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Call for papersPaediatrics and mental health

Call for Papers: New research in autism (BMC Medicine)

BMC Medicine’s collection on new research in autism covers diagnosis, support and outcomes across the lifespan. This guide outlines topic areas consistent with that scope, fit checks, possible paper ideas and points authors should confirm before submitting.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Deadline
30 November 2026
Last checked
10 November 2026
Reading time
5 min
Sources
1
Submit through the official call

Key dates

Manuscript deadline
30 November 2026
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Open the official call

About the journal

Journal
BMC Medicine
Publisher
BMC, part of Springer Nature
Call type
Call for papers
Scope
Diagnosis, support and outcomes across the lifespan.
Guest editors
Listed on the official collection page
Access and fees
Open access; an article processing charge normally applies on acceptance
Originality
Original work, not under review elsewhere; confirm on the official page

Topics consistent with the call

  • Studies of diagnostic pathways, assessment tools and age at autism diagnosis
  • Trials of support interventions for autistic children, adolescents and adults
  • Observational studies of health, education and social outcomes across the lifespan
  • Research on co-occurring physical and mental health conditions in autistic people
  • Systematic reviews of evidence on autism services, support and outcomes
  • Translational research linking biological mechanisms to clinical features of autism

Based on the published scope; the full list of themes is on the official call page.

Is your work a fit? Check before you write

  1. The manuscript addresses autism diagnosis, support or outcomes, in children, adults or both.
  2. Findings have clear clinical or public health relevance for a general medical readership.
  3. The design and analysis are appropriate and reported according to the relevant guideline.
  4. Language and framing are respectful, and involvement of autistic people in the research is described where it occurred.
  5. The work is complete, approved by all co-authors and ready to submit before the stated deadline.

Why This Call Is a Priority Now

Recognition of autism has grown, and with it demand for timely diagnosis and appropriate support at every stage of life. Evidence on adults, on women and girls, and on long-term outcomes remains more limited than evidence on young children. A themed collection in a general medical journal gives authors a visible venue for work spanning diagnosis, interventions and outcomes, and allows clinicians, services and policymakers to consider findings across the lifespan together.

Who Should Submit

Academic backgrounds

  • Child and adolescent psychiatry
  • Paediatrics and developmental medicine
  • Adult psychiatry and clinical psychology
  • Epidemiology and public health
  • Neuroscience and genetics

Institutions and sectors

  • Universities and research institutes
  • Hospitals and specialist neurodevelopmental services
  • Public health and health service agencies
  • Autism charities and community organisations

Article types commonly published in BMC Medicine

  • Clinical trials and other interventional studies
  • Observational studies
  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • Translational and mechanistic research

What the Editors Typically Value

  1. Evidence on adults and older autistic people, an area with comparatively little research.
  2. Rigorous evaluations of support or services, including outcomes that matter to autistic people.
  3. Large or linked datasets that clarify health outcomes and service use over time.
  4. Research co-produced with autistic people, with their involvement clearly described.

Paper Ideas You Could Develop

Adult diagnosis and health outcomesA population-based cohort study comparing physical and mental health outcomes in adults diagnosed with autism in adulthood and in childhood.
Evaluating a post-diagnostic support programmeA randomised or quasi-experimental evaluation of a post-diagnostic support programme for families, with outcomes chosen in partnership with autistic advisers.
Review of diagnostic assessment toolsA systematic review and meta-analysis of the accuracy of autism diagnostic assessment tools in adults.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 30 November 2026. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 16 Oct 2026

    Open the official collection page and the BMC Medicine submission guidelines; confirm the scope, article types and guest editors.

  2. By 30 Oct 2026

    Write a one-paragraph statement of your research question, design and the contribution your paper makes to the collection.

  3. By 9 Nov 2026

    Complete the analysis and agree the key findings, figures and tables with your co-authors.

  4. By 20 Nov 2026

    Draft the full manuscript to the BMC Medicine article type and the relevant reporting guideline.

  5. By 25 Nov 2026

    Circulate the draft to co-authors and an independent reader; revise for clarity, accuracy and completeness.

  6. By 28 Nov 2026

    Complete final checks: formatting, references, declarations, data availability statement and cover letter.

  7. By 30 Nov 2026

    Submit through the journal’s online system, selecting the collection, after re-checking the official call page.

What you gain from publishing here

  • Publication in BMC Medicine, reaching readers working on this topic.
  • A themed collection that groups your paper with related work.
  • Editorial and peer feedback that can strengthen the work, whatever the decision.
  • A peer-reviewed output for your CV, thesis or grant reporting.

What happens after you submit

  1. Submission: upload through the BMC Medicine online system and select the collection.
  2. Editorial screening: the editors check fit with the collection; papers outside its scope may be returned without review.
  3. Peer review: suitable papers are sent to reviewers under the journal’s review model.
  4. Revision and decision: respond to each reviewer comment and keep a record of the changes.
  5. Production: accepted papers move to proofs and open access publication, with the article processing charge set out by the publisher.

What the Collection Is Looking For

The collection seeks research on autism diagnosis, support and outcomes across the lifespan. Consistent with BMC Medicine’s remit, suitable work is likely to include clinical trials and other interventional studies, observational research, systematic reviews and translational studies of broad clinical or public health relevance. Studies with robust methods, meaningful outcomes and clear implications for diagnosis, services or support are likely to fit best.

Read the call itselfThis guide summarises the call. Open the official collection page before you plan a submission, and record the date you checked it and the guest editors listed.Open the official call

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help With This Submission

Pubrica’s subject specialists can review, write, edit, format and prepare your manuscript for this call, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Original research article writingManuscript writing from your data, structured to the journal’s article type and reporting guideline. Biostatistics and statistical programmingStatistical analysis plans, analysis, simulation code and statistical review of results. Systematic reviewProtocol, screening, data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment for review articles. Journal formattingFormatting of the manuscript, references, figures and tables to the journal’s guidelines. Cover letterA cover letter that explains how the manuscript fits the collection and the journal’s scope. Journal submissionPreparation of submission files and completion of the journal’s online submission system.
Go to the official call

FAQs

Questions Authors Ask

The published deadline is 30 November 2026. Collections can close early or be extended, so confirm the date on the official call page before you plan your submission.

The guest editors are listed on the official collection page. Check their research interests, as they help to judge whether your manuscript fits the collection.

Laboratory or genetic work may fit if it is framed as translational research with clear links to diagnosis, support or clinical outcomes. Purely mechanistic studies without clinical relevance may suit specialist journals better. Authors should confirm the scope on the official call page.

BMC journals publish articles open access, and an article processing charge normally applies on acceptance. Check the journal’s fees and funding page, and whether your institution has an agreement that covers the charge, before you submit.

Sources

  1. BMC Medicine. (2026). New research in autism [Collection call for papers]. BMC, part of Springer Nature. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://link.springer.com/collections/ejijjbdbag

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). Call for Papers: New research in autism (BMC Medicine). Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/new-research-in-autism/

  • Autism
  • Neurodevelopment
  • Diagnosis
  • Lifespan
  • Mental health

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New research in autism (BMC Medicine)Deadline 30 November 2026

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