Two Convenient Submission Methods

Choose the submission pathway that best fits your workflow. Both methods ensure your epidemiological research receives expert evaluation from specialists in population health, disease surveillance, and statistical modeling.

Epidemiological Research We Publish

The Journal of Lung Cancer Epidemiology welcomes rigorous population health research that advances our understanding of lung cancer patterns, risk factors, prevention strategies, and health outcomes. Our expert reviewers specialize in epidemiological methods and statistical approaches specific to cancer surveillance and population studies.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Ensure your epidemiological manuscript meets our standards before submission. Complete manuscripts receive faster editorial screening and move more quickly to peer review.

Peer Review Timeline

We maintain transparent, predictable timelines for epidemiological manuscript evaluation. Our expert reviewers are active researchers in lung cancer epidemiology, biostatistics, and population health.

Why Epidemiologists Choose JLCE

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Structure for Epidemiological Studies

Organize your manuscript following standard epidemiological reporting conventions:

• Title: Concise, informative. Include study design (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional).
• Abstract: Structured format (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions). 250-300 words. Include key statistics (OR, RR, HR with 95% CI).
• Keywords: 5-8 terms. Use MeSH terms where applicable for indexing.
• Introduction: Research question, study rationale, specific aims. Brief literature review establishing knowledge gaps.
• Methods: Study design, population, sampling, exposure/outcome definitions, statistical analysis. Sufficient detail for replication. Report following STROBE guidelines.
• Results: Descriptive statistics, main findings, subgroup analyses. Present effect estimates with confidence intervals and p-values. Use tables and figures effectively.
• Discussion: Interpretation in context of existing literature. Strengths and limitations. Public health implications. Future research directions.
• References: Vancouver style. Include DOIs. Cite primary sources and recent literature.

Statistical Reporting Standards

Epidemiological manuscripts must include:

• Sample size justification or power calculation
• Description of statistical methods and software used
• Effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals
• P-values reported to appropriate precision
• Handling of missing data clearly described
• Adjustment for confounders and rationale
• Sensitivity analyses for key assumptions

Data Availability

We encourage data sharing to promote reproducibility. Options include:

• Deposit in public repository (Dryad, Figshare, OSF)
• Supplementary data files with manuscript
• Data available upon reasonable request (with justification)
• For sensitive health data: synthetic datasets or detailed documentation

Ethical Considerations for Epidemiological Research

Human Subjects Research

All population-based studies involving human participants require:

• IRB/Ethics committee approval from all participating institutions
• Informed consent documentation (or waiver justification)
• Privacy protection measures for individual-level data
• Compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, or local data protection regulations
• Statement of ethical approval in Methods section

Registry and Administrative Data

Studies using cancer registries or health system data must document:

• Data access agreements and permissions
• De-identification procedures
• Compliance with registry-specific reporting requirements
• Acknowledgment of data sources

Competing Interests

Declare all potential conflicts including:

• Financial relationships with industry (tobacco, pharmaceutical)
• Research funding sources
• Employment or consulting relationships
• Patents or intellectual property
• Personal relationships that could influence interpretation

After Submission: What to Expect

Editorial Screening (Days 1-3)

Our editorial team evaluates:

• Scope alignment with lung cancer epidemiology
• Methodological rigor and study design appropriateness
• Ethical compliance and documentation completeness
• Manuscript formatting and completeness
• Plagiarism screening (iThenticate, <30% similarity threshold)

Peer Review Process (Days 4-28)

Manuscripts passing editorial screening are sent to 2-3 expert reviewers:

• Reviewers selected based on epidemiological expertise and study topic
• Single-blind review (author and reviewer identities concealed)
• Reviewers evaluate scientific rigor, methodology, interpretation, and significance
• Constructive feedback provided to improve manuscript quality
• Average 21 days to receive all reviewer reports

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer recommendations, editors make one of four decisions:

• Accept: Manuscript accepted with minor editorial changes only
• Minor Revisions: Small changes required, no additional review needed
• Major Revisions: Substantial changes required, re-review by original reviewers
• Reject: Manuscript does not meet publication standards or scope

Revision and Resubmission

If revisions are requested:

• You have 30 days to submit revised manuscript (extensions available)
• Provide point-by-point response to reviewer comments
• Highlight changes in revised manuscript
• Revised manuscripts undergo expedited re-review (14 days average)
• Most revised manuscripts are accepted after addressing reviewer concerns

Publication Process

Accepted manuscripts move to production:

• Professional copyediting for clarity and grammar
• Typesetting in journal format (HTML and PDF)
• Author proof review (48-hour turnaround requested)
• DOI assignment and metadata registration
• Publication in next available issue (continuous online publication)
• Immediate indexing in and other databases