In 2024, many JLPM authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.

Outstanding Authors (2024)

Anna Carobene, San Raffaele Hospital, Italy

Callum Verran, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, UK

Massimo Daves, Clinical Biochemical Laboratory Hospital of Bolzano, Italy

Jennifer Shea, Saint John Regional Hospital, Canada

Tatsuo Shimosawa, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan

Kade C. Flowers, Royal Sussex County Hospital, UK

Libin Yuan, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada

Masaoki Ito, Kindai University, Japan

Nathan Lorde, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, UK

Outstanding Author

Anna Carobene

Anna Carobene holds a crucial position in Laboratory Medicine at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, leveraging her Clinical Biochemistry background from the University of Milan. Her active involvement with the European Federation of Laboratory Medicine (EFLM), particularly as the leader of the European Biological Variation Study (EuBIVAS), along with her roles in EFLM's AI Working Group and the SIBioC's Big Data and AI WG, demonstrates her commitment to advancing the discipline. Furthermore, Dr. Carobene is an engaged member of the Task Group for the BV database and the IFCC's Task Force on Global Lab Quality. Her contributions to international societies, especially in partnership with data scientists, bridge traditional methodologies with cutting-edge technological advancements, leading to a wealth of scientific publications. A sabbatical year in Ethiopia highlighted her role in improving laboratory services and fostering vital academic connections. Her impact is felt across professional societies, distinguishing her efforts to establish new standards in laboratory medicine.

The key skill sets of an author, from Dr. Carobene’s perspective, include a strong command of language, the ability to conduct thorough research, critical thinking, creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication. An author should also possess perseverance and the ability to receive and incorporate feedback constructively.

To mitigate biases in writing, which is a challenge inherent to all authors, Dr. Carobene indicates that it is crucial to proactively pursue diverse perspectives and engage in collaborations with other authors, particularly those from international backgrounds. Self-reflection to identify one’s own biases and striving for representation of different viewpoints are key strategies for bias reduction. Additionally, the input from thorough peer reviews plays a vital role in this process. Such contributions should be regarded as essential, welcoming them without sensitivity.

“My motivation for engaging in academic writing, despite its rigorous demands, is fueled by a profound passion for not only advancing knowledge within my discipline and enriching scientific dialogue but particularly from an educational perspective, especially when publishing alongside younger collaborators. The opportunity to influence practices, policies, and future research directions, along with the intellectual challenge it presents, sustains my dedication,” says Dr. Carobene.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

Callum Verran

Callum Verran completed his medical training at Barts & The London in 2019, following his undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He subsequently completed his Foundation and Core Medical training in Portsmouth before taking up his current post as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Dermatology in 2023. His recent project, investigative algorithms for disorders affecting plasma bilirubin, was recently published in JLPM. His research interests are in the use of AI in Medicine.

Dr. Verran believes that a good academic paper needs a clear aim and to add something novel to the current literature, even if the results being reported are not significant. He recommends authors, during the preparation of a paper, ask someone not involved in the preparation of the paper to critically analyse it ahead of submission to try and minimize any changes that may be needed. It can be disheartening when there are revisions requested, but these typically mean an improved paper in the long run.

“I was invited to publish in JLPM as part of a special series, which was a unique opportunity to work on a paper that lay outside my previous experiences,” says Dr. Verran.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

Massimo Daves

Massimo Daves, MD, was granted his degree as a Laboratory Technician in 1994, his degree in Medicine in 2001, and a specialization in Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine in 2008 at the University of Verona (Italy). He currently serves as a medical doctor at the Clinical Biochemical Laboratory of the General Hospital of Bolzano (Italy). Dr. Daves has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals and more than 60 posters/abstracts presented at national and international congresses. He is also the Associate Editor of Italian Journal of Laboratory Medicine, a member of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIBIOC), Italian Society of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SIPMeL), and a member of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Academy. His main areas of interest include pre-analytical variability, analytical and clinical validation of biomarkers, diagnostics of acute coronary syndrome, and diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.

In Dr. Daves’ opinion, the most important element of a good academic paper is the clarity of presentation. To him, the content, results, and conclusions must be innovative and useful for the scientific community, based on certain and repeatable data and with appropriate statistical analysis, but as he sees it, the clarity of presentation with a good logical structure is the determining factor. In this context, the work carried out by trained and expert external reviewers is essential because, with the right observations and requests for improvement, they can upgrade a good job to a great job.

Dr. Daves highlights that it is very important that authors always keep the final goal of their work in mind. He explains, “A nice work is prepared by setting yourself a clear goal and by planning the collection and the analysis of data with an appropriate statistic in the best way possible. Writing an academic paper is like planning a trip. The better the planning, the easier and safer you get to your destination.”

