Letter from the JCTS Editor

Dear Colleagues,

As we close out another productive month at JCTS, I want to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has served as a reviewer. Your thoughtful contributions are the backbone of this journal, and we simply could not achieve the level of scholarly excellence without your tireless efforts. Peer review is a demanding and often thankless task, yet it remains one of the most critical components of our scientific ecosystem. For those of you who continually take time from your busy schedules to serve in this capacity—thank you.

I must also address a growing concern for all of us in science: we are currently facing a significant shortage of reviewers. This shortage threatens the timeliness of the publication process, the quality of reviews, and the integrity of the peer review system as a whole. Now, more than ever, we need an expanded pool of reviewers to share the load and ensure that the review process remains rigorous and efficient. I urge senior researchers and mentors to consider involving their mentees in the review process. Co-reviewing with a trainee offers a mutually beneficial learning experience—mentees gain exposure to the inner workings of peer review, while mentors can provide crucial guidance and oversight. Not only does this broaden the educational experience for early-career scientists, but it also helps alleviate some of the burden on our current reviewers. Over the coming year, JCTS will be developing tools to help you involve your trainees in the peer review process.

I also want to emphasize the importance of clear, constructive communication between authors, reviewers, and editors. Peer review is most effective when all parties are open, timely, and respectful in their dialogue. A collaborative, communicative approach to reviewing and revising manuscripts is essential to the advancement of scientific knowledge. This includes letting journal editors know when you are not able to review a manuscript. It can speed up their search for reviewers if you let them know you are unavailable as soon as you can.

Finally, I cannot stress this enough: we need more reviewers. If you are reading this and have not yet signed up as a reviewer, or if you know colleagues who could contribute, please consider volunteering. The future of our field relies on the active participation of the scientific community in this vital process. If you have any interest in reviewing for the journal, you can email jcts@cambridge.org to be added to our list of recommended reviewers. Thank you once again to all who continue to support our journal with your expertise, time, and dedication. Together, we can ensure that JCTS remains a leader in translational science publishing.

Yours sincerely

Chris

Publish your Research in JCTS

The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS) is the official scientific journal of ACTS and the Clinical Research Forum. As one of the fastest growing open access scientific journals, JCTS is the best way for clinical and translational researchers to share their findings. As a reminder, ACTS members can publish their research by paying a discounted fee.

JCTS is currently accepting manuscripts for one upcoming thematic issue:

• Advancing the Science and Practice of Effective Mentorship Deadline for Submission: November 11, 2024

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