Submission guidelines

Submit manuscript

Please read the guidelines in full before submitting your manuscript.
Manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned.

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This Journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics.

The Journal recommends that authors follow the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals formulated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Sage is committed to upholding the integrity of the academic record. We encourage authors to refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics’ International Standards for Authors and view the author responsibilities section on the Sage Journal Author Gateway.

We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with our Editorial Policies and our Publication Ethics Policies.

Sage Publishing disseminates high-quality research and engaged scholarship globally, and we are committed to diversity and inclusion in publishing. We encourage submissions and peer review from a diverse range of authors and reviewers from across all countries and backgrounds. Read our diversity, equity, and inclusion pledge.

There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this journal. Open access options are available – see below.

Please read the guidelines below then submit your manuscript here.

Access: Subscription
Accepts preprints? Yes
Identity transparency: Single anonymized

Please note that this journal is online-only and does not offer print copies.

There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this journal.

Figures submitted in color will be published in color in the online version of the journal at no cost.

Optional open access publishing is available for a fee via the Sage Choice program, and Open Access agreements, where authors can publish open access either discounted or free of charge depending on the agreement with Sage. Find out if your institution is participating by visiting Open Access Agreements at Sage. Open Access agreement eligibility is determined by the corresponding author’s affiliation matching an agreement at acceptance. For more information on Open Access publishing options at Sage please visit Sage Open Access.

For information on funding body compliance, and depositing your article in repositories, please visit Sage’s Author Archiving and Re-Use Guidelines and Publishing Policies.

Your article must be within the scope of the journal and be of sufficient quality. If not, it will not be reviewed. Please read the journal’s Aims and Scope to see if your article is appropriate.

The manuscript must be your original work, you must have the rights to the work, and you must have obtained and be able to supply all necessary permissions for the reproduction of any copyright works not owned by you, including figures, illustrations, tables, lengthy quotations, or other material previously published elsewhere.

Article types

Original Articles: These are full length original research articles on the medical and surgical aspects of foregut diseases including the esophagus and stomach.

Word and reference limits: Text: 3,500 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 250 words structured as: background, methods, results and conclusions; Key Learning Points required; References: 40 maximum. A maximum combined number of 7 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references. Additional tables and figures may be included as online-only supplemental content.

  • Randomized Controlled Trials should include a CONSORT diagram and patient flowchart as one of the figures. Clinical Trials should list the clinical trial registry website and trial number at the end of the first paragraph of the methods section.

A visual abstract is required for all original research manuscripts. The template to create a visual abstract for Foregut can be downloaded here. Placeholders have been added in the template, but authors should add text and graphics/icons as applicable for their content. The final product should be clear and concise. Please do not include the entire abstract text, but rather present a brief summary of the key findings. For more information on how to create an effective visual abstract, please visit this guide, which includes many examples of effective visual abstracts.

Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. These are well organized, structured and detailed reviews of the scientific literature of a specific topic or clinical question on foregut disease. Word and reference limits: Text: 6,000 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 250 words structured as: background, methods, results and conclusions; Key Learning Points required; References: 75 maximum. A maximum combined number of 7 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references. Additional tables and figures may be included as online-only supplemental content.

  • All articles should include the PRISMA flow diagram
  • For meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, authors must provide the PRISMA flow diagram and checklist found in the PRISMA STATEMENT.
  • For meta-analyses of observational studies, authors must provide the MOOSE checklist.
  • Authors must follow the EQUATOR reporting guidelines in the manuscript for meta-analyses and systematic reviews.

Review Articles. These are comprehensive and thorough reviews of a clinical foregut disease or problem that ideally is faced by both medicine and surgery. Word and reference limits: Text: 6,000 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 250 words structured as: background, methods, results and conclusions; References: 75 maximum. A maximum combined number of 7 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references. Additional tables and figures may be included as online-only supplemental content.

Invited Manuscripts. These are succinct but thorough articles on specific aspects of foregut disease. Author(s) will be invited by the editors often to contribute to a thematic issue or focused section within a section of the journal. These manuscripts will undergo expedited peer review. Word and reference limits: Text: Word counts for these articles will be included in the invitation and are exclusive of abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 100 words unstructured; References: 30 maximum. A maximum combined number of 6 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references.   

