Shining the Spotlight: The Dark Side of Publishing Gets Even Darker

Predatory publishing has evolved beyond questionable journals into a complex ecosystem of paper mills, review manipulation, and AI-enabled fraud. This article explores emerging threats to research integrity and introduces the Quad P framework—Prevention, Probing, Protection, and Preservation—to help professionals identify risks and safeguard the publication lifecycle.

Restoring Trust in Science: What Would Make a Difference?

In this post inspired by an ISMPP U webinar co-hosted with the Council of Science Editors (CSE), Steve Smith explores the growing gap between scientific transparency and public trust. Drawing on expert perspectives, the piece argues that restoring trust will require stronger incentives, more disciplined communication, and a genuine commitment to listening to the communities that science aims to serve.

Get Ready for the ISMPP Annual Meeting—and Make It Count

The 2026 Annual Meeting of ISMPP takes place on April 19-22 in Washington, D.C. See you there!

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In Practice

Publication Extenders: Yes, They Are Worth the Effort

Publication Extenders: Yes, They Are Worth the Effort

Over the past several years, publication extenders, also known as enhanced publication content or digital features, have become a gold-standard enhancement to peer-reviewed journal articles. As interest has steadily increased, so has the research looking into publication extender impact, discoverability and readability…

Who Gets Paid for What? A Practical Guide for Medical Publication Professionals

Who Gets Paid for What? A Practical Guide for Medical Publication Professionals

Compensation for publications activities is highly regulated to protect patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the reputation of the pharmaceutical, biotech and device industries, and to limit perceptions of bias and conflict. This article aims to address the practical application of current regulations and guidelines that apply to industry-sponsored research, and to give the reader insights into our own experience as publications professionals….

From ISMPP

GenAI in Practice: Share Your Voice, Shape the Future

GenAI in Practice: Share Your Voice, Shape the Future

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we approach medical communications, but how are ISMPP members really using AI today? Where is AI helping the most, what barriers remain, and what do members want to learn next? These are the questions at the heart of our new GenAI in Practice: An ISMPP Member Survey on Awareness and Application, brought to you by the ISMPP AI Task Force. 

What Would You Do?

Poll Results—Bridging Disciplines: What is the Best Path to Publishing Together?

Poll Results—Bridging Disciplines: What is the Best Path to Publishing Together?

You lead a study on environmental factors and human health, generating data that could potentially change practice. Multiple institutions and experts from diverse fields, such as environmental science, epidemiology, and public health, contributed to the study, each with different publication priorities—speed, collaboration, transparency. Now you must decide on the best approach for publishing the findings. What would you do?

Poll Results: Encore at Original-only Congress

Poll Results: Encore at Original-only Congress

The publication team is eager to submit an abstract to a prestigious congress, but you face a dilemma. The congress explicitly states that it accepts original content only, whereas the publication team wants to develop an abstract based on data from three previously shared abstracts/publications. As the publication lead, you need to decide on the best course of action. What would you do?

In our role as medical publication professionals, we may occasionally encounter situations in which it is not obvious how to ensure good publication practice. Have you ever wished you could consult the ISMPP membership for guidance when these situations arise? Here’s your opportunity!

What Would You Do? is a section of ISMPP Insider that presents case scenarios as an educational tool for medical publication professionals. The section provides a case scenario to ponder, and readers are invited to participate in a poll by selecting one of the listed solutions. Readers can also submit their thoughts on the scenario anonymously. The poll results, plus educational insights, are posted in a later issue for readers to digest.

Content Lab

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About Content Lab

Content Lab is ISMPP Insider’s dedicated space for timely, relevant, and practical insights in medical communications. Content Lab features concise articles designed to inform, inspire, and spark conversation among our members.​

Whether you’re looking for a quick tip or a deeper dive into the challenges and opportunities facing medical publication and communication professionals,Content Lab delivers informed perspectives, straight from ISMPP. Our goal: to beyour trusted voice for advancing best practices, integrity, and innovation in medical communications.​

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ISMPP Insider’s Knowledge Hub represents a central space for exploring and discovering content, new and older. Content is organized across foundational and applied themes and topics. Explore curated collections or targeted searches to view recent and archival material.
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Ethics, Integrity, & Transparency

Principles, values, and real-world considerations that guide ethical decision-making, transparency, and trust in medical publications and communications (the WHY)

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Medical Writing & Communications

Practical perspectives on writing quality, collaboration, and the day-to-day practice and craft of medical communications

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Standards, Guidelines, & Policies

Authoritative guidelines, policies, and evolving requirements that operationalize ethical and transparent practices and support consistent implementation  (the HOW)

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Innovation & Technology

Informed perspectives on emerging tools, technologies, and evolving practices shaping the future of medical communications

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Publication Strategy & Planning

Strategic approaches to planning, aligning, and delivering evidence and publications across the research lifecycle

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Professional Development & Community

Insights and experiences that support career growth, skills development, and engagement across the medical communications community

Some sections of our new ISMPP Insider blog are still a work-in-progress. Thank you for your patience as we continue to optimize the site for our community.

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