Proposed Special Issue
Special issues highlight emerging topics in arthritis research and bring focused attention to high impact themes. We invite proposals from experienced researchers and clinical leaders who can curate a timely collection of articles with clear relevance to patient outcomes.
Why Propose a Special Issue
Special issues allow research communities to spotlight urgent clinical questions and emerging therapies. They are ideal for multidisciplinary topics such as inflammatory pathways, imaging innovations, and rehabilitation outcomes. As a guest editor, you can shape the conversation, attract leading authors, and accelerate knowledge transfer to clinicians.
Strategic Focus
Community Leadership
Higher Visibility
Clinical Translation
Proposal Requirements
To ensure quality and feasibility, proposals should include a clear theme, relevance to arthritis research, and a realistic publication plan. Provide a short list of potential contributors and explain how the issue will attract high quality submissions.
Proposed title and a concise theme statement.
Scope description and target article types.
Guest editor team with expertise and affiliations.
List of prospective contributors or invited papers.
Guest Editor Responsibilities
Guest editors lead the academic direction of the issue, recommend reviewers, and ensure submissions meet journal standards. They work with the editorial office to confirm scope fit, uphold ethics policies, and manage timelines. Guest editors do not make final acceptance decisions, which remain with the journal to preserve editorial independence.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are reviewed by the editorial office for relevance, scientific value, and feasibility. Preference is given to topics that address current clinical challenges, emerging therapies, or novel diagnostic frameworks. The editorial team will work with guest editors to refine scope and timelines as needed.
Typical Timeline
Timelines vary by topic and volume, but most special issues follow a clear schedule from approval to publication.
Proposal Review
Scope alignment and feasibility assessment.
Call and Invitations
Guest editors invite authors and announce the theme.
Peer Review
Submissions undergo standard editorial screening.
Publication
Accepted papers publish on a rolling basis.
Promotion and Visibility
Special issues benefit from coordinated announcements, targeted outreach, and open access visibility. The editorial office supports promotion through journal channels to ensure the collection reaches clinicians, researchers, and policy stakeholders.
Next Steps
Email your proposal to the editorial office with a brief summary and the guest editor team details. We will review and respond with guidance on scheduling, submission workflows, and promotional planning.
Lead a Special Issue in Arthritis Research
Propose a focused, high impact issue and partner with our editorial team to deliver lasting clinical value.
