A leading scientific journal has done away with a manuscript submission option that allowed members of the National Academy of Sciences to usher papers from non-members through the peer review process.

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) offered the option, called "Track I," to members of the Academy as a way to bring papers written by non-members to the journal's attention. Members were allowed to "communicate" two Track I papers per year, and were responsible for procuring at least two reviews of the manuscript before submitting it to the PNAS editorial office.

Starting July 1, 2010, PNAS will require non-members to submit manuscripts to the journal via the normal route, "Track II," according to ScienceInsider. A paper submitted via this route is screened by a PNAS editorial board member, who decides whether the paper is scientifically sound and likely to represent the top 10% of its field. If the paper passes muster, the board member hands it off to an Academy member for editing.

"Since the introduction of Track II as the general route for submitted papers, many members will no longer communicate papers through Track I," wrote Alan Fersht, a PNAS associate editor, in a 2005 editorial in the journal. But in 2009 PNAS has published approximately 390 papers (about 12.5% of the total published) that were submitted using the Track I route, according to ScienceInsider.

Researchers submitting papers to PNAS will still be allowed to suggest referees and editors for their manuscripts.

Editor's Note (10th Sept.) - Here is the PNAS editorial that explains the decision to ditch Track I.


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