Current Biology Template
Get your Current Biology paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Current Biology Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 7 August, 2026
Submitting to Current Biology goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Current Biology guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Current Biology Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Current Biology. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Current Biology journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a Current Biol submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Current Biology guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Current Biology guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Current Biology Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Current Biol.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Current Biology guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
Current Biology Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Current Biol requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured, single paragraph format. ARTICLES: 250 words maximum, no references, summarizes background to the study, key results, and conclusions. REPORTS: 250 words maximum, references should be cited, summarizes background to the work, new results being reported, and significance of findings; all essential background must be included in the summary (no introduction section for reports) |
| Main text | ARTICLES: ~5,000 words of main text (excluding summary, STAR Methods, supplemental information, and references), up to 7 display items (figures/tables). REPORTS: ~2,500 words of main text (excluding summary, STAR Methods, supplemental information, and references), up to 4 display items (figures/tables). CORRESPONDENCE: 1,000 words maximum, 10 references maximum, 1 display item only |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Not specified in the official author guidelines |
| References | Numbered, sequential superscript citations (Cell Press style). References are cited in the text by sequential numbers in superscript and listed numerically in the reference list |
| Peer review | Single-blind (reviewers are aware of author identities; reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors except at the specific reviewer's request). Confirmed from Cell Press reviewer information page: 'The EM website preserves reviewer anonymity. Your identity as a referee is only revealed to you and the editors of Cell Press or Elsevier journals.' |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/current-biology |
Quick Tips for Using the Current Biology Template
Read the Current Biology guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Current Biology in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Current Biol papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Current Biology journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Current Biology guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
