submissions related to machine learning, natural language processing, and other AI-driven fields.
  • Immunology in interventional oncology: Advances in cancer treatment and immunotherapy have increased interest in this area. Journals now publish research on the intersection of immunology and interventional oncology.

In summary, authors weigh multiple factors when choosing a journal, and the landscape continues to evolve.

CIRSE: How has the journal adapted to overcome these challenges?

Hausegger: The CVIR Editorial Board, composed of experts from over 30 different countries, consistently strives to attract high-quality manuscripts that are likely to be frequently cited. Increasing citations serves as the primary driving force for the journal’s impact and ranking. We continually enhance the efficiency of manuscript handling by expanding our workforce in the editorial office, inviting new and diverse reviewers, and increasing the number of active editorial board members. Additionally, we are directing our editorial team’s attention toward emerging topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and immunology. Recently, we appointed AI section editors, and we are exploring a similar approach for the field of immunology.

CIRSE: How does CVIR engage with the global interventional radiology community to foster collaboration and drive advancements in the field?

Hausegger: It’s great to see the growing awareness of CVIR. While high-quality research publications play a significant role in increasing visibility, there are indeed other essential aspects.

Supportive initiatives:

CVIR has introduced valuable initiatives to empower researchers. Writing workshops and reviewers’ workshops are excellent examples. These workshops provide practical guidance on scientific writing and the peer review processes, enhancing researchers’ skills and confidence.

The upcoming “Synergy in Mind” workshop at CIRSE 2024 in Lisbon is particularly exciting. Participants will have the unique opportunity to interact with the editors-in-chief from four well-recognized IR journals (including CVIR, CVIR Endovascular, JVIR, and AJIR). Learning how to improve scientific writing is crucial for advancing the field.

The Vision of CVIR is to be the “Global home of IR.” Each small initiative is one stone in the greater mosaic that makes up this vision. By fostering collaboration, education, and skill development, CVIR continues to strengthen its position in the field. These efforts collectively shape the future of IR and enhance its visibility.

CIRSE: What advice would you give to researchers and clinicians aspiring to publish in CVIR to maximize their chances of acceptance and contribute meaningfully to the journal’s legacy?

Hausegger: Every well-written manuscript is highly welcome at CVIR. However, due to the journal’s structure, we unfortunately have to reject about 75% of the submitted manuscripts. To increase the chances of getting a manuscript published in CVIR, consider the following basic advice:

  • Relevance: Ensure that the topic of your research is relevant to the interventional radiology community.
  • Contribution: Evaluate whether your work adds value to the existing body of knowledge in the field.
  • Adhere to guidelines: Follow the instructions for authors meticulously—a simple point that is often overlooked.
  • Format selection: Choose the appropriate format for your manuscript based on the type of study you plan to publish.

Junior authors should seek the support of experienced mentors. Attending writing workshops, which are organized regularly during various international interventional radiology (IR) meetings, can also be beneficial.

CIRSE:  As the editor-in-chief, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your tenure at CVIR, and what do you look forward to in the journal’s future?

Hausegger: The highest reward is success, and I believe that the past years have been a success story for CVIR. We consistently increased the impact factor and journal ranking. Additionally, we adapted the journal’s format to make it more appealing to our readers and authors. However, success is always the result of teamwork. In this spirit, I want to express my gratitude to the entire team for their dedicated efforts.

Looking ahead, I am optimistic about the journal’s future. Next year, the new editor-in-chief will bring fresh ideas and dynamic momentum. CIRSE is the largest interventional radiology society worldwide and CVIR is an official journal of this society. With the support of our members as both readers and authors, the journal will experience steady growth in future.