Li SC. Evolving target: A 16-year progressive framework for shifting the rubric of scientific publishing toward transparency, artificial intelligence, and the Economic Impact Factor for impact that matters. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(12): 111748 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.111748]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Shengwen Calvin Li, PhD, Academic Fellow, Adjunct Professor, Head, Research Fellow, Senior Researcher, Senior Scientist, Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine School of Medicine, 200 S Manchester Avenue, Suite 206, Orange, CA 92868, United States. sli@choc.org
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Cell Biology
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Editorial
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Dec 26, 2025 (publication date) through Dec 31, 2025
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Publication Name
World Journal of Stem Cells
ISSN
1948-0210
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Li SC. Evolving target: A 16-year progressive framework for shifting the rubric of scientific publishing toward transparency, artificial intelligence, and the Economic Impact Factor for impact that matters. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(12): 111748 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.111748]
World J Stem Cells. Dec 26, 2025; 17(12): 111748 Published online Dec 26, 2025. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.111748
Evolving target: A 16-year progressive framework for shifting the rubric of scientific publishing toward transparency, artificial intelligence, and the Economic Impact Factor for impact that matters
Shengwen Calvin Li
Shengwen Calvin Li, Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, CA 92868, United States
Shengwen Calvin Li, CHOC Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC®), Rady Children’s Health Orange County (RCH), Orange, CA 92868, United States
Author contributions: Li SC contributed to conceptualization, writing, and revision.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author reports no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Shengwen Calvin Li, PhD, Academic Fellow, Adjunct Professor, Head, Research Fellow, Senior Researcher, Senior Scientist, Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine School of Medicine, 200 S Manchester Avenue, Suite 206, Orange, CA 92868, United States. sli@choc.org
Received: July 11, 2025 Revised: October 22, 2025 Accepted: November 18, 2025 Published online: December 26, 2025 Processing time: 170 Days and 0.5 Hours
Abstract
Reflecting on 16 years of continuous evolution at the World Journal of Stem Cells, this editorial offers a forward-looking vision for redefining the framework of scientific publishing. With the emergence of artificial intelligence, open science, and the growing need for translational value, we propose shifting from traditional citation-based assessments toward an impact and progress framework, anchored by the Economic Impact Factor. The World Journal of Stem Cells experience, grounded in metrics and milestones, supports this evolution: Among the more than 1200 published articles since inception, our top 10 cited works have collectively accrued over 2475 citations, led by Kyurkchiev et al (398 citations) and Casteilla et al (392 citations). Emerging scholars such as Ann De Becker and Nipha Chaicharoenaudomrung have shaped the next generation of research, as seen in our top 10 junior authors table. Clinically, World Journal of Stem Cells has supported critical translational work, such as Tsang et al’s mesenchymal stem cell stroke trial (27 citations), illustrating real-world impact. Thematic breadth remains a cornerstone, with 22 focus areas including artificial intelligence-integrated programming, spatial single-cell biology, CRISPR-based gene editing, and bench-to-bedside translation. As Nature and other leading publishers move toward transparent peer review, World Journal of Stem Cells embraces editorial co-creation, recognizing peer reviewers and editors as contributors with “10000-foot eagle views” by publishing peer-review reports side-by-side with the related manuscripts since its inception. Together, these shifts signify a call to recalibrate what we value in science - not just what is cited, but what truly counts.
Core Tip: This editorial reflects on a 16-year evolution at the World Journal of Stem Cells and introduces a forward-thinking model for scientific publishing. We propose the Economic Impact Factor as a complementary metric to traditional citation counts - emphasizing translational relevance, editorial transparency, and artificial intelligence-driven progress. Drawing from World Journal of Stem Cells’s publishing milestones, clinical impact, and thematic breadth, we advocate for a values-based framework that prioritizes what truly matters in science: Real-world applicability, peer-reviewed integrity, and sustained contribution to future discovery.
