Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting manuscripts to JCDP.

Title Page: Concise, descriptive title (max 150 characters). Full author names, affiliations, ORCID identifiers, and corresponding author contact details.

Abstract: Structured format with Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections. Include 4-6 keywords for indexing.

Introduction: Establish context and rationale. State objectives clearly. Review relevant literature without exhaustive detail.

Methods: Detailed description enabling replication. Specify specimen types, staining protocols, antibody clones, and analytical approaches. Ethics approval and consent documentation where required.

Results: Present findings logically with appropriate statistical analysis. Reference figures and tables sequentially. Avoid interpretation in this section.

Discussion: Interpret findings in context of existing literature. Address limitations. Suggest clinical implications and future research directions.

Submit figures as separate high-resolution files (minimum 300 dpi at publication size). Photomicrographs require scale bars indicating magnification. Acceptable formats include TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and EPS. Number figures consecutively and provide detailed legends.

Create tables in editable format (Word or Excel). Avoid excessive complexity. Include titles above tables and explanatory legends below. Define abbreviations. Tables should complement rather than duplicate text content.

Use Vancouver citation style with numbered references in order of appearance. Include DOIs where available. Verify accuracy of all citations. Cite primary sources rather than reviews when possible. Typical articles include 25-50 references.

Research involving human specimens requires institutional ethics approval. State approval details in the Methods section including IRB name and approval number. Studies using archival tissue must demonstrate appropriate consent or waiver. Animal studies require ethics committee approval following institutional guidelines.

All authors must disclose financial or personal relationships that could influence their research. Include consulting relationships, speaker honoraria, stock ownership, and research funding from commercial entities. Conflict-free declarations are also required.

Provide contributor statements using CRediT taxonomy. All listed authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria: substantial contributions to conception, drafting or revision, final approval, and accountability for the work.

All submissions are screened for originality using iThenticate or similar software. Manuscripts with significant textual overlap with previously published work may be rejected. Self-plagiarism from author previous publications should also be avoided. Proper citation and paraphrasing are expected throughout.

Manuscripts must not be simultaneously submitted to multiple journals. Authors must confirm the work is not under consideration elsewhere at time of submission. If a manuscript is rejected, it may then be submitted to another journal following that journals guidelines.

Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatical English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to use professional editing services before submission. Poor language quality may result in manuscript return without review.

Submit manuscript text as Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx). Include all text, references, tables, and figure legends in a single file. Submit figures as separate high-resolution files. Supplementary materials should be clearly labeled with sequential numbering.

Include a cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief explaining the significance of your work, confirming the manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration at another journal, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest, and suggesting qualified reviewers if desired.

Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial in 12-point size. Double-space all text. Number pages consecutively. Include line numbers in the manuscript for reviewer reference. Use SI units for measurements. Define abbreviations at first use.

Describe statistical methods with sufficient detail for verification. Specify software used. Report exact p-values and confidence intervals. For diagnostic accuracy studies, include sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values with confidence intervals. Follow STARD guidelines for diagnostic accuracy reporting.

• Initial Screening: Editorial assessment of scope and requirements (3-5 days)
• Peer Review: Evaluation by 2-3 pathology experts (3-4 weeks typical)
• Revision: Authors address reviewer comments with detailed response
• Acceptance: Final editorial decision followed by production
• Publication: Online publication within 2-3 weeks after proof approval

Address all reviewer comments systematically in a point-by-point response document. Indicate changes in the revised manuscript using track changes. Explain any disagreements with reviewer suggestions. Revisions are expected within 60 days of decision. Extensions may be requested for complex revisions requiring additional experimentation or data collection. Authors should notify the editorial office if they anticipate delays in returning revised manuscripts.

Extended datasets, additional figures, detailed protocols, and multimedia files can be submitted as supplementary materials. These undergo review alongside the main manuscript and are assigned DOIs for citation.

Authors must include a Data Availability Statement describing where data supporting the findings can be accessed. For patient data with privacy restrictions, explain limitations clearly. JCDP encourages data sharing through appropriate repositories to support reproducibility in pathology research.

For studies involving immunohistochemistry, specify antibody source, clone, dilution, antigen retrieval method, detection system, and controls used. Report staining patterns and scoring systems. Include negative and positive controls. Follow REMARK guidelines for prognostic biomarker studies.

For molecular diagnostic studies, include detailed methodology for nucleic acid extraction, amplification conditions, sequencing platforms, and bioinformatics pipelines. Report quality metrics and validation approaches. Deposit sequence data in appropriate repositories with accession numbers provided.

Errors discovered after publication should be reported promptly to the editorial office. Depending on significance, corrections may be published as errata or corrigenda. Major errors affecting conclusions may require retraction following COPE guidelines.

JCDP welcomes submissions that have been posted as preprints. Preprint posting does not constitute prior publication. Authors should update preprints with links to the published version upon acceptance. Include preprint DOI in submission cover letter if applicable.

Authors needing assistance with manuscript formatting may request support from our editorial office or use our language editing services. Manuscripts substantially deviating from formatting requirements may be returned for correction before peer review.