Invited Commentary. These commentaries are to provide additional context to the corresponding article either from a surgical or medical perspective or from the large foregut community. Word and reference limits: Text: 1000 words exclusive of references. Abstract is not required. References: 5 plus the corresponding article. No figures or tables.                             

Frontiers in Foregut. These are special case reports that provide a specific educational contribution to Foregut.  Selection will be highly competitive and only extremely unique reports that demonstrate compelling pathology or techniques that are clinically impactful should be submitted.  Word and reference limits: Text: 1,000 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 100 words unstructured. References: 10 maximum. A maximum combined number of 2 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references. A video can also be included in the submission.

Letters to the Editor. We welcome letters commenting on any article published in Foregut. They should contain novel ideas or different perspectives about the corresponding article supported by data and references. Word and reference limits:  Text: 500 words with 3 authors maximum.  References: 5 maximum. No figures or tables.                              

Brief Communication. These are succinct articles communicating novel concepts or ideas in foregut disease. They may also highlight a new technique, describe a unique case series, translational research or exploratory research insights used in foregut management. Word and reference limits: Text: 1500 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 100 words unstructured; Key Learning Points required; References: 15 maximum. A maximum combined number of 2 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references. 

How I Do It/Teach It with Video. These are primarily invited but unsolicited articles may be considered. These are educationally focused articles demonstrating surgical or endoscopic techniques in foregut disease management. They are accompanied by a short video of < 10 minutes that matches and enhances the article text. These are not case reports. Word and reference limits: Text: 1500 words, excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures; Abstract: 100 words unstructured; References: 15 maximum. A maximum combined number of 2 tables & figures may be included for publication and should follow the references.

Clinical trial registration

The journal conforms to the ICMJE requirement that clinical trials are registered in a WHO-approved public trials registry at or before the time of first participant enrollment as a condition of consideration for publication. The trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

Reporting guidelines

Your manuscript must follow the relevant EQUATOR Network reporting guidelines, depending on the type of study. The EQUATOR wizard can help identify the appropriate guideline. You will need to upload the appropriate checklist with your submission.

Other resources can be found at NLM’s Research Reporting Guidelines and Initiatives.

If your research involves animals, you will be asked to confirm that you have carefully read and adhered to the ARRIVE guidelines.

Formatting your manuscript

Accepted file types

The preferred format for your manuscript is Word. You do not need to follow a template, but please ensure your heading levels are clear, and the sections clearly defined.

Your article title, keywords, and abstract all contribute to its position in search engine results, directly affecting the number of people who see your work. For details of what you can do to influence this, visit How to help readers find your article online.

Title

Your manuscript’s title should be concise, descriptive, unambiguous, accurate, and reflect the precise contents of the manuscript. A descriptive title that includes the topic of the manuscript makes an article more findable in the major indexing services.

Abstract

Please include an abstract between the title and main body of your manuscript that concisely states the purpose of the research, major findings, and conclusions. Submissions that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Original Articles, Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, Review Articles: 250 words structured as: background, methods, results and conclusions.
Invited Manuscripts, Frontiers in Foregut, Brief Communication, How I Do It/Teach It with Video: 100 words unstructured.
Invited Commentary, Letters to the Editor: Abstract is not required.

For clinical trials, the trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

Keywords

Please include a minimum of 3-5 keywords, listed after the abstract. Keywords should be as specific as possible to the research topic.

Artwork, figures, and other graphics

For guidance on the preparation of illustrations, pictures, and graphs in electronic format, please read Sage’s artwork guidelines.

Figures supplied in color will appear in color online.

Please ensure that you have obtained any necessary permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures, or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. For further information including guidance on fair dealing for criticism and review, please see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Sage Journal Author Gateway.

Acknowledgments

If you are including an Acknowledgements section, this will be published at the end of your article. The Acknowledgments section should include all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship. Per ICMJE recommendations, it is best practice to obtain consent from non-author contributors who you are acknowledging in your manuscript.

Writing assistance and third party submissions: if you have received any writing or editing assistance from a third-party, for example a specialist communications company, this must be clearly stated in the Acknowledgements section and in the covering letter. Please see the Sage Author Gateway for what information to include in your Acknowledgements section. If your submission is being made on your behalf by someone who is not listed as an author, for example the third-party who provided writing/editing assistance, you must state this in the Acknowledgements and also in your covering letter. Please note that the journal editor reserves the right to not consider submissions made by a third party rather than by the author/s themselves.

