The following are required for submission:

• Make sure the manuscript is suitable for this journal via reading the Aims & Scope;
• Make sure that the Publishing ethics have been considered;
• Make sure that all authors have approved of the submission.

Ensure that the following items are present:

One author has been designated as the corresponding author with contact details:

• E-mail address
• Full postal address

All necessary files should be uploaded when submitting your manuscript: 

• maintext
• figures (including relevant captions)
• tables (including titles, description, footnotes)
• graphical abstracts (optional)
• supplemental files (when applicable)

Please submit your manuscript in Word format. We do not accept PDFs for final submissions.

We accept all standard fonts; however, please note: symbol font should be used for Greek characters.

Please note that Articles must contain the following components. Please see below for further details. Other content types don't have to follow the order. Please see below for further details.

Cover letter

Title page

Abstract

Introduction

Results

Discussion

Materials and methods

Acknowledgements

Author contributions

Conflict of interests

References

Figure legends

Tables

Figures

Cover letter

The cover letter must state that the manuscript has not been and will not be considered for publication elsewhere and give a brief introduction to the novel findings of this work, along with three or more experts in the field as potential reviewers, but no more than three excluded referees.

Title page

A short title containing the major keywords. The title should not contain abbreviations (see Sciopen's best practice SEO tips);

A short running title of less than 40 characters; The full names of the authors; The author's institutional affiliations and email addresses. Add a footnote including the author’s present address if different from where the work was conducted.

Statements relating to relevant ethics and integrity policies, clinical trial registration etc.

Abstract and keywords

An abstract is a concise summary of the whole paper, not just the conclusions.

The abstract should be no more than 250 words and convey the following:

1. An introduction to the work. This should be accessible to scientists in any field and describe the reasoning behind the work
2. Some scientific detail regarding the background to the problem
3. A summary of the main results
4. The implications of the results
5. A broader perspective of the results, understandable across scientific disciplines

It is crucial that the abstract conveys the importance of the work and be understandable to a multidisciplinary audience, without reference to the rest of the manuscript. Abstracts should not contain citations to other published works.

3-8 keywords should be provided from those recommended by the US National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) browser list at www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh. It is recommended that at least 2 of the keywords should be present in the article title.

Introduction

The introduction should give a brief background knowledge related to the research and should be as concise as possible.

Results

The results should present the experimental data intables and figures with suitable descriptions. Discussion: The discussion should focus on the interpretation and significance of the findings with concise objective comments.

Methods

The section should be described clearly and referenced in sufficient detail, so that all experimental procedures can be reproduced. Authors should provide the name of the manufacturer and their location for any specifically named medical equipment and instruments.

Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments should be brief and include financial supports along with the numbers of grants.

Author contributions

The contributions of each author should be listed in general terms, for example, JS designed experiments and helped write the manuscript. Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare whether or not there are any competing financial interests in relation to the work described. This information must be included at this stage and will be published as part of the paper.

References

Please reference using numeric style; the numbered reference lists should be arranged in order of citation. References that are uncited or cited out of sequence may require manual reworking in production that could delay the production process.

Please ensure the following:

• Only one publication is given for each reference.
• Unpublished meeting abstracts, papers in preparation and papers under review or in press without an available preprint should not appear in the reference list. Instead, they should be mentioned in the text with a list of authors (or initials if any of the authors are co-authors of the present contribution).
• Grant details and acknowledgments are not permitted as numbered references.
• Footnotes are not supported.

Examples:

Journal paper

[1] Paull, D., Sevilla, A., Zhou, H. Y., (please list the first ten authors) et al. Automated, high-throughput derivation, characterization and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Nature Methods, 2015, 12(9): 885–892.

[2] Lu, Z., Hua, X., Cui, H. S. Research progress on clinical efficacy and mechanism of scalp acupuncture for Parkinson's disease. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015, 49(5): 114–117. (when the publication is originally written in a non-English language, please indicate it in the parentheses)

[3] Zheng, W. L., Zhu, J. Y., Lu, B. L. Identifying stable patterns over time for emotion recognition from EGG. IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, 2017. https//doi.org/ 10.1109/taffc.2017.2712143.

Book and article in book

[4] Clark, J. M., Hockey, L. Research for Nursing, 2nd edn. Leeds: Dobson Publisher, 1979.

[5] Gumley, V. Skin cancers. In: Nursing the Patients with Cancer. Tschudin, V., Brown, E. B., Eds. London: Hall House, 1988: 26–52.

Paper in proceedings

[6] Li, M., Lu, B. L. Emotion classification based on gamma-band EEG. In: Proceedings of the 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2009.

