Supplements: What, why, how and where? Jo Baker Project Director, Special Projects

What is a supplement? Separate issue featuring content which may not fit the main journal. For example, it may be: −Of specialist interest −Paid for centrally by an organization, or sponsored −Peer reviewed to journal standard, option to differ process Content usually originates through enquiries from conferences, working groups, NGOs, etc, who want to publish collections of articles or meeting abstracts Standard editorial policies apply and Editors retain full control – may request changes or reject articles or abstracts

Why consider supplements? Supplements contribute to journal development by: Establishing connections with external groups Underlining the journal’s scope Bringing −New readers −New authors −Other supplements

Good quality article supplement contributes positively to the journal’s Impact Factor: Average citations after 2 years of publication: 7.8 citations per article Main journal articles of the same age: 4.3 citations per article Meeting abstracts of 400 words or less are not normally included in Impact Factor calculations Volume 7 Suppl 1 International Meeting on Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune-Albright Syndrome and Cherubism Why consider supplements?

Where do they come from? :::: Originating groupExamples Conferences Societies Special interest groups Research/reporting groups European Conference on Rare Diseases ISCB student group Bio-ontologies Special Interest Group Framingham Heart Study NGOsWHO, International Atomic Energy Agency Government DepartmentsNIH, US Department of Defense Charities/foundations Gates Foundation Save the Children Doris Duke Foundation Industry/ Medical Communications Agencies Bayer Animal Health Bristol Myers Squibb

How do we produce them? Specialist team at BioMed Central provides support Aim to allow some flexibility in the process −Price −Publication dates −Payment options −Number of submissions … and so on Follow up for repeat publications

If you know of any groups who may be interested in publishing supplements to any of our journals please get in touch. __________________________________ Further information Poster presentation New Q&A online – Editors pages Contacts: Journal Development Editor Executive Editor Supplements Team Examples: