Expedited Publications: Balancing speed with scientific integrity

In today’s fast-paced research environment, where emerging data can rapidly shape clinical decisions, public health policies, and future innovations, the ability to expedite publications is increasingly important. Traditional timelines of six months or more to develop, review, and publish an article can be at odds with the urgent need for actionable information—especially in fields with rapidly evolving data. However, while speeding up the publication process can be critical, it requires careful planning, adherence to ethical and quality standards, and close coordination among all stakeholders.

1. The Case for Expedited Publications

Fast-tracking a publication—potentially compressing the timeline from six months to as little as one—can be crucial in several scenarios:

• Timely Dissemination of Findings
  In fast-moving fields like infectious diseases or oncology, new data can significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare strategies.
• Regulatory and Stakeholder Requirements
  Some data are tied to regulatory obligations or milestone-driven projects, necessitating swift release to inform key decisions.
• Public Health Crises
  During crises (e.g., pandemics), rapid publication of research findings can guide immediate interventions.

Not every manuscript warrants a rush to publication. Clear justification—such as high clinical relevance, urgent regulatory requirements, or public health imperatives—should drive the decision to fast-track.

2. Essential Elements of Fast-Tracking

Expedited publication involves more than just asking a journal to accelerate peer review. It requires meticulous orchestration of multiple components, including:

1. Early Planning

• • Define a roadmap with clear milestones.
  • Identify potential bottlenecks (e.g., data validation, author availability, journal selection) and create contingency strategies.
  • Ensure all team members understand both the rationale for fast-tracking and their specific responsibilities.

2. Clear Contingency Strategies

• • Anticipate common hurdles such as reviewer unavailability or data revisions by planning alternate pathways.
  • Develop draft outlines and content templates in advance to streamline the writing phase.

3. Coordinated Stakeholder Input

• • Involve statisticians, medical writers, key opinion leaders, and sponsors from the outset.
  • Schedule frequent, structured check-ins (e.g., live review calls) to maintain momentum and quickly resolve questions or disputes.

3. Best Practice Guide for Fast-Paced, High-Quality Publications

A three-part framework—focusing on Pharma & authors, Agency & authors, and Journal/Congress considerations—helps ensure a smooth, high-quality, and accelerated publication process:

Pharma & Authors

1. Cross-Functional Team and Author Buy-In
   • Secure early agreement on the data required.
   • Confirm that all authors understand and support the expedited timeline.
2. Plan for Additional Team Resources
   • Anticipate the need for extra writing, editing, or project management support.
   • Allocate budget and personnel early to avoid resource constraints later.
3. Live, Documented Review Meetings with Authors
   • Conduct regular, real-time discussions (e.g., teleconferences or video calls).
   • Keep thorough meeting minutes to track decisions and action items.

Agency & Authors

1. Write Shell Manuscript and Scenario Plan
   • Develop a skeleton or “shell” manuscript that outlines the paper’s structure.
   • Plan for potential data updates or revisions to avoid last-minute overhauls.
2. Parallel Agency Steps
   • Move forward with editing, graphics, and submission planning in parallel, rather than sequentially.
   • This approach minimizes downtime and keeps the process moving efficiently.
3. Senior QC Reviewer Not Involved in Initial Writing
   • Assign a separate, experienced quality-control reviewer who can provide a fresh perspective.
   • This ensures thorough oversight without the bias of being part of the original writing team.

Journal/Congress

1. Consult Journal Well in Advance
   • Engage with the target journal or congress organizers early to align timelines.
   • Understand their submission windows, peer-review process, and publication schedule.
2. Ensure All Approvals Are in Place
   • Obtain necessary institutional, sponsor, or ethics committee sign-offs before final submission.
   • Delays at this stage can derail even the most well-planned fast-track process.
3. Understand the Digital Production Steps
   • Many journals and congresses have specific digital platforms for manuscript submission and production.
   • Familiarize the team with these requirements to avoid technical setbacks.

4. Maintaining Quality and Integrity

Accelerating publication timelines can introduce risks—chief among them is the potential compromise of quality or integrity. To mitigate these risks, teams must:

• Adhere to Good Publication Practice (GPP)

  Uphold ethical standards in authorship, data accuracy, transparency, and conflict-of-interest disclosures. Fast-tracking should never shortcut the peer-review process or data verification.

• Leverage Pre-Drafted Materials

  Use templates for abstracts, outlines, and manuscripts. Authors can then focus on scientific content rather than formatting.

• Conduct Live Review Calls

  Regular discussions expedite consensus-building and reduce back-and-forth email chains.

• Keep Detailed Meeting Minutes

  Document every review session, decision point, and action item to maintain transparency and accountability.

• Ensure Rigorous Scientific Review

  Even under time constraints, each manuscript must undergo thorough internal and external review to meet high scientific standards.

5. When to Fast-Track—and When Not To

Despite the advantages of expedited publications, caution is warranted. A hurried process can lead to errors, incomplete analyses, or misunderstandings. Fast-tracking should be reserved for well-justified cases where the urgency of disseminating results aligns with rigorous planning. Overuse or misuse of expedited processes can erode trust among peers, journal editors, and readers.

6. The Future of Expedited Publications

As global research collaboration intensifies and digital platforms evolve, the publication landscape will continue shifting toward more rapid and accessible channels. Preprint servers, open-access models, and advanced peer-review platforms already facilitate faster dissemination. However, the fundamental principles—quality, transparency, and ethics—must remain intact.

Publication professionals can help shape this future by:

• Championing collaborative technologies that streamline the writing and review processes.
• Advocating for uniform publication standards across journals.
• Training the next generation of researchers to excel in fast-paced but ethically grounded publication practices.

Conclusion

Expedited publications offer a valuable way to accelerate the impact of critical research findings. Achieving a one- or two-month timeline—down from a typical six—demands rigorous planning, unwavering commitment to Good Publication Practice, and cohesive teamwork. When executed responsibly, fast-tracking does not undermine scientific rigor; rather, it ensures that crucial discoveries reach those who need them most—clinicians, policymakers, and patients—without sacrificing quality or integrity. By reserving expedited approaches for truly urgent cases and following best practices, the research community can successfully balance speed and excellence in scientific publishing.

Author:

Dr. Anupama Kapadia
General Manager, Enago Life Sciences
Connect with Anupama on LinkedIn