Reference Library

A reference library for biomedical publishing decisions

This is the cleanest entry point to the most reusable pages in Manusights: journal benchmarks, submission datasets, policy guides, and reporting resources that labs, libraries, and manuscript authors keep coming back to.

Each page has a stable URL, visible review date, cited methodology, and a format designed to work as a standing reference rather than a one-off post.

Flagship datasets

Reference pages

Last library review

Mar 2026

Best use

Repeat lookup

Quick researcher views

These are the fastest ways into the most common questions researchers ask when they are actively preparing a submission.

Fast desk decisions

Start with journals that usually make editorial triage decisions quickly.

Open-access benchmarks

Jump directly to the broad-scope OA journals researchers compare most often.

Structured abstract formats

See which journals require structured abstracts before you reformat the manuscript.

Start with the task you're trying to finish

If you are using this library in the middle of manuscript prep, the fastest route is usually to start from the workflow step, not the page category.

Choosing a journal

Start here if the main question is where the paper belongs, how selective the options are, or how long the review process usually takes.

Compare review timelines Compare acceptance rates Check submission requirements

Preparing the files

Use these references when the study is written but you still need the right checklist, cover letter, or submission format details before upload.

Find the right reporting checklist Build the cover letter Run the final submission checklist

Checking policy and compliance

Use this set when the friction is funder rules, open access, copyright, or repository expectations rather than journal fit.

Compare OA options and APCs Check author rights and copyright Review data-sharing requirements

Best next step if you're stuck

If you only need one answer right now, use these short paths instead of browsing the whole library.

I need to choose a journal quickly

Use timelines first if speed matters, then check acceptance rates and submission constraints.

Start with peer review timelines Then compare acceptance rates

I need to make the submission package compliant

Start with reporting and submission specs before touching formatting or supplementary files.

Find the right reporting checklist Then check submission specs

I’m dealing with OA, copyright, or repositories

Treat publishing policy as one workflow: open access, rights, and data sharing usually interact.

Start with OA mandates and APCs Then plan data sharing

Journal benchmarks and datasets

Reference tables for the recurring questions every lab asks before submission: how selective a journal is, how long review takes, and what the journal actually requires.

Dataset

Peer Review Timelines by Journal

Desk timing, after-review timing, desk reject rate, and source notes for 57 biomedical journals.

Benchmark

Biomedical Journal Acceptance Rates

Field-organized acceptance-rate benchmarks with methodology notes and exportable rows.

Reference table

Journal Submission Specs

Word limits, abstract formats, figure caps, reference limits, and supplementary-material rules by journal.

Policies, compliance, and rights

Use these when the question is less about journal fit and more about what the paper is allowed to do after publication or what policies the manuscript must satisfy.

Policy guide

Open Access Publishing in Biomedicine

APCs, funder mandates, waiver patterns, and journal-level open-access context.

Rights guide

Author Rights and Copyright

A practical guide to what authors keep, transfer, or license after publication.

Compliance guide

Data Sharing Requirements

NIH and funder expectations, repository choices, and journal-facing data-availability obligations.

Templates, checklists, and reporting support

Reusable assets that make manuscript prep faster: submission templates, pre-flight checks, and reporting standards.

Checklist hub

Reporting Guidelines

CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, ARRIVE, and related reporting checklists in one reference hub.

Template library

Cover Letter Guide

Reusable structure and examples for journal cover letters across common biomedical scenarios.

Checklist

Pre-Submission Checklist

A practical final-pass checklist for journal targeting, framing, methods, ethics, and files.

Where this fits in the broader site

Use this page when you want a curated set of permanent reference pages. If you want the full author-facing resource collection, go to all resources. If you want the institutional/librarian framing, go to for libraries.