Proposed Special Issue
Special issues highlight emerging themes in gastrointestinal science and clinical practice.
Special Issue Vision
Proposals should define scope, guest editor expertise, and a realistic timeline.
- Theme rationale and relevance to gastrointestinal practice
- Guest editor team with affiliations and expertise
- Draft call for papers and key topics
- Timeline for submissions, review, and publication
Strong proposals demonstrate clinical relevance and a clear plan for attracting high quality submissions.
Ideal Themes
Strong proposals identify gaps in evidence and align with clinical needs.
Intestinal Failure Innovation
Advanced therapies and care pathways for intestinal failure.
Interventional Advances
New endoscopic devices, minimally invasive therapies, and procedural outcomes.
Digital Gastroenterology
Remote monitoring and digital diagnostics.
Prevention and Equity
Risk reduction and access to gastrointestinal care.
Themes should highlight measurable clinical outcomes.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are assessed for scientific relevance, feasibility, and editorial capacity.
Clear outreach plans and reviewer capacity strengthen the proposal. Proposals with defined milestones typically move faster through review.
Proposals should demonstrate access to a qualified reviewer pool and a realistic submission timeline.
Guest Editor Responsibilities
Guest editors guide scope, reviewer recruitment, and decision consistency.
- Define the scope and key questions for the issue
- Recommend reviewers with topic expertise
- Coordinate timelines for peer review and revisions
- Maintain ethical standards and confidentiality
Guest editors work with the editorial office to ensure consistent standards and transparent communication with authors.
Active engagement helps maintain review momentum and decision quality across submissions.
Promotion and Outreach
A strong promotion plan helps attract high quality submissions.
Proposals should include outreach strategies such as targeted invitations, professional society announcements, or conference visibility.
Clear messaging about scope and deadlines improves submission volume and quality.
Coordinate outreach with guest editor networks to reach specialized gastrointestinal communities.
- Draft announcement text and distribution plan
- Targeted author invitations based on expertise
- Timeline for reminders and promotional activity
- Alignment with relevant clinical events
Quality Assurance
Special issues follow the same peer review standards as regular submissions.
The editorial office monitors reviewer performance and ensures decisions align with journal policies. High standards protect the credibility of special issue collections.
Guest editors should document decisions and ensure conflicts are managed consistently across the issue.
Suggested Timeline
A structured plan supports consistent review and publication.
Define scope
Confirm theme and objectives
Submit proposal
Provide editor bios and topic list
Editorial review
Assessment of relevance and feasibility
Launch issue
Finalize call for papers and promotion
Milestones and Reporting
Clear milestones help monitor progress and maintain quality.
Guest editors should provide periodic updates on submission volume and reviewer availability. This visibility helps the editorial office manage timelines and ensure consistent standards.
Milestone tracking also supports timely publication and helps maintain the momentum of the collection.
Clear reporting reduces last minute scheduling changes.
Regular check ins keep the project on track.
Submit a Special Issue Proposal
Share a concise proposal and the editorial team will guide next steps.
Contact: [email protected]
