1. Find the right journal. Read the aims and scope, recent articles, publishing model and author guidelines before submitting. Confirm any fees or waivers with the editorial office.
2. Prepare your manuscript. Include a clear title, author names and affiliations, an abstract, keywords, main text, references, and appropriately labelled figures and tables. Explain your methods so others can evaluate and build on them.
3. Include required declarations. Disclose funding, competing interests, author contributions, relevant ethical approval and consent, data availability, and any use of generative AI. Obtain permission for third-party material.
4. Submit a single PDF through this site. The corresponding author should have approval from all co-authors. Save the private tracking code shown after submission.
5. Follow your progress. Use the tracking page to read editorial updates. If revisions are requested, follow the editorial office’s instructions. Acceptance is an editorial decision and is not guaranteed by submission.