Overview

A Special Issue is an important part of a journal life, drawing together contributions on topics with high contemporary interests and explore them in depth or provide different perspectives.

The standard procedure for Special Issues includes the identification of a thematic focus by the Editor-in-Chief, followed by the appointment of two to three Guest Editors. These Guest Editors will manage submissions following the same editorial workflow as regular Section Editors. A public call for papers will be issued on the journal’s website. As with standard submissions, the EiC will make the final decision on each manuscript.

Proposals for special issues may also be submitted by qualified investigators and will be evaluated based on the following procedure. 

Outline

The proposing Guest Editor(s) manage the entire Special Issue process, which includes preparing a Special Issue proposal, and handling the peer review of submissions. The publisher’s editorial team will consider draft proposals and forward high-quality submissions to the journal Editorial Board for consideration. Special Issue proposals can be submitted at any time by the proposing Guest Editor(s), and should include the following:

  • The scope of the Special Issue, giving an outline of the intended focus.
  • A suggested title for the Special Issue.
  • A list of Guest Editors who will manage the Special Issue, including their names, emails, affiliations, and a short biography.

Submitting your proposal

  • Fill in our Special Issue proposal form and send it to the Journal Manager.
  • The proposal will be evaluated by the Editors and Publisher – you will be notified about accepting or asking more details within two weeks.
  • It may be beneficial for you to prepare a Call for Papers and promote the special issue.

Editorial Board Approval

The proposal is forwarded to the Editorial Board of the journal for their consideration. The Editorial Board is responsible for making the final decision on the suitability of a Special Issue. The Editorial Board may have comments or concerns about the proposal and ask for some amendments. Once the Editorial Board member is satisfied, the proposal is approved.

Peer-review policy

All Special Issue papers are subject to the journal's peer-review policy; this entails at least two independent, expert peer reviewers. When making a decision, Guest Editors / Section Editors will consider the peer-reviewed reports, but they will not be bound by the opinions or recommendations contained in them. A single peer reviewer's or the Editor's concern may result in the manuscript being rejected. Peer review reports are sent to authors along with the editorial decision on their manuscript.

At Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology papers undergo a single-blind review process - meaning that the reviewers’ identity is not shared with the authors.

Distribution of the Call for Papers

The Call for Papers provided by the Guest Editor(s) is published on the journal page appearing in the ‘Forthcoming Special Issue’ section. Guest Editors can begin promoting their Special Issue as soon as the Call for Papers is available online. Guest Editors should distribute this as broadly as possible within their own networks. The most successful Special Issue is the one supported and promoted by its editors.

Publication and Promotion

Any Special Issue is published on the Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology site at specific links. The Publisher notifies the contributing authors and sends newsletter and alerts to registered readers. Guest Editors are also encouraged to share and promote the Special Issue.

The Special Issue’s impact – number of readers, downloads and citations – will be available on each article page.

 

Special Issues Available