Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

A Primary Reviewer may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise, and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission. 

Submission Guidelines

The Graduate Medical Scholars Journal (GMSJ) invites authors to submit manuscripts that align with the journal’s mission of advancing medical knowledge and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine if they meet the aims and scope of the journal. Suitable submissions will undergo peer review before a decision is made regarding acceptance or rejection.

General Policies

• Authorship:All authors listed must meet the criteria outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Authors must have contributed significantly to the work and consent to being listed as authors.
• Permissions: Authors are responsible for securing permissions for all materials included in the manuscript (e.g., images, data sets).
• Ethical Approval: Research involving human or animal subjects must have ethics approval, which should be documented in the manuscript.
• Desk Rejection: Submissions that fail to meet quality standards may be rejected by the Primary Reviewer. Ensure the manuscript is well-structured, and the study design and argument are clear.
• Originality and Plagiarism: All submissions must be original and free from plagiarism. Manuscripts will be checked for originality.

Submission Process

• Online Submission: All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online portal. Registration on the platform is required.
• Required Files and Order:
1. Title Page: Submit in Microsoft Word or PDF.
2. Abstract and Keywords: Submit in Microsoft Word or PDF.
3. Manuscript Files: Submit both blinded and unblinded versions in Microsoft Word or PDF.
4. Figures and Tables: Submit high-resolution files (JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIFF, EPS).
5. Supplementary Materials (if applicable): Submit in high-resolution formats (JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIFF, EPS).
• GMSJ Submission Checklist must also be submitted with any submissions

Formatting Requirements

• Manuscript Format:
• File type: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
• Spacing: Double-spaced.
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Word Limit: Maximum 4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures).
• Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the bottom-right corner of each page.
• Figures and Tables:
• Submit each figure and table as separate high-resolution files.
• Formats accepted: JPEG, PNG, TIFF (300 dpi minimum), EPS (vector graphics).
• Provide captions and list abbreviations as footnotes.
• References:
• Follow AMA style.
• Number references consecutively in the order they appear in the text using superscript numerals.

Manuscript Structure

Title Page 

1. Title of the manuscript: a short informative title containing keywords and no abbreviations.
2. Running title: a short tittle (40 characters or less)
3. Author Details: Full names, degrees, institutional affiliations where the work was conducted (with a footnote for the author’s present address if different from where the work was conducted), and email addresses of all authors. Include the corresponding author and their contact information underneath the list of authors.
4. Acknowledgements: Recognize contributions that do not justify authorship. This may include technical assistance, financial or material support (e.g., grants, institutional resources), or contributions from individuals or organizations that influenced the work indirectly.
5. Funding: List all funding sources with accurate designations (use the Open Funder Registry for verification).
6. Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: Authors must adhere to ethical guidelines for research, including obtaining necessary approvals from institutional review boards (IRBs). Authors should ensure that all work is free of plagiarism and appropriately credits previous research.
   • For manuscripts involving human participants, human data, or human tissue: include a statement detailing ethics approval and consent to participate, state the name of the ethics committee that approved the study, and provide the reference number if applicable. If ethics approval was not required, explain the rationale for this exemption.
   • For studies involving animals: provide a statement on ethics approval, including the approving committee and reference number.
   • If the study does not involve human or animal subjects, state: “Not applicable.”
7.  Conflict of Interest: GMSJ requires that all authors disclose any potential conflicts of interest. These include but are not limited to: financial relationships such as patent ownership, stock ownership, consultancy fees, or speaker’s fees, and non-financial relationships, including membership on boards or advisory committees. Authors must provide a statement outlining potential conflicts of interest or affirm that no such conflicts exist. This disclosure is required at the time of submission and is the responsibility of the corresponding author to confirm with all co-authors. The presence of a conflict of interest does not disqualify the manuscript from publication but must be transparently reported.

Abstract and Keywords

1. Abstract: Provide a structured abstract (maximum 250 words) summarizing the objective, methods, results, and conclusion. Emphasize new and unique aspects of the investigation. Do not include abbreviations in the abstract.
2. Keywords: Include 3-5 keywords below the abstract. Keywords should be taken from those recommended by the US National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) browser list at nlm.nih.gov/mesh. 

Main Text

Organize the manuscript into the following sections. Longer articles may be further divided into appropriate subheadings. Use numbered headings and subheadings to enhance readability.

