Journal selection, submission and support

The journey to successful publication can be fraught with obstacles. At Rx Communications, with 20 years of experience, we are adept at navigating this journey, ensuring that your research achieves the recognition it deserves.

Expertise and quality at the
heart of everything we do

When it comes to getting you published nothing can substitute for an highly skilled and experienced team. We take a bespoke approach to all our client's projects and allocate the best team to get the job done.
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Experienced guidance

Benefit from our 20 years of experience in the MedComms industry, assisting the world's top pharmaceutical companies in achieving successful publications in numerous prestigious medical journals.

Tailored strategy

We provide a customised approach to getting you published that considers your unique research goals, target audience, and journal compatibility.

Full service support

From the moment you partner with us, we're committed to your publication success, from strategic planning, selection and writing, to post-submission support and beyond.

Your trusted partner in publication

With over 20 years of experience, Rx Communications has been a trusted partner to some of the world's top pharmaceutical companies. We are committed to your success and work tirelessly to ensure that your research is published in the most impactful way possible.

Strategic journal selection

Choosing the right journal for your research is a critical step in the publication process. It requires a deep understanding of your research's subject matter, the nuances of different journals, and the broader scientific landscape. Our experienced team will analyse your research and its potential impacts, map out the most suitable journals, and provide expert guidance on where to submit for the best chance of acceptance and visibility.

Manuscript creation

When it comes to scientific publishing, the importance of an impeccably written manuscript cannot be overstated. It is the foundation upon which your publishing journey rests. Our team of seasoned medical writers, well-versed in a wide array of therapeutic areas, will work closely with you to transform your research findings into a compelling, polished, and meticulously crafted manuscript. From devising a strong narrative that effectively communicates your research and its significance to ensuring that your manuscript adheres to the highest standards of scientific accuracy and integrity, we've got you covered.

Submission management

Submission to a scientific journal is no simple task. Each journal has its own unique submission guidelines and requirements, and overlooking even the smallest detail can result in delays or outright rejection. We can manage every aspect of the submission process on your behalf, ensuring that your manuscript adheres to all guidelines, that all necessary documents are prepared and submitted correctly, and that the entire process is smooth and stress-free. We'll also help you craft a compelling cover letter that captures the editor's attention, manage the submission platform, and address any technical issues that may arise.

Post-submission support

Once your manuscript is out the door and into the hands of the journal editorial team, our support doesn't stop. The submission process can sometimes be a drawn-out affair, with requests for additional information, clarifications, or changes. Our experienced team remains with you every step of the way, helping you navigate any bumps along the way. If revisions are required, we coordinate with all stakeholders to ensure these are effectively addressed and the revised manuscript is resubmitted in a timely manner.

Rejection handling

In the event of an initial rejection, don't despair. Rx Communications is seasoned in handling such outcomes, and we'll work with you to devise a plan of action. This may involve reworking the manuscript for resubmission or identifying a new target journal that might be a better fit for your work. We stand by you through the highs and lows of the publication journey, providing the expertise and support needed to keep moving forward towards your goal of publication.

A Chronicle of Success

Here we proudly share the experiences and successes of our esteemed clients. Their candid testimonials attest to our unwavering commitment to service, expertise, and dedication that has consistently delivered exceptional results for our clients.

Due to the sensitive nature of most of our work we are sometimes required to anonymise these public facing testimonials, however we can provide details, including references and case studies later in the process.

Thank you so much for your hard work and enthusiasm in helping us achieve acceptance for the manuscript (** Observational Study). Best wishes!

Anon

Medical Education Consultant

The manuscript is officially accepted. I have truly enjoyed collaborating with you on this endeavor, and I'm so grateful for all your help.

Anon

Senior Director Medical Affairs

I'm very pleased with this 2nd draft. You've done a great job addressing my comments from the first. I believe we're ready to submit the paper... Thank you.