Website

[7] National Center for Professional Certification. Factors affecting organizational climate and retention. 2002. Available at: www.cwla.org./programmes/triechmann/2002fbwfiles (accessed 10 July 2010).

Thesis/dissertation

[8] Clark, J. M. Referencing style of journals. Ph.D. Thesis. Leicester, University of Leicester, 2001.

Report

[9] MacDonald, S. The state of social welfare in the UK. Report, University of Durham, 2008.

[10] Citigroup Ltd. How to make your money work for you. Report for the Department of Finance. Report No. 123345, Oxford: OUP, 2011.

Patent

[11] Philip Morris INC. Optical perforating apparatus and system. European patent application. 0021165A1. 1 July, 1981.

Government publication

[12] Great Britain. Department of Health. Choosing health: making choices easier. London: Stationary Office, 2004.

Standard

[13] ISO 27799:2008. Information security management in health, 2008.

Figure legends

These should be brief, specific and appear on a separate manuscript page after the References section. Ensure the legend does not exceed the word limit of the article type. Avoid methodological detail. Include a description of centre values (median or average) and all error bars and how they were calculated. Give an indication of sample size (n = number), state the statistical test used and provide P values.

Tables

Tables should only be used to present essential data; they should not duplicate what is written in the text. It is imperative that any tables used are editable. Each can be uploaded as a separate file or after the Figure legends. Please make sure each table is cited within the text and in the correct order, e.g. (Table 3). Tables that feature chemical structures should be included at the end of the text document and the native ChemDraw file(s) should be supplied separately as .cdx files.

Figures

Effective figure preparation will enhance the readability of your manuscript – our image preparation guidelines will help you to produce effective publication-quality figures. In addition, please consider the following important requirements:

• All figures must be cited in sequence within the main article text in the form Fig. 1, Fig. 2.
• Figure panels should be prepared at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and saved at a maximum width of 180 mm.
• Use a 5–7 pt san serif font for standard text labelling and Symbol font for Greek characters.
• Use scale bars, not magnification factors, and include error bars where appropriate.
• Do not flatten labelling or scale/error bars onto images – uneditable or low-resolution images are two of the most common reasons for delay in manuscript preparation.
•  

Source data

We encourage you to provide source data for your figures whenever possible. Full-length, unprocessed gels and blots must be provided as source data for any relevant figures, and should be provided as individual PDF files for each figure containing all supporting blots and/or gels with the linked figure noted directly in the file. Statistics source data should be provided in Excel format, one file for each relevant figure, with the linked figure noted directly in the file. For imaging source data, we encourage deposition to a relevant repository due to size constraints.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Electronic Supplementary Material (ESM) is published as complemetary information to the main results. Please ensure that it is presented clearly and succinctly in a logical order, and that terminology conforms with the rest of the paper. Once your paper is in production,  ESM can only be replaced to correct significant scientific errors.

Each item should be designated as either supplementary equation, discussion, notes, figure, table, video, audio, data, or software, and all except notes should be numbered sequentially. This numbering should be separate from that used for items appearing either in the main article or in the extended data.

Supplementary figures should be used only for cases when the use of extended data to report these findings is not appropriate. Each supplementary figure should fit, along with its legend, on a single PDF page. Authors are encouraged to be selective in including other types of supplementary information.

Supplementary figures, tables and videos should have a title and a caption that follow the guidelines for display items in the main text.

We encourage all methodological information to be included in the main text but if additional information is needed, e.g. for algorithm description, step-by-step protocol, compound synthesis and characterization, they can be included as a supplementary note.

Refer to each piece of supplementary information at least once within the text of either the main article or its methods, at the appropriate point(s). Be sure to include the word "Supplementary" each time one is mentioned and cite them in sequence.

Please submit supplementary text, figures, simple tables or data, and associated legends within a single combined PDF file. For complex tables or data (larger than an A4 PDF page) we also accept tables and data as Excel workbooks or .csv files named ‘Supplementary Tables’ or ‘Supplementary Data’ as appropriate. We accept most tables and data as .csv files. We accept most commonly used audio and video formats, and supplementary software should be submitted within a .zip or .tar archive file.

New structures

Manuscripts reporting new structures should contain a table summarizing structural and refinement statistics. Templates for such tables describing cryo-EM, NMR and X-ray crystallography data are available. To facilitate assessment of the quality of the structural data, a stereo image of a portion of the electron density map (for crystallography papers) or of the superimposed lowest energy structures (>10; for NMR papers) should be provided with the submitted manuscript. If the reported structure represents a novel overall fold, a stereo image of the entire structure (as a backbone trace) should also be provided. For cryo-EM structures, a representative micrograph showing individual particles should be provided in the submission.