1. Introduction: Clearly articulate the purpose of the article. Provide a concise summary of the rationale for the study, supported by relevant references, without delving into an extensive review of the topic. Avoid including data or conclusions from the study being presented.
2. Methods: Describe the methods, apparatus (including manufacturer’s name and address in parentheses), and procedures in sufficient detail to enable others to replicate the results. Reference established methods; for methods that are published but less widely known, provide citations along with a brief description. New or significantly modified methods should be detailed more thoroughly. Clearly identify all drugs and chemicals used, specifying their generic names, doses, and routes of administration. If the study introduces a method or tool, such as software, questionnaires, or scales, the author must specify the license under which it is available, and any permissions required for its use. For existing methods or tools, authors are responsible for verifying the license and securing necessary permissions. If permission was obtained, include a statement confirming this in the Methods and Materials section. NOTE: Reviews performed on randomized controlled trials must follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement; those analyzing measurement properties must use the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) and refer to the COSMIN checklist. Review papers must follow PRISMA guidelines (https://www.prisma-statement.org/) for submission.
   • Ethical Considerations
     • Human Studies: Manuscripts presenting data from research involving human subjects must adhere to the ethical principles outlined in the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki. This includes obtaining approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee. Authors must explicitly state this compliance in the Materials and Methods section of the manuscript.
     • Animal Studies: Research involving animals must adhere to institutional guidelines or the National Research Council's criteria for humane care and use of laboratory animals. Researchers are encouraged to follow the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research. A statement confirming the humane treatment of research animals should be included in the Materials and Methods section.
   •  Statistics: Statistical methods should be detailed enough to allow a knowledgeable reader with access to the original data to replicate and verify the results. Quantify findings whenever possible and present them with appropriate measures of error or uncertainty. In both the text and figure legends, explicitly indicate the exact biological sample size (n) for each experimental group or condition, specifying it as a discrete number and unit of measurement. Clearly differentiate between measurements taken from distinct biological samples (biological replicates) and those taken repeatedly from the same sample (technical replicates). Identify all statistical tests performed, specifying whether they were one- or two-tailed, and describe any covariates included in the analysis.
3.  Results: The narrative should guide the reader through a logical progression of data analysis and interpretation. Present results in a clear and coherent sequence using text, tables, and illustrations. Avoid repeating all the data from tables or illustrations in the text; instead, focus on highlighting or summarizing the most significant observations.
   • Data Sharing and Data Availability: All primary data and code associated with submissions must be made publicly accessible on an external platform. For genomic data, authors are required to deposit the data in a public database and include the access number in the cover letter. This journal enforces a mandatory data-sharing policy to promote transparency and reproducibility in research. Authors are encouraged to review and select an appropriate data availability statement that aligns with their submission, ensuring compliance with data-sharing requirements. For guidance, please refer to Wiley’s Data Sharing Policy or similar standards.
4.  Discussion: Focus on highlighting the novel and significant aspects of the study, along with the conclusions derived from them. Avoid repeating detailed data or material already presented in the Introduction or Results sections. In the Discussion section, address the implications of the findings, their limitations, and their potential impact on future research. Provide a concise comparison of the results with the existing body of work, noting how they align or diverge from previous studies. Ensure that conclusions are clearly linked to the study’s objectives and avoid making unsupported or overly broad statements. If hypotheses are presented, label them explicitly to distinguish them from established conclusions.
   • Limitations: Provide a concise and transparent assessment of the study’s weaknesses and constraints. Authors should acknowledge factors that may have impacted the results, such as sample size, methodology, or generalizability. This section should also discuss how these limitations might influence the interpretation of the findings and suggest ways they could be addressed in future research. A balanced approach is encouraged to maintain credibility while highlighting the study’s contributions.
   • Future Considerations: Highlight key knowledge gaps and propose logical next steps to build on the study’s findings. Authors are encouraged to identify areas where further research is needed to address limitations or validate results. Suggestions for future work should focus on specific methodologies, target populations, or experimental approaches. Additionally, this section can briefly discuss the broader implications of the findings, including potential applications in clinical practice, public health, or policy, and how they might advance the field.
5.  Acknowledgments: This section should recognize contributions that do not meet the criteria for authorship. This may include technical assistance, financial or material support (with the nature of the support specified), or acknowledgment of any financial relationships that could pose a conflict of interest.
6. Sources of Funding: All sources of financial support, both internal and external, must be disclosed. For authors funded by funding agencies with open-access requirements, indicate the funding source and notify the editorial office of the requirement in a statement on the Title Page of the submitted manuscript.
7.  Authorship: All individuals listed as authors must meet the authorship criteria outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (http://www.icmje.org/). Authors must have made substantial contributions to the work and should take public responsibility for its content. Contributions limited to funding acquisition or data collection do not qualify for authorship, nor does general supervision of the research team. Each author’s specific contributions should be clearly stated.
8.  Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors must include a disclosure statement identifying any potential financial conflicts of interest for all contributors. If no conflicts exist, this should also be explicitly stated.
9.  List of Abbreviations: All nonstandard abbreviations should be compiled in alphabetical order and included in a dedicated section. Abbreviations must be defined upon their first use in the abstract and again in the main text.
10.  References: Ensure all references are accurate, complete, and follow AMA citation style. They should be numbered sequentially as they appear in the text. Superscript numerals should be used for identification in the text, tables, and figure legends. References cited exclusively in tables or figure legends should be numbered last. Use the "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" format (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html) with journal titles abbreviated per MEDLINE standards, as found in PubMed, posted by the US National Library of Medicine.
    • For references with up to 7 authors, list all authors. If there are more than 7 authors, list the first 6 followed by "et al." Include the first and last pages for each reference. Papers that are accepted but not yet published should be designated as "In press," while "Unpublished observations" or "Personal communications" should be mentioned parenthetically in the text and not listed as references.
    • Examples of Correct Reference Styles:
      • Author AB, Author CD. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):First Page–Last Page.
      • Author EF, Author GH. Book Title. Edition. City, State: Publisher; Year. Pages.
      • Author IJ, Author KL. Title of chapter. In: Editor MN, ed. Book Title. Edition. City, State: Publisher; Year:First Page–Last Page.
      • For further reference style details, consult PubMed or the US National Library of Medicine.