Anon

Brand Leader

You and your team have done an outstanding job with the Sleep/GERD manuscript, making the process easy for me. Your quality of work is top-notch, with thorough research, sophisticated concept integration, and smooth, comprehensible writing. I hope to collaborate again and will share this with your prospective clients.

WC

Fantastic news! Congratulations to everyone involved in the acceptance of the article for publication in Annals of Oncology!

VR

Huge congratulations to the entire team for their excellent work!

EG

Excellent news! Congratulations to everyone involved.

AC

Congratulaciones and thanks you a lot for your help.

IM

A world of expertise available...

With our scalable network model we have a deep talent pool we can draw on. While we can't share the personal details of these writers here, when it comes time to create your dream-team you will receive full bios of the individuals involved to take your project to the next level.

*Not their real name

Thomas is a knowledgeable medical writer with 20 years of experience providing regulatory and drug development advice to various pharmaceutical and food supplement companies across Europe, the US, and the Far East/Australia. He served as the Director of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs, regulating global negotiation and obtaining approvals for a leading therapeutics institution.

Key Experience:

  • Over 20 years of global experience in providing regulatory and drug development guidance to pharmaceutical and food supplement companies.
  • Broad understanding and management of worldwide regulatory negotiation and approvals.
  • Previous high-ranking role as Director of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs in a leading therapeutics company.

Eileen is a seasoned pharmacist and medical writer with a strong 30-year history in the medical communication domain. Throughout her extensive career, she has demonstrated her expertise through contributions and reviews of clinical content including manuscripts, abstracts, and presentation materials, and has provided advisory and editorial support, competitor reviews, and database development. Possessing deep insight and knowledge in diverse therapeutic areas, her specialties range from ophthalmology and cardiovascular to diabetes, among others.

Key Experiences:

  • A successful 30-year career as a pharmacist and medical writer.
  • Spearheaded the development of various projects and publications, including manuscripts, abstracts, presentation materials, and database development.
  • Acquired extensive therapeutic area expertise, notably in ophthalmology, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

Hannah has an impressive career as a medical writer spanning over two decades. Her solid educational foundation in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, acquired from a top-tier university in the US, has greatly enriched her role in her current writing and editing team. For over 14 years, she has consistently delivered high-quality content in her speciality area of diabetes.
Hannah has crafted over 20 highly informative articles, all tailored to diabetologists/endocrinologists in Europe and Latin America. These outputs cover a myriad of topics in diabetes management and research, such as Diabetic retinopathy and hypertension in type 2 diabetes, the correlation between obesity, mental illness medication and type 2 diabetes, the role of neurotherapeutics in addressing obesity and its associated comorbidities, lipid management in diabetes, exploration on diabetic microvascular complications amongst many others.

Key highlights:

  • Exceptional 21 years of dedicated experience as a medical writer within the pharmaceutical industry.
  • An extensive portfolio indicating a comprehensive understanding of multiple diabetes-related topics, ranging from diabetic retinopathy to the initiation of insulin therapy in primary care.

Jason, a holder of a BSc Honours degree in Biochemistry and an MSc in Economic Evaluation in Healthcare, has 20 years of experience in medical writing specialising in publication management in the field. His expertise spans an impressive range of therapeutic areas including cardiology, dermatology, eating disorders, gastroenterology, oncology, psychiatry, and rheumatology. With a particular focus on Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) writing, he regularly reviews Health Technology Assessment (HTA) submissions, white papers, business cases, meeting reports, core claims, and peer-to-peer presentations. Jason also offers crucial editorial support to clinical, HEOR, and payer advisory boards.

Key Experience:

  • Over 20 years in medical writing with an emphasis on publication management.
  • Expertise in multiple therapeutic areas such as cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, oncology, psychiatry, and rheumatology.
  • Extensive experience in HEOR writing, contributing to HTA submissions, white papers, business cases, and vital presentations.

