Nexus of Integrated Clinical Science (NICS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality, methodologically rigorous research across the biomedical, clinical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, public health, and healthcare sciences.
NICS provides an interdisciplinary platform for research that advances the understanding of human health and disease, improves clinical decision-making and patient care, supports evidence-based interventions, and contributes to improved health and healthcare outcomes.
The journal particularly welcomes research that connects scientific knowledge with clinical practice and integrates diagnosis, treatment, prevention, nursing care, rehabilitation, patient-centered care, and healthcare delivery.
NICS aims to publish research that:
Advances knowledge relevant to human health and disease.
Bridges basic, translational, and clinical sciences.
Improves diagnosis, treatment, prevention, monitoring, and rehabilitation.
Strengthens evidence-based clinical and nursing practice.
Advances patient-centered and multidisciplinary care.
Addresses maternal, newborn, pediatric, adult, and older-adult health.
Improves patient safety and quality of care.
Evaluates healthcare interventions, technologies, and models of care.
Supports effective healthcare delivery and health-system improvement.
Promotes rigorous, transparent, reproducible, and ethically conducted research.
The journal welcomes original research, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, meta-analyses, methodological studies, evidence syntheses, clinical perspectives, and other scholarly contributions that are scientifically rigorous and clearly aligned with the journal's scope.
NICS covers biomedical, clinical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, public health, and healthcare sciences.
The journal encourages both discipline-specific and multidisciplinary research, particularly studies that connect different healthcare professions or scientific disciplines to address clinically and practically relevant questions.
Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Molecular biology, Cell biology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Immunology, Medical genetics, Biomedical sciences, Experimental therapeutics
Basic laboratory research is considered when it makes a substantive scientific contribution and has a credible relationship to human health, disease, biomedical mechanisms, diagnostics, therapeutics, or translational research.
Bench-to-bedside research, Translational disease mechanisms, Biomarker discovery and validation, Therapeutic target identification, Experimental therapeutics, Preclinical research with relevant translational implications, Clinical translation of biomedical discoveries, Molecular and cellular findings with potential clinical application
NICS welcomes research addressing clinical diagnosis, treatment, prevention, prognosis, monitoring, and outcomes across the medical sciences.
Areas include:
General clinical medicine, Multidisciplinary clinical care, Acute and chronic disease management, Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, Clinical outcomes, Patient-centered clinical care, Integrated care models
General internal medicine, Multisystem disorders, Chronic disease management, Complex medical conditions, Multimorbidity, Clinical decision-making, Inpatient and outpatient medicine
General surgery, Surgical outcomes, Perioperative care, Surgical innovation, Minimally invasive procedures, Surgical complications, Postoperative care, Multidisciplinary surgical management
Pediatric medicine, Neonatal and infant health, Pediatric infectious diseases, Pediatric chronic diseases, Pediatric diagnostics and therapeutics, Child development, Pediatric patient safety, Pediatric outcomes
Obstetric medicine, Gynecological disorders, Maternal health, Reproductive health, Women's health, Maternal and perinatal outcomes, Gynecological diagnostics and therapeutics, Obstetric and gynecological surgery
Neurological disorders, Neurodegenerative diseases, Stroke, Cerebrovascular disorders, Neuroimmunology, Clinical neuroscience, Neurodiagnostics, Neuroimaging, Neurorehabilitation
Psychiatric disorders, Psychopharmacology, Psychotherapy, Mental health assessment, Addiction medicine, Suicide prevention, Clinical risk assessment, Crisis intervention, Integrated mental healthcare, Behavioral health outcomes
Cardiovascular disease, Cardiovascular prevention, Cardiovascular diagnostics, Cardiovascular therapeutics, Interventional cardiology, Cardiovascular imaging, Cardiovascular risk prediction, Cardiac rehabilitation, Cardiovascular outcomes
Cancer biology with translational relevance, Cancer prevention and screening, Cancer diagnosis, Biomarkers, Cancer therapeutics, Precision oncology, Supportive cancer care, Palliative oncology, Cancer survivorship, Multidisciplinary cancer care
Clinical infectious diseases, Antimicrobial therapy, Antimicrobial resistance, Infection prevention and control, Clinical microbiology, Emerging and re-emerging infections, Infectious disease diagnostics, Vaccination, Infectious disease outcomes
Diabetes, Endocrine disorders, Metabolic diseases, Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, Hormonal disorders, Endocrine diagnostics, Endocrine therapeutics, Metabolic complications of chronic disease
Chronic kidney disease, Acute kidney injury, Glomerular diseases, Tubular disorders, Dialysis, Renal replacement therapy, Kidney transplantation, Renal biomarkers, Nephroprotective interventions, Kidney disease outcomes