Tables

When possible, present quantitative data using diagrams or graphical formats instead of tables. Each table should be typed double-spaced on a separate page and must not be submitted as photographs or digital images, such as PDF files. Tables should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in the order they are first cited in the text. Each table must include a brief descriptive title, with explanatory notes provided as footnotes rather than in the table heading. All nonstandard abbreviations used within the table must be explained in the footnotes. Internal horizontal and vertical lines should not be used in table formatting. To maintain a balanced page layout, the number of tables should be proportional to the length of the manuscript; excessive tables may require modification or removal upon recommendation by the Editor. If a table has been previously published, authors must obtain written permission and include proper acknowledgment. Large datasets may be included as supplementary material and referenced in the text as available online, coordinated with the managing editor.

Figures

Figures and supplementary files must be uploaded separately and submitted in a professional format. All figures should be professionally drawn, photographed, or created using appropriate computer graphics software to ensure accuracy and clarity. Graphical data must provide a complete and accurate representation of experimental findings. Histograms should be replaced with box-and-whisker plots or single data point plots that display individual experimental data points when presenting values representing the mean or median of up to 30 data points. Multiple panels within a figure must be organized and presented together on a single page. Figures must be submitted electronically in one of the following acceptable formats: TIFF (minimum 300 dpi resolution), EPS (vector graphics), PDF (with embedded fonts), PPT/PPTX, DOC/DOCX, or AI format. Failure to meet these specifications may result in figures that are illegible or rejected.

• Figure Legends: Figure legends should be typed double-spaced on a separate page following the tables and must correspond with the figures using Arabic numerals. Each legend should clearly explain all symbols used in the illustration, such as arrows or other visual aids. Scale bars should be labeled within the image, and the original magnification may also be noted in the legend. For graphs presenting quantitative data, the exact sample size (n) for each experimental group or condition must be indicated as a discrete number and unit of measurement. Legends must also specify the statistical tests used, whether they were one- or two-tailed, and describe all covariates tested.

Additional Information

Peer Review Process

All submissions will undergo a thorough peer-review process:

• Manuscripts are initially reviewed by the primary reviewers for suitability.
• Suitable submissions are sent to the editorial team for evaluation of scientific rigor, originality, and clarity.
• A final review will be conducted by faculty expert in the field to ensure substantial contributions.
• Authors will receive reviewer comments and may be asked to revise their manuscript before a final decision is made.

Publication Charges

GMSJ does not charge authors for submission or publication. Any updates to this policy will be communicated transparently.

Copyright and Open Access

• Authors retain copyright of their work but grant GMSJ the right to publish and distribute the content.
• Articles are published under an open-access model, ensuring free and unrestricted access to the journal’s content.

For further assistance or questions regarding the submission process, please contact the editorial team at help@gmscholars.com.