Clifford Rosen talks about the criteria and methods of review and approval of the oldest clinical journal in the world
December 5, 2016 - An honest scientist, who knows how to integrate disciplines and carry out translational research: this is the starting point of the intervention that one of the authoritative associate editor of the New England Journal of Medicine held in UCBM. Faced with what he calls "an explosion of scientific publications", Clifford Rosen notes the need for researchers to publish as much as possible, especially in journals with a high impact factor. "But you don't necessarily need to publish in 'top' journals to have scientific progress" - he explains -, "because continuous growth in a particular field is already very important".
“Doing science means constantly working on certain issues, proving or disproving specific hypotheses”. Talking to students and researchers UCBM is the director of clinical and translational research of the Maine Medical Center of Portland, expert of Osteoporosis internationally, as well as a scholar of stem cells and metamorphosis of adipose tissue. Called an 'astute clinician' for having treated dozens of patients with osteoporosis, he recently drafted guidelines on vitamin D for National Institutes of Health (NIH).
It is the dual training of clinician and scientist that led Rosen to the board of 15 associate editor of one of the oldest medical journals, published since 1826, and which today has an impact factor of 64. With only 200 research articles per year (“which allow for such a high impact factor”, explains Rosen), the The New England Journal of Medicine's paper submission and review process is very strict and detailed. “After all, high visibility comes with high risk, so editors are constantly faced with difficult decisions in order to keep the magazine's reputation high,” Rosen explains. Finally, particular attention goes to clinical trials whose initial design can count more than the results themselves for the NEJM: "in fact - advises the editor - it is always useful to contact the journal before starting the trial".