Chemical and biological nomenclature and abbreviations

When possible, authors should refer to chemical compounds and biomolecules using systematic nomenclature, preferably using IUPAC and IUBMB rules. Standard chemical and biological abbreviations should be used. Unconventional or specialist abbreviations should be defined at their first occurrence in the text.

Equations

Equations and mathematical expressions should be provided in the main text of the paper. Equations that are referred to in the text are identified by parenthetical numbers, such as (1), and are referred to in the manuscript as "Eq. (1)".

Cover artwork

Authors of accepted papers are encouraged to submit images related to their research for consideration as an issue cover once their paper is assigned to an issue. Cover images are selected for their scientific interest and aesthetic appeal. Please upload good quality image files along with a clear and concise legend explaining the image content.

Article

Articles report significant original basic research that describe novel molecular and cellular processes and events and/or address the underlying biological mechanisms.

Format

• Main text – up to 4500 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
• Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced.
• Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables).
• Article should be divided as follows:

        o Introduction (without heading)

        o Results

        o Discussion

        o Conclusions

        o Methods

• Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings.
• References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 60.
• Articles include received/accepted dates.
• Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Articles are peer reviewed.
• Clinical and public health research Articles may have longer abstracts to accommodate statistical information and must include a paragraph on limitations in the Discussion section.

Review

Review Articles aim to provide accessible, authoritative overviews of a field or topic. Reviews should communicate a sense of enthusiasm, weaving background information with the latest advances, and placing both of these elements in the context of the rest of the field.

Format

• Main text – up to 5000 words.
• Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
• References – up to 150 (exceptions are possible in special cases).
• Citations – these should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (≤ 10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
• Reviews include received/accepted dates.
• Reviews are peer reviewed.

Resource

A Resource presents a large and newly generated data set, a new data platform or library, or a collection of reagents or tools, of broad utility, interest and significance to the community.

Format

• Main text – up to 4500 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
• Abstract – 100-150 words, unreferenced.
• Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables).
• Resources should be divided as follows:

        o Introduction 

        o Results

        o Discussion

        o Methods

• Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; Discussion does not contain subheadings.
• References – no more than 60.
• Resources include received/accepted dates.
• Resources may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Resources are peer reviewed.

Technical Report

A Technical Report presents primary research data on a new technique, reagent or animal model, that is likely to be influential.

Format

• Technical Reports have a format broadly similar to that of an article, though they may be shorter.
• Begin with an unreferenced abstract (typically 150 words).
• Followed by separate sections for Introduction, Results, Discussion and Methods.
• Up to 5-8 display items (including figures and tables) are allowed.
• References – no more than 60.
• Technical Reports include received/accepted dates and may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Technical Reports are peer reviewed.

Case Report

A Case Report presents a detailed report of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient, usually in a rare or novel occurrence.

Format

• Main text – up to 2000 words, including references.
• Abstract – 150 words or less, unreferenced.
• Display items – up to 10 items (figures and/or tables).
• Case reports should be divided as follows:

        o Introduction 

        o Case

        o Discussion

• References – no more than 10.
• Ethical Approval – Details of ethical approval should be indicated in a separate section.
• Consent – A statement on patient consent must be indicated in a separate section.
• Case Reports include received/accepted dates.
• Case Reports may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Case Reports are peer reviewed.

Letter

A Letter discusses an important, novel research result, but is less substantial in scope than an Article.

Format

• Introductory paragraph (not abstract) approximately 150 words, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications. This paragraph can be referenced and should be considered part of the main text.
• Main text – approximately 2500 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, mehods, references, and figure legends.
• References – no more than 40.
• Display items – 4 items (figures and/or tables).
• Letters are usually not divided by headings, except for the methods headings.
• Letters include received/accepted dates.
• Letters may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Letters are peer reviewed.
• Clinical and public health research Letters may have longer abstracts to accommodate statistical information and should include a paragraph on limitations in the Discussion section.

Research Highlight

Research Highlights discuss the main advances made by the paper as well as put the findings of the study into the proper context of the field.

Format

• A brief stand first of only one or two sentences.
• Main text – up to 1000 words including, references, figures and tables.
• Max of 4 items (figures and/or tables)
• References – no more than 10.
• Research Highlight include received/accepted dates.
• Research Highlight are peer reviewed.

Editorial

Editorials -Editorials are a versatile article type used to announce any topic relevant to the aging research community. They may also be used to as a foreword to introduce a special issue or to comment on the “editorial” operations of the journal. Typically, they are around 1500 words in length with limited references.

