- Writing and publishing a research article is important both practically, to advance one's career through promotions and funding, and ideally, to share findings and improve healthcare. - Getting published is competitive, with high rejection rates at top journals. Major reasons for rejection include lack of novelty, poor experimental design, or being poorly written. - A good research paper has novel, mechanistic findings published in a high impact journal. It is important to choose the right journal and write clearly and concisely following the journal's instructions. The introduction should build the case for why the study is important and the results should clearly answer the proposed hypothesis.

1. Writing and publishing a research article Thomas H. Adair, Ph.D.Professor of Physiology & BIophysicsCenter of Excellence inCardiovascular-Renal Research,University of MississippiMedical Center August, 2006

2. ResourcesDay, RA. “How to write and publish a scientific paper,” 5th edition, Oryx Press, 1998.Fischer BA, Zigmond MJ. “Components of a research article.” survival@pitt.eduMarshal GS. “Writing a peer reviewed article.” http://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.pptHall, JE. “Writing research papers (and getting them published)” http://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.pptBenos, D., Reich, M. “Peer review and publication in APS journals.”http://www.the-aps.org/careers/careers1/EBSymposia/Benos2003.ppt

3. “There is no way to get experience except through experience.”

4. Why write and publish research papers?Ideally – to share research findings and discoveries with the hope of improving healthcare.Practically – to get funding to get promoted to get a job to keep your job!

5. “Scientists are rated by what they finish, not by what they attempt”

6. Getting a paper publishedCompetition for space in journals is intense

7. Cost of publication is high, $360/page for APS

8. Rejection rates vary

9. AJP = 50%

10. JBC = 65%

11. NEJM, Science, Nature = 90%Major reasons for rejection Confirmatory (not novel)

12. Poor experimental design - Poor controls - Hypothesis not adequately tested Inappropriate for journal

13. Poorly writtenTipsKnow the journal, its editors, and why you submitted the paper therePay close attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuationMake sure references are comprehensive and accurateAvoid careless mistakesRead and conform to “Instructions for Authors”

14. Publish or perish

15. Publish and perish“The Seven Deadly Sins” Data manipulation, falsification Duplicate manuscripts Redundant publication Plagiarism Author conflicts of interest Animal use concerns Humans use concerns

16. What constitutes redundant publication?Data in conference abstract?Same data, different journal?Data on website?Data included in review article?Expansion of published data set?NoYesMaybeOK if laterYes

17. What makes a good research paper? Good science

18. Good writing

19. Publication in good journalsWhat constitutes good science?Novel – new and not resembling something formerly known or used(can be novel but not important)Mechanistic – testing a hypothesis - determining the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon Descriptive – describes how are things are but does not test how things work – hypotheses are not tested.

20. What constitutes a good journal?Impact factor – average number of times published papers are cited up to two years after publication.Immediacy Index – average number of times published papers are cited during year of publication.

21. Journal Citation Report, 2003Journal Impact Factor Immediacy IndexNature 30.979 06.679 Science 29.162 05.589Hypertens 05.630 00.838AJ P Heart 03.658 00.675 Physiol Rev 36.831 03.727Am J Math 00.962 00.122 Ann Math 01.505 00.564 AM J MATH 0002-9327 002353 00.962 00.122 AM J MATH 0002-9327 002353 00.962 00.122 5907 journals

22. Things to consider before writing1. Time to write the paper? - has a significant advancement been made? - is the hypothesis straightforward? - did the experiments test the hypothesis? - are the controls appropriate and sufficient? - can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes? - can the key message be written in 1 or 2 sentences?“Those who have the most to say usually say it with the fewest words”

23. Things to consider before writing1. Time to write the paper? - has a significant advancement been made? - is the hypothesis straightforward? - did the experiments test the hypothesis? - are the controls appropriate and sufficient? - can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes? - can the key message be written in 1 or 2 sentences?2. Tables and figures - must be clear and concise - should be self-explanatory3. Read references - will help in choosing journal - better insight into possible reviewers

24. Things to consider before writing4. Choose journal - study “instructions to authors” - think about possible reviewers - quality of journal “impact factor”5. Tentative title and summary6. Choose authors

25. AuthorshipGuidelines on authorshop, International committee of Medical Journal Editors,Reprinted by kind permission of the Editor of the British Medical Journal of Sept14, 1985. J Clin Pathol 39: 110, 1986

26. Writing the manuscriptThe hardest part is getting started.

27. Parts of a manuscriptTitleAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsReferences

28. Write in what order?TitleAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsReferences

29. Methods and materials Best to begin writing when experiments still in progress.

30. Should be detailed enough so results can be repeated by others. Reference published methods where appropriate.

31. Include animal/human use approval information.

32. Use descriptive subheadings

33. Animals

34. Surgical procedures

35. Histochemistry Results Briefly repeating protocols can be effective

36. Tables and figures must be straight forward and concise Present main findings referring to tables/figures.

37. Do not speculate or over discuss results.Introduction Build case for why study is important/necessary