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Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review. Stephen Durham Section Allergy and Clinical Immunology NHLI, Imperial College London. EAACI Barcelona Tues 10 th June 2008. Assumptions. Target audience: 2 nd -3 rd year research student working on a translational project in allergy
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Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review Stephen Durham Section Allergy and Clinical Immunology NHLI, Imperial College London EAACI Barcelona Tues 10th June 2008
Assumptions Target audience: 2nd-3rd year research student working on a translational project in allergy - protocol driven - background known - literature search ongoing - references available
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review ‘Have a system and write back to front’
Time course of biomarkers during immunotherapy 2 weeks IL-10 production Grass pollen count Change in response late phase response 0 2 4 6 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 Duration of allergen immunotherapy (weeks) J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 121(5):1120-1125
The system • Have all data available before you start to write • Decide target journal and read instructionsfor authors • Draft figures to illustrate key findings • Write legends to figures • Draft tables– subject data, results/stats • Write legends to tables • Draft results. • Write discussion (4-6 paragraphs) • Write methods (do not duplicate fig/table legends) • Write introduction • Add references • Write abstract • Write title • Authors/acknowledgements/conflicts of interest
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review • Have all data available before you start to write • Decide target journal and read instructionsfor authors • Draft figures (usually 3-4) to illustrate key findings • Write legends to figures • Draft tables (usually 2) – subject data, results/stats • Write legends to tables • Draft results.
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review • Have all data available before you start to write • Decide target journal and for authors • Draft figures to illustrate key findings • Write legends to figures • Draft tables – subject data, results/stats • Write legends to tables • Draft results. Do not duplicate figures/tables
Figures • Simple • Illustrate main findings - clinical data - lab data - Micrographs/Facs plots etc to illustrate data • Do not include figures of hypotheses etc for peer-reviewed m/s
Legends • Short unless journal requests methodology in legends • Do not include lengthy details of pts or methods • Identify all symbols fully • Check numbering!
Tables • Demographic data • Detailed data and stats to allow validation/replication of results • Uninformative data • Negative data
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review • Have all data available before you start to write • Decide target journal and read instructionsfor authors • Draft figures (usually 3-4) to illustrate key findings • Write legends to figures • Draft tables (usually 2) – subject data, results/stats • Write legends to tables • Draft results. • Write discussion (4-6 paragraphs)
Results • Lay out hard copies of figures, tables and legends and describe them! • Use plain English • Simple • Short sentences • Factual • Illustrate rather than duplicate data in figures/tables • No statements of interpretation
Discussion (6-8 paragraphs) 1. Recap results emphasise novelty/importance ‘Punchline’ - last sentence of first paragraph 2. Defend study/methods acknowledge limitations 3 Put in historical context 4. Emphasise biological/clinical relevance 5. Practical implications 6. Future studies/ Summary
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review 7. Draft results. 8. Write discussion (4-6 paragraphs) 9. Write methods (do not duplicate fig/table legends) 10. Write introduction 11. Add references 12. Write abstract 13. Write title 14. Authors/acknowledgements/conflicts of interest
Methods • Participants • Statement of ethical approval and consent • Study design • Clinical protocols • Details of practical procedures • Laboratory methods • State ALL sources of reagents • Statistical analysis (include power calculation) • Sufficient information to reproduce all methods
Introduction • Background • Importance of problem • Hypothesis • Aims/overview of study (very short)
References • Check journal style • Ensure consistency and accuracy • Use SOURCE references • Proof read and double check • (can be collected and listed anytime, but add only at this stage)
Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review 7. Draft results. 8. Write discussion (4-6 paragraphs) 9. Write methods (do not duplicate fig/table legends) 10. Write introduction 11. Add references 12. Write abstract 13. Write title 14. Authors/acknowledgements/conflicts of interest
Abstract • Check Journal requirements (150-250 words) • Background/rationale • Aims • Methods • Results • Summary/conclusions
Title • Format/content essential for citation index • Short • Include key words • Main message - definitive - inclusive - NOT descriptive alone - WORSE a bland statement of intent
Time course of biomarkers during immunotherapy 2 weeks IL-10 production Grass pollen count Change in response late phase response 0 2 4 6 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 Duration of allergen immunotherapy (weeks) J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 121(5):1120-1125
Finally! • 13. Title • 14. Authors - (?joint 1st ?joint last authors) - acknowledgements - conflicts of interest - get independent review before submission.
The system • Have all data available before you start to write • Decide target journal and read instructionsfor authors • Draft figures to illustrate key findings • Write legends to figures • Draft tables– subject data, results/stats • Write legends to tables • Draft results. • Write discussion (4-6 paragraphs) • Write methods (do not duplicate fig/table legends) • Write introduction • Add references • Write abstract • Write title • Authors/acknowledgements/conflicts of interest • Anticipate reviewers comments ‘stalking horses