The RealClearFoundation – parent of RealClearPolitics – announced on Wednesday the launch of the Journal of the Academy of Public Health (JAPH). The journal aims to start a new chapter in the world of scientific publishing and shake up the field of public health with a commitment to open access, transparency, and scholarly inclusivity.
Leading the effort are co-founders Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Martin Kulldorff. Dr. Kulldorff now co-leads the journal as its editor-in-chief with Dr. Andrew Noymer of the University of California, Irvine. Their vision, articulated in Kulldorff’s inaugural paper “The Rise and Fall of Scientific Journals and a Way Forward,” is to reform how scientific research is shared and critiqued.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health, is currently on leave from his duties with the journal. Bhattacharya gained national attention for his critical stance on COVID-19 lockdown measures, co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020 with Dr. Martin Kulldorff (JAPH co-founder) and Dr. Sunetra Gupta. He is a professor at Stanford University where he holds positions in Medicine, Economics, and Health Research Policy.
The Declaration argued for “Focused Protection,” suggesting that lockdowns should be replaced with measures that protect only the vulnerable while allowing others to live normally to achieve herd immunity. Bhattacharya’s advocacy for academic freedom and his critique of public health policies during the pandemic put him at odds with the medical establishment
Dr. Martin Kulldorff, once a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, is an expert in epidemiology and biostatistics, particularly known for his work in infectious disease surveillance. Kulldorff has been vocal about his opposition to broad public health restrictions during pandemics, co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration. According to his biography on the Declaration website, he has worked on research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the non-profit Fund for Public Health in New York City. He is also a founding fellow at Hillsdale College’s Academy for Science and Freedom.
Dr. Andrew Noymer serves as a Professor of Population Health and Disease Prevention at the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, demography, and health policy, with a particular emphasis on how these intersect with historical data. Noymer has contributed significantly to understanding the long-term impacts of public health interventions, such as vaccinations and how they influence population health dynamics.
In a statement about the launch of the new journal, the organization listed its core approach to publishing scientific papers as:
1. Open access, so that scientific articles can be read by all scientists and anyone in the public.
2. Open peer reviews that anyone can read at the same time as they read articles; signed by the reviewer.
3. Rewarding reviewers with an honorarium and public acknowledgement.
4. Removal of article gatekeeping, letting the Academy of Public Health’s distinguished scientists freely publish all their research results in a timely and efficient manner, together with their associated peer reviews.
JAPH’s launch comes at a pivotal moment when public trust in scientific institutions and government is under scrutiny, especially in the wake of recent global health challenges. By focusing on intellectual accountability, viewpoint diversity, and fair editorial practices, JAPH aims to rebuild confidence in scientific discourse.
The journal’s first issue, released Wednesday, includes original peer-reviewed studies, essays reflecting on global public health, and a comprehensive review of vaccine literature.
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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.
