Journal of Diseases - Propose a Special Issue
Lead a focused collection advancing disease research knowledge.
Shape Disease Research Discourse
Diseases invites proposals for special issues addressing timely topics, emerging research areas, or comprehensive reviews of established disease fields requiring updated synthesis. Special issues provide focused venues exploring specific themes in depth while attracting targeted submissions from researchers worldwide working on related scientific questions.
Guest editors gain significant visibility and professional recognition while contributing to scientific community development. Leading a special issue demonstrates scholarly leadership valued by promotion committees and establishes you as a recognized authority in your specialty area.
Special Issue Benefits
Special issues offer valuable advantages for guest editors, contributing authors, and readers seeking comprehensive coverage of specific topics. These curated collections create lasting resources that synthesize current knowledge and identify promising future research directions within defined disease research areas, serving the community for years after publication.
Enhanced Visibility
Special issues receive dedicated promotional campaigns through journal communication channels, targeted email announcements to relevant researcher communities, and active social media engagement. Guest editor recognition and contributor highlights significantly increase professional visibility within your specialty.
Thematic Coherence
Curated article collections present related research together, enabling readers to explore topics comprehensively in a single venue. Cross-referencing between articles within special issues strengthens collective scientific impact beyond what individual scattered publications achieve.
Community Building
Special issues bring together researchers working on related problems across different institutions and countries, fostering connections and potential collaborative partnerships. Guest editors serve as community conveners while advancing their professional networks significantly.
Lasting Scientific Resource
Published special issues remain permanently accessible, serving as authoritative reference collections for researchers entering the field or seeking comprehensive topic overviews. Citation potential extends well beyond initial publication as new researchers discover the collection for years afterward.
Proposal Requirements
Successful special issue proposals demonstrate compelling topical significance, strong guest editor expertise, and realistic execution plans accommodating research timelines. Editorial board review evaluates proposals based on scientific merit and originality, anticipated community interest, alignment with journal scope, and feasibility within proposed timeframes.
Topic Justification
Explain convincingly why the proposed topic warrants special issue treatment at this time. Describe recent scientific advances, emerging research questions, or knowledge gaps that a focused collection would address more effectively than scattered individual publications.
Guest Editor Credentials
Provide current CVs demonstrating relevant expertise and strong publication records in the proposed topic area. At least one guest editor should have prior editorial experience or demonstrated organizational capability in the disease research specialty.
Preliminary Contributors
Identify potential contributing authors who have expressed genuine interest in submitting manuscripts. Letters of intent from prospective authors substantially strengthen proposals by demonstrating existing community engagement and likely submission flow.
Timeline and Scope
Propose realistic submission deadlines and expected article numbers acknowledging research and writing timelines. Most successful special issues target eight to fifteen articles with submission windows spanning six to twelve months.
Guest Editor Responsibilities
Guest editors take active leadership roles in special issue development from proposal approval through final publication. Primary responsibilities include recruiting quality contributors through personal networks and targeted outreach, conducting thorough initial manuscript screening for scope and quality, coordinating efficiently with journal editors throughout peer review, and writing substantive introductory editorials that synthesize collection themes and highlight key contributions.
Editorial Support: The journal editorial office provides comprehensive administrative support including manuscript management system access, reviewer identification and coordination assistance, production scheduling, and promotional planning. Guest editors focus primarily on scientific leadership while experienced staff handles operational execution details.
Recognition: Guest editors receive prominent acknowledgment on all special issue materials and the journal website. Service is documented with certificates suitable for academic dossiers and performance reviews.
Evaluation and Approval
Proposals are evaluated by the editorial board monthly based on topic significance and timeliness, guest editor qualifications and track records, feasibility of attracting sufficient quality submissions, and strategic alignment with journal development priorities. Decisions are typically communicated within four weeks of complete proposal submission. Approved guest editors receive formal appointment letters, detailed guidance documents, and system access enabling efficient special issue management.
Submit Your Proposal
Ready to lead a special issue advancing disease research knowledge in your specialty?
