Effective Manuscript Writing Tips for Peer Review: Maximizing Impact and Clarity in Allergy Research

1. 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

2. Assumptions Target audience: 2nd-3rd year research student working on a translational project in allergy - protocol driven - background known - literature search ongoing - references available

3. Tips on writing a manuscript for peer-review ‘Have a system and write back to front’

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. Clinical response to Grass IT

10. Antibodies after Grass SCIT

11. Legends • Short unless journal requests methodology in legends • Do not include lengthy details of pts or methods • Identify all symbols fully • Check numbering!

12. Tables • Demographic data • Detailed data and stats to allow validation/replication of results • Uninformative data • Negative data

13. Subject data

14. Main data in detail with statistics Table 2

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Introduction • Background • Importance of problem • Hypothesis • Aims/overview of study (very short)

21. 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)

22. 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

23. Abstract • Check Journal requirements (150-250 words) • Background/rationale • Aims • Methods • Results • Summary/conclusions

24. Title • Format/content essential for citation index • Short • Include key words • Main message - definitive - inclusive - NOT descriptive alone - WORSE a bland statement of intent

25. 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

26. Finally! • 13. Title • 14. Authors - (?joint 1st ?joint last authors) - acknowledgements - conflicts of interest - get independent review before submission.

27. 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