Gastrointestinal diseases, Hepatology, Inflammatory bowel disease, Liver diseases, Gastrointestinal diagnostics, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal therapeutics, Hepatic therapeutics, Nutrition in gastrointestinal and liver disease
Respiratory diseases, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Pulmonary infections, Interstitial lung diseases, Occupational lung diseases, Respiratory diagnostics, Respiratory critical care, Sleep-related respiratory disorders, Pulmonary rehabilitation
Clinical dermatology, Inflammatory skin diseases, Autoimmune dermatological disorders, Dermatologic oncology, Dermatologic diagnostics, Therapeutic dermatology, Digital dermatology, Dermatological patient outcomes
Clinical ophthalmology, Retinal diseases, Optic nerve disorders, Corneal and anterior segment diseases, Ophthalmic diagnostics, Ophthalmic imaging, Ophthalmic therapeutics, Ophthalmic surgery, Visual and patient-reported outcomes
Otology, Neurotology,Rhinology, Laryngology, Head and neck disorders, Hearing and vestibular disorders, ENT diagnostics, ENT surgery, Rehabilitation and patient-centered outcomes
Orthopedic disorders, Musculoskeletal diseases, Trauma, Fracture care, Sports medicine, Orthopedic surgery, Musculoskeletal imaging, Bone and joint disorders, Functional outcomes, Rehabilitation
Emergency medicine, Intensive care, Acute care, Resuscitation, Critical illness, Sepsis, Shock, Critical care monitoring, Emergency diagnostics, Patient safety and outcomes
Diagnostic radiology, Medical imaging, Computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging, Ultrasound, Nuclear medicine, Image-guided procedures, Imaging biomarkers, Diagnostic accuracy, AI-assisted medical imaging
Anatomic pathology, Surgical pathology, Clinical pathology, Laboratory medicine, Histopathology, Cytopathology, Molecular diagnostics, Laboratory biomarkers, Diagnostic test evaluation, Laboratory quality and performance
Human genetics, Genetic disorders, Genomic medicine, Genetic diagnostics, Genomic diagnostics, Pharmacogenomics, Precision medicine, Molecular biomarkers, Clinical applications of genomic technologies
Clinical immunology, Autoimmune diseases, Immune-mediated disorders, Immunodeficiency, Allergy and hypersensitivity, Immunological biomarkers, Immunotherapy, Translational immunology
Clinical pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacogenomics, Drug efficacy, Drug safety, Pharmacovigilance, Therapeutic drug monitoring, Drug interactions, Rational prescribing, Personalized pharmacotherapy, Translational pharmacology
NICS explicitly welcomes research in nursing and nursing science, including:
Clinical nursing, Medical-surgical nursing, Critical care nursing, Emergency nursing, Pediatric nursing, Psychiatric and mental health nursing, Community health nursing, Geriatric nursing, Maternal and newborn nursing, Chronic disease nursing, Nursing interventions, Nursing-sensitive outcomes, Evidence-based nursing practice, Patient safety, Quality of nursing care, Nursing education and clinical training, Nursing workforce and healthcare delivery, Patient experience and patient-centered nursing care
Midwifery practice, Antenatal care, Intrapartum care, Postnatal care, Maternal health, Newborn health, Perinatal outcomes, Reproductive health, Women's health, Maternal education, Breastfeeding and postpartum care, High-risk pregnancy care, Midwifery-led models of care, Maternal and neonatal patient safety
Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Neurorehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal rehabilitation, Rehabilitation after injury or surgery, Chronic pain rehabilitation, Functional recovery, Disability management, Activities of daily living, Patient-reported functional outcomes
Speech-language pathology, Communication disorders, Swallowing disorders, Voice disorders, Hearing disorders, Audiology, Neurogenic communication disorders, Pediatric communication disorders, Rehabilitation and functional outcomes
Clinical nutrition, Medical nutrition therapy, Nutrition in chronic disease, Nutrition in critical illness, Malnutrition, Nutritional assessment, Obesity management, Metabolic nutrition, Diet-based interventions, Clinical dietetics
Clinical pharmacy, Medication therapy management, Pharmaceutical care, Medication safety, Medication adherence, Drug-related problems, Clinical pharmacotherapy, Drug interactions, Pharmacovigilance, Rational medication use, Personalized medication management, Interprofessional medication management
Anesthesiology, Perioperative medicine, Pain management, Perioperative safety, Anesthesia techniques, Postoperative recovery, Perioperative monitoring, Critical perioperative care, Acute and chronic pain research
Clinical dentistry, Oral medicine, Oral and maxillofacial disorders, Periodontology, Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral surgery, Dental public health, Oral health outcomes, Preventive oral healthcare
Clinical epidemiology, Population health, Disease surveillance, Disease prevention, Screening, Health promotion, Chronic disease prevention, Infectious disease epidemiology, Healthcare-associated infections, Health disparities, Health equity, Epidemiological methods, Population-based interventions
Disease prevention, Early detection, Screening programs, Vaccination, Lifestyle interventions, Preventive healthcare, Risk-factor modification, Chronic disease prevention
Health behavior, Lifestyle medicine, Behavior-change interventions, Social determinants of health, Healthcare disparities, Health equity, Patient–clinician communication, Treatment adherence, Health literacy, Psychosocial aspects of disease and care