Catherine carries a significant career in medical research and medical writing with a PhD in oncology. With a strong focus on liver disease, she has spent a significant part of her career preparing reviews for respected peer-reviewed journals including topics like Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fatty liver disease, and Hepatitis C. She is particularly skilful at preparing conference materials, product monographs, therapeutic landscape analyses, and sales training materials. Additionally, Catherine has demonstrated a track record in producing continuing medical education materials and patient education products.

Key Highlights:

  • Holds a PhD in Oncology and boasts a decade of experience in medical research.
  • Dedicated 12 years to medical writing with a prime focus on liver diseases like NASH, Fatty Liver disease, and Hepatitis C.
  • Versatility in creating a range of materials for various purposes and skill at producing continuing medical education materials and patient education products.

Alex is a skilled medical writer specialising in neurology and pharmacology, backed by a PhD in biomedical sciences, specifically neuropharmacology, and postdoctoral training in neuropathology. Their diverse work includes manuscripts, press releases, conference coverage and continuing medical education materials centred around neurology.
Having written on neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease, dementia, epilepsy, sleep disorders, cognitive deficits, and brain tumours, Alex also possesses an expansive understanding of subjects like stroke, aneurysms, neuroplasticity, and neuro-interventions. They have also produced significant content on pain management for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome, with a recent focus on the importance of patients' perspectives in disease management and outcomes.

Key Experience:

  • Boasts a PhD in biomedical sciences, specialising in neuropharmacology, and postdoctoral training in neuropathology.
  • Written extensively on a range of neurology-related topics, from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to epilepsy and sleep disorders.
  • Provides a patient-focused approach to disease management, specifically in terms of pain management for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Since 2006, George has utilised his medical writing skills, initially honed while working for a large pharmaceutical company and a Contract Research Organisation (CRO) in Germany, to author a range of critical regulatory medical writing texts. Over time, he has composed around 50 Clinical Study Reports (CSRs) and protocols from Phase I to IV, along with vital contributions to Investigator's Brochures (IBs), clinical summaries and pharmacovigilance documents including patient narratives, safety update reports and risk management assessment. George's expertise spans a variety of therapeutic areas such as vaccines, oncology, diabetes, dermatology, haematology, acute liver conditions, immunocompromised allergy, medical devices, autism spectrum disorder, and wound healing.

Key Experience:

  • Over 15 years of medical writing experience, including an extensive portfolio including Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), protocols and pharmacovigilance documents.
  • Broad knowledge across various therapeutic areas, including vaccines, oncology, diabetes, dermatology and haematology, among others.

With a PhD in Biochemistry and over two decades of experience as a medical writer/editor in the medical education sector, Olivia has made significant contributions to a wide range of publications, including meeting reports, book chapters, and product monographs across numerous indications like hypertension and heart failure. She is proficient in developing diverse types of materials in various forms of media.

Key Highlights:

  • Combines a robust academic background in Biochemistry with over 20 years of industry experience in medical writing/editing.
  • Diverse publication experience ranging from book chapters to meeting reports across fields such as hypertension and heart failure.
  • Showcases versatility across print, video, audio, and digital media.

With over two decades of experience in medical communications, Clara is a registered pharmacist and seasoned medical writer, skilled across many therapeutic areas and project types. Throughout her extensive career with Rx, she has effectively collaborated with various pharmaceutical institutions on ongoing projects. Many of these projects have been in the field of health economics and outcomes, and include value dossiers, publications, training slide sets and HTA submissions. Recently, she has been engaged in data analysis for treatment of pancreatic cancer, lupus, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Clara also played a key role in securing funding through research proposal development, proving her effectiveness as both a team and project leader.

Key Highlights:

  • Over 20 years of professional experience as a pharmacist and in medical communications for different agencies and publishing entities.
  • Specialises in medical writing across various therapeutic areas with a primary focus on health economics and outcomes.
  • Led successful data analysis initiatives and research proposals for funding, showcasing strong leadership skills.