Author contributions

You will be asked to list the contribution of each author as part of the submission process. Please include the Author Contributions heading within your submission after the Acknowledgements section. The information you give on submission will then show under the Author Contributions heading later at the proofing stage.

Statements and declarations

Please include a section with the heading ‘Statements and Declarations’ at the end of your submitted article, after the Acknowledgements section [and Author Contributions section if applicable] including each of the sub-headings listed below. If a declaration is not applicable to your submission, you must still include the heading and state ‘Not applicable’ underneath. Please note that you may be asked to justify why a declaration was not applicable to your submission by the Editorial Office.

Ethical considerations

Please include your ethics approval statements under this heading, even if you have already included ethics approval information in your methods section. If ethical approval was not required, you need to explicitly state this. You can find information on what to say in your ethical statements as well as example statements on our Publication ethics and research integrity policies page.

All papers reporting studies involving human participants, human data or human tissue must state that the relevant Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board approved the study, or waived the requirement for approval, providing the full name and institution of the review committee in addition to the approval number. If applicable, please also include this information in the Methods section of your manuscript.

Please include any participant consent information under this heading and state whether informed consent to participate was written or verbal. If the requirement for informed consent to participate has been waived by the relevant Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (i.e. where it has been deemed that consent would be impossible or impracticable to obtain), please state this. If this is not applicable to your manuscript, please state ‘Not applicable’ in this section. More information and example statements can be found on our Publication ethics and research integrity policies page.

Submissions containing any data from an individual person (including individual details, images or videos) must include a statement confirming that informed consent for publication was provided by the participant(s) or a legally authorized representative. Non-essential identifying details should be omitted. Please do not submit the participant’s actual written informed consent with your article, as this in itself breaches the patient’s confidentiality. The Journal requests that you confirm to us, in writing, that you have obtained written informed consent to publish but the written consent itself should be held by the authors/investigators themselves, for example in a patient’s hospital record. The confirmatory letter may be uploaded with your submission as a separate file in addition to the statement confirming that consent to publish was obtained within the manuscript text. If this is not applicable to your manuscript, please state ‘Not applicable’ in this section.

Declaration of conflicting interest

The journal requires a declaration of conflicting interests from all authors so that a statement can be included in your article. For guidance on conflict of interest statements, see our policy on conflicting interest declarations and the ICMJE recommendations.

If no conflict exists, your statement should read: ‘The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article’.

Funding statement

All articles need to include a funding statement, under a separate heading, even if you did not receive funding. You’ll find guidance and examples on our Funding page.

Data availability

The Journal is committed to facilitating openness, transparency and reproducibility of research, and has the following research data sharing policy. For more information, including FAQs please visit the Sage Research Data policy pages.

Subject to appropriate ethical and legal considerations, authors are encouraged to:

  • Share your research data in a relevant public data repository
  • Include a data availability statement linking to your data. If it is not possible to share your data, use the statement to confirm why it cannot be shared.
  • Cite this data in your research

Reference style and citations

The journal follows the AMA Manual of Style. View the AMA Manual of Style to ensure your manuscript conforms.

Every in-text citation must have a corresponding citation in the reference list and vice versa. Corresponding citations must have identical spelling and year.

Authors should update any references to preprints when a peer reviewed version is made available, to cite the published research. Citations to preprints are otherwise discouraged.

Supplemental material

This Journal can host additional materials online (e.g. datasets, podcasts, videos, images etc.) alongside the full text of the article. Your supplemental material must be one of our accepted file types. For that list and more information please refer to our guidelines on submitting supplemental files.

English language editing services

Authors seeking assistance with English language editing, translation, or figure and manuscript formatting to fit the journal’s specifications should consider using Sage Author Services. Visit Sage Author Services for further information.

As part of the submission process you will need to confirm that this is your original work, that you have the rights in the work, that this is for first publication in this Journal, that it is not being considered for/has not already been published elsewhere, and that you have obtained and can supply all necessary permissions for the reproduction of any copyright works not owned by you.

Please see our guidelines on prior publication and note that the journal may accept submissions of manuscripts that have been posted on preprint servers.