Healthcare delivery, Quality improvement, Patient safety, Clinical governance, Healthcare performance, Care pathways, Institutional quality improvement, Interprofessional care, Healthcare workforce, Integrated care models
Health policy, Healthcare organization, Implementation science, Implementation of clinical guidelines, Evidence-to-practice research, Health-system design, Organizational models, Healthcare interventions at population level
Cost-effectiveness, Cost-utility, Cost-benefit analysis, Budget impact, Resource utilization, Healthcare efficiency, Economic evaluation, Health technology assessment, Clinical outcomes research
Telemedicine, Telehealth, Remote patient monitoring, Digital therapeutics, Electronic health records, Clinical informatics, Health information systems, Data interoperability, Clinical decision-support systems, Connected healthcare
NICS welcomes clinically relevant research involving:
Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Deep learning, Predictive analytics, Clinical decision-support systems, AI-assisted diagnosis, AI-assisted medical imaging, Digital biomarkers, Clinical prediction models, Healthcare data science
AI and computational studies should demonstrate appropriate methodological validation and clearly defined biomedical, clinical, healthcare, or patient-centered relevance. Purely technical studies without substantive healthcare relevance may fall outside the journal's scope.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs), Quality of life, Patient experience, Functional outcomes, Treatment satisfaction, Palliative and supportive care, Shared decision-making, Patient-centered clinical endpoints
NICS particularly encourages research that evaluates collaboration among healthcare professionals, including:
Physicians, Nurses, Midwives, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, Dietitians, Psychologists, Speech-language pathologists, Audiologists, Laboratory professionals, Radiology and imaging professionals, Other qualified healthcare professionals
Studies may address interprofessional practice, collaborative decision-making, integrated care pathways, patient safety, communication, continuity of care, and clinical outcomes.
Medical education, Nursing education, Midwifery education, Allied health education, Competency-based education, Clinical skills assessment, Simulation-based education, Interprofessional education, Virtual and digital learning, Curriculum development, Residency and fellowship training, Clinical training outcomes
NICS considers high-quality evidence-based scholarly contributions, including:
Systematic reviews, Meta-analyses, Network meta-analyses, Scoping reviews, Evidence syntheses, Methodological studies, Evidence-based clinical guidelines, Consensus statements, Scholarly perspectives, Clinical commentaries addressing important developments in biomedical, clinical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, or healthcare sciences
Evidence-synthesis manuscripts should use appropriate, transparent, and reproducible methodologies.
Basic, laboratory, in vitro, animal, and preclinical studies may be considered when they make a substantive contribution to biomedical science and have a clearly articulated relevance to human health, disease mechanisms, diagnostics, therapeutics, or translational research.
The journal does not require every basic study to demonstrate an immediate clinical effect. However, manuscripts should clearly establish their scientific significance and relationship to the journal's biomedical or translational scope.
Clinical, nursing, midwifery, rehabilitation, and allied health studies should address clearly defined scientific, clinical, or healthcare questions and should use an appropriate study design, methodology, analysis, and reporting framework.
Manuscripts involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive algorithms, or digital health technologies should provide appropriate methodological validation and clearly explain their intended biomedical, clinical, patient-care, or healthcare-system application.
Population-based studies are welcomed when they provide meaningful implications for disease prevention, health outcomes, clinical practice, patient care, or healthcare delivery.
NICS particularly welcomes multidisciplinary studies that integrate two or more scientific or healthcare disciplines when such integration contributes meaningfully to the research question or its interpretation.
NICS generally does not consider manuscripts that:
Fall outside the biomedical, clinical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, public health, or healthcare domains described above.
Have no meaningful relationship to human health, healthcare, biomedical science, or patient care.
Are purely technical or computational without substantive biomedical, clinical, or healthcare relevance.
Present primarily descriptive findings without sufficient scientific rationale or methodological support.
Lack adequate methodological transparency or scientific validity.
Do not provide sufficient information to evaluate the reliability or reproducibility of the findings.
Are inconsistent with the journal's stated aims, scope, ethical requirements, or publication standards.
Inclusion of a topic within the journal's scope does not guarantee consideration or acceptance. All submissions remain subject to editorial assessment and peer review, and editorial decisions are based on scientific quality, methodological rigor, originality, relevance, ethical standards, and conformity with the journal's aims and scope.