David boasts an extensive career spanning 32 years in the field of medical writing. His expertise covers various regulatory areas, including handling protocols, Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), patient narratives, and the creation of integrated summaries focused on efficacy and safety. David's work history is studded with notable projects surrounding the treatment of numerous ailments. He has contributed significantly to the field of oncology, dealing with pioneering treatments for breast, prostate and skin cancer. David also has invaluable experience working on the management of inflammatory diseases and acute coronary syndromes. His diverse expertise extends to the realm of ophthalmology where he has worked on advancing therapeutic antihistamines.

Highlighted Experience:

  • A reputable career grounded on 32 years of experience in medical writing, emphasising various key regulatory areas such as protocols, Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), patient narratives and comprehensive summaries on efficacy and safety.
  • Significant contributions to the field of oncology, having worked on pioneering treatments targeted at several types of cancer, including but not limited to breast, prostate, and skin.
  • Extensive work experience surrounding the management and study of inflammatory diseases, acute coronary syndromes and advances in therapeutic antihistamines concerning ophthalmological applications.

Meet the team

Get to know the team behind the world-class experience.

Comprehensive MedComms services tailored to your needs

Discover the advantage of our full-service medcomms agency, offering an extensive array of tailored solutions designed to address your unique challenges and objectives. Whether you need support on a limited basis, or across the full communications plan, our expertise covers every aspect of your medical communications journey, providing a seamless, results-driven experience that help set you apart in the competitive landscape.

The path to MedComms
success is as easy as 1,2,3...

Reach out to our team of experts today and discover how our unparalleled experience, proven methods, and steadfast commitment to your success can transform your projects into powerful, engaging communications.

1. Contact

Reach out to our dedicated team of experts via phone, email, or the contact form on our website.

2. Discovery

Engage in a comprehensive consultation with our experienced professionals, share your challenges, goals, and aspirations. We'll help identify strategies and collaboratively develop a plan that aligns with your objectives.

3. Get started

With a clear roadmap in hand, our team will work to integrate seamlessly into your project to ensure timely execution, exceptional quality, and ultimately to the successful completion of your project.

Don't wait – take the first step towards medical communication excellence and contact us now to see what we can accomplish together.

FAQs

Here we take some time to answer some common questions. This is a work in progress which are always adding to and updating. We will be creating long-form content for many of these topics as we go on.