Preprints

The journal will consider submissions of manuscripts that have been posted on preprint servers.

Please enter the preprint DOI in the designated field when submitting your manuscript. We advise that you inform the Journal Editorial office about your posted preprint at submission.

Note that you should not post an updated version of your manuscript on a preprint server while it is being peer reviewed.

Learn more about our preprint policy.

Submission site

Submit your manuscript online via Sage Track.

IMPORTANT: Please check whether you already have an account in Sage Track before trying to create a new one. If you have reviewed or authored for the journal in the past year it is likely that you will have had an account created. For further guidance on submitting your manuscript online please visit ScholarOne Online Help.

Manuscripts should only be submitted with the consent of all contributing authors. The individual responsible for submitting the manuscript should carefully check that all those whose work contributed to the manuscript are listed as authors.

Ensure you upload all relevant manuscript files, including any additional supplemental files (including reporting guidelines where relevant).

Authorship

Please view our authorship policies, which includes information on criteria for authorship, who should be the corresponding author and more.

Please note that AI chatbots, for example ChatGPT, should not be listed as authors. For more information see the policy on Use of ChatGPT and generative AI tools.

If the authors used generative artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted technologies, including ChatGPT or other large language models (LLMs), in the writing process, the authors must provide a statement within the acknowledgements section at the end of the manuscript.

This statement should include whether or not the authors used AI and if they did please list the name of the AI tool or service and the reasons for using such a service/tool and if the authors reviewed and edited the content.

The use of software used to check grammar, spelling, references etc. do not fall under this policy.

Files

All manuscripts should be typed and submitted using Microsoft Word documents in 12 pt Arial font. Double-spaced throughout, with margins of 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides. Pages must be numbered, starting with the Abstract and continuing through to the end of the manuscript. Place the number in the lower right-hand corner of each page. Continuous line number should be added to the manuscript.

Manuscripts should be organized as follows:

  • Title page
  • Abstract
  • Key Learning Points
  • Body of Manuscript
  • Acknowledgements including statements regarding (see below for each suggested statement)
    • conflicts of interest
    • the use of artificial intelligence software
    • funding sources
    • ethics statement – necessary or not
    • other acknowledgements
  • References
  • Figures/Tables

The title page should include:

  • Title - no abbreviations allowed.
  • Short Running Title
  • Authors: List full names with highest degree, and institutions, Corresponding author contact information: name, physical address, email address, telephone number
  • Author Contributions
  • Declaration of Conflicting Interests (all authors)
    (Example: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.)
  • Funding
    (Example: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.)
  • Ethical Approval
    (Example: Ethical approval is not required for this manuscript.)
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence
    (Example: No artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the preparation of this manuscript.)
  • Abbreviations
  • Acknowledgements
  • 3-5 key words
  • Word count for main text

Manuscripts should be submitted with no identifying information (the anonymized manuscript for review). Once accepted, any identifying information such as the institution can be included.

Abstract formatting depends on the type of manuscript as described above. Structured manuscripts should include: Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion sections.

Key learning points should be created as three bullet points articulating the key findings, new findings or key learning points. This should be limited to 50 words.

Please submit figures as separate attachments in JPEG, TIFF, EPS, or PDF formats (300 PPI resolution). Each figure may have up to 4 panels labelled A-D. All figure legends should be listed on one page following the references and before the tables.

Figures/images should be original to the authors and not published elsewhere. Figures/images from other publications may be used with permission and referenced appropriately. It is the author’s responsibility to request and receive permission for previously published figures or images. If the article is a Sage article and the figure was created by the author (no third party permissions), then you can include it with appropriate citation under the STM Association Permissions.

A visual abstract is required for all original research manuscripts. See the article type description for more information.

Follow the Author Submission Checklist to ensure your manuscript complies with the submission guidelines.

Revised Manuscript Submission

Manuscripts that are returned to the author for revision should be submitted with a point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments, a clean copy of the manuscript and a copy with tracked changes.

