ISMPP Highlights
Beyond Words: How Voice, Graphics, and Video are Changing the Way Researchers Reach Audiences
A new resource, Article Enhancements: A Beginners Guide, from the ISMPP Social Media and Web-based Metrics Working Group, seeks to inform, educate, and answer questions about many of the ways authors are now able to present data and their findings to readers…
“In The Know” – Key Updates in Medical Publications
This “In The Know” article highlights various updates in medical publications, to keep professionals apprised of recent developments: a Letter to the Editor about professional medical writers in JAMA Oncology, updated guidance on reporting of race and ethnicity in the AMA Manual of Style, new dates for the 9th Peer Review Congress, and new features in PubMed…
Translations & Presentations of Joint Position Statement Advocating for Pre-Publication Review
AMWA, EMWA, and ISMPP announce the availability of translations into Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish of their Joint Position Statement on Medical Publications, Preprints, and Peer Review, published in CMRO in March 2021. Upcoming presentations in various global regions are also underway…
Message from Our Leadership
Robert J. Matheis
ISMPP President and CEO
News and Trends
A Snapshot into Medical Affairs
What does a Medical Affairs team look like at a pharmaceutical/biotechnology company? Is it like a bag of M&M’S® with similar functions, or is it unique from company to company, like a fingerprint? We conducted a survey of ISMPP members in March 2021, that provides insights into what comprises Medical Affairs at pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies…
A Company’s Approach to Developing Publication Plain Language Summaries
Scientific publications tend to be written with a specialized audience in mind… Plain language summaries (PLS) of publications represent a way to communicate research more broadly using everyday language. Pfizer recognized this, and in early 2020 implemented a company-wide process for developing PLS…
Pressure in a Pandemic: Lessons for Communicating Scientific Research
Since the global pandemic started, there has been immense pressure to address the threat imposed by COVID-19. Researchers have risen to the challenge and, by working collaboratively, developed effective vaccines and identified some treatment options over an impressively short timescale…
What Would You Do?
In our role as medical publication professionals, we may occasionally encounter situations in which it is not obvious how to ensure good publication practice. Have you ever wished you could consult the ISMPP membership for guidance when these situations arise? Here’s your opportunity!
What Would You Do? is a section of The MAP that presents case scenarios as an educational tool for medical publication professionals. The section provides a case scenario to ponder, and readers are invited to participate in a poll by selecting one of the listed solutions. Readers can also submit their thoughts on the scenario anonymously. The poll results, plus educational insights, are posted in a later issue for readers to digest.
POLL RESULTS: Journal Questions Medical Writer Acknowledgement & Funding
The lead author of a meta-analysis manuscript received a rejection notice from a journal that stated “…although the topic may be of interest to the readership, the Editors are concerned about the perception of bias given the statement of funding support from the sponsor and the participation of a paid, professional medical writer.” The lead author has emailed all authors, sponsor, and medical communications agency suggesting that the manuscript be revised by the authors alone so that acknowledgement of the medical writer and funding from the sponsor to support medical writing can be removed…
ISMPP (pronounced IzMap) is the only nonprofit organization founded by medical publication professionals for medical publication professionals