Westlake University announced on Saturday the upcoming launch of Vita, a flagship international science journal targeting top-tier status in life sciences and biomedicine. Set to debut in spring 2026, the journal aims to bridge gaps in global academic collaboration while advancing China’s scientific influence.
Derived from the Latin word for 'life,' Vita reflects its disciplinary focus and commitment to borderless academic exchange, according to Editor-in-Chief Li Dangsheng. Preparations are nearing completion, with an international serial number secured and a 100-member global advisory committee established. The first research articles will publish online in early 2026, followed by a print edition in June.
The journal will integrate with the Langtaosha Preprint Server, a platform co-developed by Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, Tsinghua University, and others, to accelerate pre-publication sharing of breakthroughs. This initiative addresses China’s growing prominence in life sciences research, which has outpaced the development of high-quality domestic journals.
'Establishing a world-class journal led by China is both necessary and urgent,' said Westlake University President Shi Yigong. Vita will operate as an open-access publication with no fees for authors, supported by a professional editorial team to ensure rigorous standards. Co-founded by Higher Education Press and Westlake University, the project underscores China’s push to shape global scientific discourse.