What is medical journal submission?
Medical journal submission incorporates preparing a health-related research paper or study to be reviewed and potentially published in a medical journal. This process heavily influences the sharing of new medical knowledge.
Why is medical journal selection important?
The selection of a medical journal is vital because it determines the potential reach and impact of your work. Publication in high-quality, reputable journals ensures your research reaches the correct audience.
How can I submit an article to a medical journal?
To submit an article, authors must visit the chosen journal's website where they'll find specific submission guidelines. Following these instructions carefully increases acceptance chances.
Which medical journals accept submissions?
Numerous medical journals accept submissions including 'The Lancet', 'New England Journal of Medicine', 'British Medical Journal' and other specialty specific journals.
How should my submission be formatted?
Submission guidelines outlining specific formatting requirements can be found on the journal's website. Adherence to these is crucial for potential acceptance.
What kind of research methods are acceptable?
Nearly all research methods are acceptable so long as they are appropriate, ethically sound, and scientifically valid to answer the research question.
Do I need a medical degree to submit to a medical journal?
No, anyone can submit, provided the work meets editorial guidelines, is ethical, original and adds value to the scientific body of knowledge.
How are medical articles reviewed?
Medical papers are reviewed through a process called peer review, where specialists critique and evaluate the validity, significance and originality of the study.
Can I submit to multiple journals at once?
Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is typically against policy due to potential duplication, copyright issues, and waste of peer review resources.
Is it possible to appeal a rejection?
Yes. Most journals have an appeals policy that allows you to challenge their decision, especially where you believe a misunderstanding or error occurred.
Are there submissions fees for medical journals?
Some journals charge fees, others don't. It's important to check the policy before submitting. Fees may cover processing, publication, or open access.
How often are journals published?
Journals have differing publication frequencies, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Always check the specifics with each journal.
How long does the process of submission take?
This process varies between journals. Typically after submission, it undergoes initial screening followed by peer review, which can take a few months.
What kind of articles can be submitted to a medical journal?
Medical journals accommodate differing types of articles like original research, review articles, case reports, editorials, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor.
What kind of topics are appropriate for a medical journal?
The topics should directly be linked with health and medicine. Your research question should contribute new insights to the existing body of knowledge.
Can my submission be confidential?
Submissions are usually not confidential as they go through peer review; however, journals maintain a strict confidentiality policy during that process.
Can I get feedback on my submission?
Most journals provide feedback on submissions. This includes comments from reviewers detailing any issues identified, revisions suggested and the final decision.
Why might an article be rejected from a journal?
Articles are often rejected due to poor methodology, lack of originality, insufficient data, errors or inconclusive results. Relevance to the journal's scope influences acceptance too.
Can I retract my submission?
Yes, authors are generally allowed to withdraw their submission prior to acceptance. However, the journal should be promptly informed.
Can I resubmit my work after it's been rejected?
If a submission is rejected, it can be resubmitted after major revisions addressing all the concerns raised by the reviewers.
Can I get help with writing or editing my submission?
Yes, many professional editing services exist that can assist with language proofreading, editing, and reformatting according to specific submission guidelines.
Can I submit work that's already been published elsewhere?
Duplicate submission is typically not acceptable to ensure academic integrity. Some cases might be allowed if properly referenced or with copyright permissions.
What happens after my article gets published?
Post-publication, the article can be accessed by readers globally or by the journal's subscription base, depending on the accessibility model of the journal.
What are the ethical standards for submission?
Ethical standards include research integrity, informed consent, confidentiality, non-plagiarism, correct authorship, and potential conflict of interest declaration.
Can I submit case studies to a medical journal?
Yes, many medical journals accept insightful and ethical case studies, demonstrating new findings or study of clinical relevance.
What should the abstract of my submission contain?
The abstract should contain a brief background, methods used, the main findings and conclusions. It should be simple, clear and concise.
Do medical journals have a preference for certain type of studies?
Journals may show preference based on their focus, preferring randomised controlled trials, reviews, or meta-analyses over uncontrolled or observational designs.
How rigorous is the peer review process?
The process is rigorous involving multiple reviewers scrutinising the submission for methodological robustness, ethical adherence, originality, and relevance to the journal.
What kind of data can I include in my submission?
Submission can include raw data, processed data, statistical analysis, tables, figures, illustrations, and supplementary files to support your findings.
Do I retain the rights to my work after publication?
This may vary among journals. Authors may need to sign a copyright transfer agreement, however, some publications allow retention of rights.
How is authorship determined for a submission?
Authorship involves substantial contribution to the research, drafting and approving the final manuscript, and taking responsibility for the accuracy of the content.
How will I know if my submission was accepted?
After successful review, the corresponding author will receive an acceptance notification from the journal detailing the next steps.
Will my submission be edited after acceptance?
