Publishing research in a peer-reviewed journal is an important way to contribute to the scientific literature and share your work with the broader medical and research community. Developing a manuscript takes time and typically involves several stages—from reviewing the existing literature and selecting an appropriate journal to preparing the manuscript, submitting it for peer review, and responding to reviewer feedback. The resources below are designed to support WCUCOM students throughout the manuscript development and publication process. Students should work closely with their faculty or research mentor and coauthors throughout this process and should discuss plans for publication early in the development of a project. All projects should be discussed with the ORSP team. OMS-I/II students should contact Dr. Kelsey Keel, Director of Student Research at kkeel@wmcarey.edu and OMS-III/IV students should contact Dr. Danielle Fastring, Associate Dean of Research at dfastring@wmcarey.edu prior to beginning any scholarly activity. 

Before beginning a manuscript, develop a thorough understanding of the existing literature surrounding your research question. A focused literature search can help you understand what is already known, identify gaps in knowledge, place your findings in context, and develop a strong introduction and discussion.

Tips for an Effective Literature Search

• • • Develop a search strategy using relevant keywords and MeSH terms.

    • Identify recent publications and review their references to locate important earlier studies.

    • Identify highly relevant or foundational articles and examine publications that have subsequently cited them.

    • Look for key researchers in the field and review their related publications.

    • Use a reference manager such as Zotero from the beginning to organize articles and citations. 

    • Select the platform that best fits your workflow and begin organizing references before drafting the manuscript.

    • Focus on literature that is directly relevant to the purpose and scope of your manuscript rather than simply accumulating a large number of articles.

PubMed and the resources available through the WCU Library are excellent starting points for biomedical literature searches.

Finding Full-Text Articles

Students have access to numerous journals and databases through the WCU Library. When a needed article is not immediately available in full text:

1. 1. 1. Search the WCU Library's available databases and journal subscriptions.

      2. Search Google Scholar for legally available versions of the article.

      3. Consider contacting the corresponding author to request a copy of the publication.

      4. Request the article through WCU Interlibrary Loan when necessary.

• • Authorship should be discussed before substantial manuscript writing begins. Authors should meet accepted criteria for meaningful intellectual contribution to the work, and the research team should agree on authorship, author order, and individual responsibilities early in the process.

  • WCUCOM students and collaborators should follow the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship.

  • All authors should participate appropriately in manuscript development, critically review the work, approve the final version, and accept responsibility for their contributions.

Structure and formatting requirements vary by journal and article type, but most research manuscripts include:

• • • Title and author information

    • Abstract

    • Introduction

    • Methods

    • Results

    • Discussion

    • Conclusions, when appropriate

    • References

    • Tables and figures

    • Required disclosures, acknowledgments, funding information, and other journal-specific statements

Scientific writing should be clear, concise, accurate, and supported by appropriate evidence. Work collaboratively with your coauthors throughout the writing process rather than waiting until the manuscript is complete to request their input.

Selecting the right journal is an important part of the publication process. Before preparing the final manuscript, identify two or three potential journals that are appropriate for the topic, study design, and intended audience.

Consider:

• • • Alignment between the manuscript and the journal's scope

    • Intended readership

    • Types of articles accepted

    • Journal reputation and quality

    • Indexing in major scholarly databases

    • Review and publication timelines

    • Open-access options

    • Publication or article-processing fees

Evaluate Journal Quality

Not every journal that solicits a manuscript is reputable. Students should carefully evaluate unfamiliar journals and be cautious of predatory or deceptive publishing practices.

Discuss the proposed journal with your faculty or research mentor before submission, particularly if the journal is unfamiliar or requires substantial publication fees.

Additional Resources for Journal Selection & Evaluation:

• • • JANE – Journal/Author Name Estimator

    • Think. Check. Submit.

    • Web of Science Master Journal List

    • JOT Journal Finder

    • Wiley Journal Finder

    • Taylor & Francis Journal Suggester

    • Elsevier Journal Finder

    • SciRev

    • Distinguishing Predatory from Reputable Publishing Practices

Tables and figures should communicate information that strengthens the manuscript rather than simply repeat information already provided in the text.

Ensure that:

• • • Figures are clear, accurate, and appropriately labeled.

    • Tables can be understood without extensive explanation in the manuscript text.

    • Legends and captions provide sufficient context.

    • Images meet the journal's resolution and file-format requirements.

    • All visual materials comply with applicable copyright, patient privacy, and research-integrity requirements.

Tools such as BioRender and Inkscape may be useful for developing scientific figures and illustrations when appropriate.

Before submitting your manuscript:

• Confirm that the manuscript follows all journal Instructions for Authors.

• Verify author names, credentials, affiliations, and author order.

• Obtain final approval from all authors.

• Confirm that references are accurate and complete.

• Review tables and figures for accuracy and required formatting.

• Complete required conflict-of-interest, funding, ethics, and disclosure statements.

• Prepare a cover letter if required.

• Confirm that all necessary institutional approvals have been obtained.

If WCUCOM funding will be requested to support publication costs, approval must be obtained before manuscript submission. Discuss the proposed journal and anticipated publication expenses with the ORSP Research Team before submitting the manuscript. Requests for support after submission will not be approved.

Following submission, the journal may reject the manuscript without external review, send it for peer review, request revisions, or accept it for publication.

Requests for revision are a normal part of scientific publishing. When reviewer comments are received:

• • • Read all reviewer and editor comments carefully.

    • Discuss the feedback with your coauthors.

    • Address each comment individually and professionally.

    • Revise the manuscript when appropriate.

    • Prepare a clear point-by-point response describing how each comment was addressed.

    • When a suggested revision is not made, provide a respectful and evidence-based explanation.

Manuscript rejection is also a normal part of the publication process. If a manuscript is rejected, review the feedback with your research mentor and coauthors, strengthen the manuscript when appropriate, and consider submission to another suitable journal.

Additional Resources on Submission & Peer Review:

• • • Editage - Overview of the Peer Review Process

    • Guidance on Writing a Journal Cover Letter

    • Peer Review in Scientific Publications: Benefits, Critiques, & A Survival Guide

    • Mastering the scientific peer review process: tips for young authors from a young senior editor

    • Scientific Publishing in Biomedicine: Revising a Peer-reviewed Manuscript

    • Publishing your scholarship: a survey of pearls from top reviewers