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Rupture between American studies association and US embassy highlights choices facing academia, says Michael Collins

Post views: 9,953 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.