Video Requirements

Sage Track has a file size limitation of 350MB for submissions. Follow these instructions to compress video files to fit within this limitation. Upon acceptance, authors will receive a link to a Dropbox where the fully-rendered video can be sent for publication. In addition:

    • <10 minutes
    • Acceptable formats are quicktime, mpeg, and avi.
    • Zip files should be avoided wherever possible.
    • Video files should be tested for playback before submission, preferably on computers not used for its creation, to check for any compatibility issues
    • Narration of the video is recommended but not required

Other information required for submission

  • ORCID ID of the submitting author.
    • It is strongly encouraged that all co-authors ensure their ORCID IDs are linked to their accounts in the submission system prior to article acceptance, as this is the only way to have their ORCID ID present on the published article. ORCID IDs cannot be added to manuscripts after acceptance/publication. Please note that each co-author must log in to the submission system to add their own ORCID ID to their account. To add an ORCID ID, edit your account, click the link when prompted, and sign into your ORCID account to validate your ID. You will then be redirected back to the submission system and your ORCID ID will become part of your accepted publication’s metadata.
    • Please create an ORCID ID if you do not already have one or visit our ORCID homepage to learn more.
  • Complete list of authors, with their institutional affiliations.
    • The author information you enter at submission must exactly match what is included on your manuscript and/or title page, including full names, academic affiliations, and corresponding author contact details.
    • The listed affiliation should be the institution where the research was conducted. If an author has moved to a new institution since completing the research, the new affiliation can be included in a note at the end of the manuscript.
    • All listed authors must meet the criteria for authorship (above).
    • All persons eligible for authorship must be included at the time of submission.
    • All authors must have given consent for the manuscript to be submitted in its current form.
  • Keywords: During submission, you may be asked to select or enter keywords for your manuscript. These keywords are used to match appropriate reviewers to your manuscript.
  • The number of figures, tables, and words in your manuscript.
  • Funder information: Name, grant/award number.
  • You may be required to enter your declaration of conflicting interest as part of the submission process, in addition to listing it on your manuscript and/or title page. Please have it on hand.
  • If you have posted your manuscript to a preprint server, you will be asked to supply the DOI (this does not prohibit submission, but no changes should be made to the preprint version while your manuscript is under evaluation in this journal). Please see our guidelines on prior publication. If the article is accepted for publication, the author may re-use their work according to the journal's author archiving policy. If your manuscript is accepted, you must include a link in your preprint to the final version of your published article.

The following summary describes the peer review process for this journal:
Identity transparency: Single-anonymized
Reviewer interacts with: Editor
Review information published: None

Your manuscript will undergo an initial evaluation. If it does not conform to the requirements laid out in these guidelines, it will be returned to you for amendments prior to peer review. Manuscripts may be desk rejected without peer review at this point if they are out of scope for the journal or otherwise unsuitable.

After passing the initial evaluation, your manuscript will then be peer reviewed. You can log in at any time to check the status of your manuscript. We will notify you when a decision has been reached.

Foregut adheres to a rigorous review policy in which all articles undergo peer review including invited manuscripts. The Journal utilizes a single-anonymized peer review process in which the reviewer’s name and information is withheld from the author. All manuscripts will be reviewed by at least 2 reviewers that may include experts in the field, editorial board members, or members of the AFS and EFS.

To ensure the integrity of the peer review process we assign reviewers and cannot accept author recommendations.

All manuscripts are reviewed as rapidly as possible, while maintaining rigor. Reviewers make comments to the author and recommendations to the Editor who then makes the final decision on all manuscripts, including those appearing in a special issue or special collection. The Editor or members of the Editorial Board may occasionally submit their own manuscripts for possible publication in the Journal. In these cases, the peer review process will be managed by alternative members of the Board and the submitting Editor/Board member will have no involvement in the decision-making process.

The journal has an Editorial Board who serve the journal as external peer reviewers. Members of the Editorial Board are active researchers in the field and selected based on strict criteria, ensuring they possess the necessary expertise and experience. The Editors may use one Editorial Board Member as a reviewer for each manuscript, and will then reach beyond this pool to include additional reviewers to meet the required number before a decision can be made. This ensures a comprehensive and robust peer review process, aligning with our commitment to publish the most credible and valid research. Care is taken not to invite any Editorial Board Member that has any potential conflict of interest with any author of the paper. The process of reviewer selection is the same for invited and unsolicited manuscripts.

As a COPE member we engage with multiple forms of post-publication discussion in line with wider guidance from Sage: Commentaries, Critiques and Responses.

You can view our complaints and appeals policy here.

Read Sage's complete peer review policy.