Yes, accepted papers will be edited for clarity, format, and style compliance while preserving the original meaning of the manuscript.
How do I write an effective conclusion for my submission?
An effective conclusion clearly states the takeaway message, implication of the findings, limitation of study and suggestions for future research briefly.
How can I ensure my research adheres to ethical guidelines for submission?
Authors must ensure their research complies with international ethical guidelines, such as those outlined by the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki.
What constitutes a potential conflict of interest in a submission?
Conflicts of interest arise when factors could potentially influence the fairness of the study. These conflicts should be stated clearly in the article.
Is there a specific structure I should follow in my submission?
Yes, medical journals prefer IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) structure. However, review articles, case reports and others may follow different patterns.
Can I amend methodology after submission but before publication?
Methodological changes post-submission but pre-publication might be possible following in-depth discussion with and approval from the journal editor.
Are there any word count restrictions for submissions?
Each journal defines its word limit based on the type of article. Exceeding this might lead to rejection or necessitate trimming.
What evidence is required to support my submission?
High-quality evidence supporting claims in your article is crucial. Strong supportive data, unparalleled methodology and accurate outcomes would solidify your submission.
Can a non-scientist understand articles in a medical journal?
While most articles use medical or scientific jargon, some journals publish patient summaries or lay abstracts to facilitate comprehension by non-medical readers.
How to address negative reviewer comments effectively?
Address reviewer comments methodically. Explain how the comment was addressed in the revision, or justify why no change was necessary, always ensuring respectful dialogue.
How does open access publishing work in medical journals?
Open access publication ensures free, unrestricted online access to the article. Some journals publish exclusively open access; others offer a hybrid model at a cost.
Can I submit reviews or opinion pieces to a medical journal?
Yes, opinion pieces or reviews summarising existing research or offering expert viewpoints on particular topics are welcomed in many medical journals.
How are the results of my study reported in the journal?
Results are typically reported in a dedicated section of the article, comprising text, tables, graphs and charts summarising the main findings.
What role does the editor of the medical journal play in the submission process?
The editor handles the administration of the submission. This includes initial screening, coordinating peer review, and making final decisions about publication.
How long should my submission be?
Length of the submission varies in accordance with the article type. Details are usually specified in the guideline section of each journal.
Who reads the articles in medical journals?
Medical professionals, researchers, academics, students, pharmaceutical companies and sometimes patients or general public who are interested in the field consume these articles.
How does the impact factor of a journal influence submission selection?
Impact factor signifies the average citations received per article in a journal. A higher impact factor denotes greater influence of that journal in the field.
How does the editorial board contribute to the article selection process?
The editorial board, with its collective expertise, filters submissions for suitability, manages peer-review processes, and advises on journal policies and strategic direction.
What are predatory journals and how can they be identified?
Predatory journals solicit articles and charge publication fees without providing robust editorial services. Checking the journal's indexation, editorial board, impact factor, and open access policy helps identify them.
How can co-authors' contribution be accurately represented?
Each co-author's role should be enumerated in the contributor statement, emphasising distinct contributions making a collaboratively strong piece.
How do I reference other studies in my submission?
Using a specified citation style (APA, MLA, etc.), references are included to acknowledge other's work, avoid plagiarism and give credibility to your claims.
Are supplemental materials allowed in a submission?
Supplemental materials or appendices are generally accepted to include further details not accommodated in the main text, such as extended data sets.
Can I submit an article written by a group of authors?
Yes, multi-authored papers are common in medical research, as long as each individual has made a valuable contribution warranting authorship.
What are the main errors that lead to manuscript rejection?
Common reasons include insufficient novelty, flawed methodology, weak or unclear conclusions, inconsistent arguments, poor writing style, and non-adherence to ethical guidelines or journal policies.
How can my submission contribute to the medical field?
A valuable submission could advance understanding in a particular area, influence clinical practice, trigger policy changes, or pave the way for future research.
What is the decision process for accepting a submission?
The decision-making process involves the preliminary editor’s review, peer-review, conformance to ethical standards, and relevance to the journal's scope.
How can fast track publishing be requested?
Fast track or expedited review processes are available for pressing research. Many journals offer this but often requires a strong justification.
How do I navigate copyright issues when submitting?
Submitting authors must warrant that the work is not infringing any intellectual property rights. For reuse of previously published work, written permission from the copyright holder is necessary.
How can I optimise the visibility of my published article?
To enhance visibility, authors can share their article via social media, press releases, academic networks, email newsletters, blog posts, or presentations at conferences.
How can I increase the citation potential of my submission?
To increase citation potential, write on relevant topics, collaborate internationally, provide robust data, ensure clarity in writing, and promote the work across professional networks post-publication.

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