Format

• Introductory paragraph (not abstract).
• Main text – up to 1500 words including, references, figures and tables.
• Max of 4 items (figures and/or tables)
• References – no more than 10.
• Editorial include received/accepted dates.

Perspective

A Perspective is a format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Comment (see below) but do not meet the criteria for a Review—either because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives.

The related format Historical Perspective is a more technical account of a particular scientific development. Like other Perspectives, and in contrast to Historical Comment, Historical Perspectives are scholarly reviews, including citation of key references, aiming to present a balanced account of the historical events, not merely personal opinions or reminiscences.

Format

• Length – up to 4000 words.
• References – no more than 100.
• Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
• Perspectives are peer reviewed.

Short Communications

A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest. The format is typically used to present provocative findings that may not be understood in as much detail as in an Article or Letter but that have a strong potential to stimulate new research directions so that rapid dissemination would be beneficial to the scientific community.

Format

• Brief unreferenced abstract – 3 sentences, up to 70 words.
• Title – up to 10 words (or 90 characters).
• Main text – 1500 words, including abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings.
• Display items – up to 2-3 items, although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed.
• Online Methods section should be included.
• References – no more than 20. 
• Brief Communications should include received/accepted dates.
• Brief Communications may be accompanied by supplementary information.
• Brief Communications are peer reviewed.

News & Views

News & Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in aging, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings. They may be linked to articles in Aging Research, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.

News & Views are not peer reviewed.

Careers & Recruitment

A Careers and Recruitment article provides a view on training, career development or hiring issues and information on the job market.

Aging Research welcomes ideas for future topics.

Pre-submission enquiries

Pre-submission enquiries should be directed to the editorial office:

Email: editorialoffice@agingr.com

Online submission

We only accept manuscript submission via our online manuscript submission system. Before submitting a manuscript, authors are encouraged to consult both our editorial policies and the submission Instructions for our online manuscript submission system. If you have not already done so, please register for an account with our online manuscript system. You will be able to monitor the status of your manuscript online throughout the editorial process.

Submission of revisions

Authors submitting a revised manuscript after review are asked to include the following:

(1) A rebuttal letter, indicating point-by-point how you have addressed the comments raised by the reviewers. If you disagree with any of the points raised, please provide adequate justification in your letter.

(2) A marked-up version of the manuscript that highlights changes made in response to the reviewers' comments in order to aid the Editors and reviewers.

(3) A "clean" (non-highlighted) version of the manuscript.

The Journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. The benefit of single-blind peer review is that it is the traditional model of peer review that many reviewers are comfortable with, and it facilitates a dispassionate critique of a manuscript. A regular review process for each submitted manuscript consists of three stages: initial check, preliminary assessment and peer review.

Initial check

The submitted manuscript will be initially checked by the handling editor. At this stage, a decision of “Reject without review” would be made for the submissions which do not meet the guidelines set out in this document. In addition, all manuscripts submitted to Aging Research will be screened for plagiarism by Crossref Similarity Check. Those with high overlap scores (higher than 30%) may also be rejected directly without further review. We are sorry that we cannot provide the detailed report for the text overlap check.

Preliminary assessment

Manuscripts which pass through the initial check will be preliminarily assessed by the Editor-in-Chief and then the invited assistant editors. At this stage, the Editor-in-Chief have sole discretion, with the help of the invited assistant editors, on whether to send the manuscript for peer review or reject it without review.

Special emphases will be paid on the readability and the attractiveness of the submitted manuscripts. Manuscripts without an attractive abstract and/or a comprehensive and convincing introduction will be rejected at this stage without detailed comments.

Peer review

Around four reviewers will be invited for peer review. When a submission has at least two useable reports, the Editor-in-Chief will use the reviewers’ comments to decide whether to accept the manuscript for publication, return it for revision (major or minor), or reject it. All articles are evaluated by fit with the mission statement of the Journal, perceived quality and novelty of the work, potential interest to the Journal’s readership, and the standard of presentation (including the standard of technical written English and the quality of figures).

Continuous publication

Once officially published online, articles will be assigned with volume and issue in real time, and no further changes to the article are possible. At this stage,  articles carry DOIs as the authoritative records and fully citable. Continuous publishing makes the publication process significantly faster and more efficient. 

Access and sharing

Aging Research is an Open Access journal. For more information please see the Copyright & Permission page.

Cover image submissions

This journal accepts artwork submissions for cover images. This is an optional service you can use to help increase article exposure and showcase your research. For more information, including artwork guidelines, pricing, and submission details, please visit contact editorialoffice@agingr.com.