Plagiarism

The journal and Sage take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. Please read Sage's complete policy on plagiarism and the actions we may take.

Contributor’s Publishing Agreement

Before publication, we require the author as the rights holder to sign a Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement. Sage’s Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement is an exclusive license agreement which means that the author retains copyright in the work but grants Sage the sole and exclusive right and license to publish for the full legal term of copyright. Exceptions may exist where an assignment of copyright is required or preferred by a proprietor other than Sage. In this case copyright in the work will be assigned from the author to the society. For more information please visit the Sage Journal Author Gateway.

Preprints

If your manuscript was posted on a preprint server prior to acceptance, you must include a link in your preprint to the final published version of your published article.

Production

Your Sage Production Editor will keep you informed as to your article’s progress throughout the production process. Proofs will be made available to the corresponding author via our editing portal, Sage Edit, or by email, and should be returned promptly to avoid delaying publication. Authors are reminded to check their proofs carefully to confirm that all author information, including names, affiliations, sequence, and contact details are correct, and that Funding and Conflict of Interest statements, if any, are accurate. This is the final opportunity to make changes to your manuscript. Further corrections will not be possible after publication. Changes to the author list are not permitted at this stage.

Publication

OnlineFirst publication: This enables us to publish final articles online immediately, without waiting for assignment to a future issue of the Journal. This usually significantly reduces publication lead time. Visit the Sage Journals help page for more details, including how to cite OnlineFirst articles.

Access to your published article: We provide you with online access to your published article. The online access link is provided to the corresponding author for sharing with their co-authors.

Promoting your article

Publication is not the end of the process. Between us, we can ensure that your article is found, read, downloaded and cited as widely as possible. Many of the most effective tactics are those you can do quickly and easily to your network of contacts and peers. Visit the Promote Your Article page on the Sage Journal Author Gateway for numerous resources to help you promote your work.

Follow and tag @foregut_journal on X (formerly Twitter) to promote your paper and stay up-to-date on the latest news from the journal.

Submitting to PubMed Central

Sage fully understands the demands on authors whose work is funded by bodies such as the NIH. Sage and Foregut (under the exclusive license agreement an author signs to publish with us) allow authors the right to post their final accepted, pre-published version of their manuscript (not the final PDF) to PubMed Central. As an author with an NIH-funded work, you may post the final accepted manuscript to PubMed Central. Additionally, we have updated our policy on author accepted manuscripts, so authors are permitted to make their papers publicly available immediately after publication.

Below you will find step-by-step instructions for completing this process. If you have any problems uploading your manuscript or questions regarding NIH policies, please contact the NIH customer service and tech department at info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

1.Create an account or log in to existing account at http://www.nihms.nih.gov/

2. Deposit Manuscript Files and Link to NIH Funding

  • Upload a copy of the accepted final peer-reviewed manuscript and associated files (e.g., Microsoft Word document and figures) via the NIHMS. At the same time, identify the NIH funding associated with the manuscript. It usually takes less than 10 minutes to complete this task.
  • You can find helpful tutorials regarding the entire process here.

3.Authorize NIH to Process the Manuscript

  • The author designates the number of months after publication when the manuscript may be made publicly available in PMC. The author then confirms, via the NIHMS, a statement that the deposit of the manuscript is consistent with any publication and copyright agreements, and that NIH may begin processing the manuscript for use in PMC.

4. Approve the PMC-formatted Manuscript for Public Display

  • The NIHMS will convert the deposited files into a standard PMC format and email the author to approve the PMC-formatted manuscript for public display. The author then reviews and approves the PMC-formatted manuscript via the NIHMS. Corrections to the manuscript, if necessary, may be requested at this time. 

Following completion of Step 4

    • The NIHMS will email the author and all PIs the citation with the PMCID once it is assigned.
    •  PMC will automatically make the paper publicly available after the designated delay period has expired.

The Sage Journal Author Gateway has some general advice on how to get published, plus links to further resources. Sage Author Services also offers authors a variety of ways to improve and enhance your article including English language editing, plagiarism detection, and video abstract and infographic preparation.

If you have any questions about publishing with Sage, please visit the Sage Journals Solutions Portal.

You can view our complaints and appeals procedure.

Contact us

You can direct any questions to the journal’s editorial office:

managingeditor@foregut.org