The way Dr. Daves sees it, data sharing in scientific writing is very important. The ability to make research data available to other authors can open new opportunities for scientific research. In his view, it certainly makes it a lot easier to directly compare the data collected by different research groups. It can facilitate collaborative relationships between researchers and stimulate scientific discussion. Finally, it can also represent a further check on the complete correctness of the data collected.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

Jennifer L. Shea

Jennifer Shea is the Division Head of Clinical Biochemistry in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Saint John Regional Hospital in Saint John, NB, Canada. She is also an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University in the Department of Pathology. In addition to this work, she consults for the New Brunswick Coroner’s Office, providing expertise in forensic toxicology as part of death investigation. She obtained a PhD at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, where the focus of her research was the genetic and biochemical etiology of obesity. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Chemistry at the University of Toronto before starting her position at the Saint John Regional Hospital in 2013. She has published on a wide variety of topics including clinical and forensic toxicology, point-of-care testing, and quality assurance related to blood collection. She is also the President-Elect of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.

In Dr. Shea’s opinion, every great academic paper begins with an insightful research question – one whose answer can benefit the practice of laboratory medicine. A good paper should also be clear, well-written, and concise, with a sound rationale for performing the study. It is also tremendously helpful to give careful thought to how best to visualize the data that are being presented. To her, the best papers are those that utilize the most impactful data visualization techniques.

In constructing a paper, Dr. Shea believes it is important for authors to consider the way in which they are telling the story of the work they are presenting. She finds it helpful to use a structured approach with each paper she writes, which helps keep her thoughts clear and present her findings in a manner that is easy for the reader to follow. She likes to start the process of writing any paper with an outline, which includes major points she wants to make, a list of tables and figures she plans to include, and how her findings fit into the context of other research that has been done on the topic. She thinks, ultimately, the most important thing to bear in mind while writing a paper is how to best convey one’s message to the intended audience in a way that will hopefully help them improve their own practice within the field of laboratory medicine.

“I chose to publish in JPLM because the journal aligns with my clinical and research interests. I appreciate that the journal publishes papers that cover a broad spectrum of studies across the field of laboratory medicine. I also appreciate that the journal is open-access, which ensures that my research has a broader reach,” says Dr. Shea.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

Tatsuo Shimosawa

Tatsuo Shimosawa, MD, PhD, is the Professor and Chief at  International University of Health and Welfare, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Narita Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory. He obtained his MD from Tsukuba University in 1988, and his PhD from University of Tokyo in 1997. He received board certificates from Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, Japanese Society of Laboratory Medicine, Japanese Society of Endocrinology and Japanese Society of Hypertension. His research areas include 1) hypertension pathophysiology and organ damages in terms of vasoactive substances, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and epigenetic regulations; and 2) urinary biomarkers.

The way Dr. Shimosawa sees a good academic paper is that it has a topic that is novel and stimulatory for researchers to do further investigations. The results of the paper are fully described to support the conclusion, and its graphical abstract comes with a main point that is easy to grab.

In his opinion, the most commonly encountered difficulties in academic writing include finding time to concentrate on writing a manuscript, arranging the order of data presentation, and drawing attractive graphical abstract.

“The fascinating thing about academic writing is that I can express my idea and hypothesis which are to be proved, and raise questions that are to be answered,” says Dr. Shimosawa.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Kade C. Flowers

Kade Flowers is currently a Principal Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, UK. He has attained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Brighton, and a Master of Science (MSc) degree from the University of Manchester. His expertise lies in utilizing biochemistry via many methods – including immunoassays, mass spectrometry and electrophoresis – to produce reliable results that doctors can use to diagnose, treat and monitor patients. Kade’s areas of interest include the factors that can cause unreliable biochemistry results, how incorrect results can impact patients and how they can be prevented, hence why he was invited to contribute to four articles in the “Investigative Algorithms in Laboratory Medicine” series. He has published other reviews on the laboratory aspects of assessing hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome/disease), interferences in creatinine assays, imprecision of troponin T, and others. Connect with him on LinkedIn, X, and ResearchGate.

JLPM: What are the essential elements of a good academic paper?

Kade: It is essential to know your audience and to use clear, concise language. Never assume that the readers understand everything you do, so take a few extra words and/or sentences to explain more difficult concepts to ensure that the readers can understand points that you are trying to make.

JLPM: What authors have to bear in mind during preparation of a paper?

Kade: The review process is absolutely essential in maintaining research integrity and reliability. You may not agree with all of the comments of a reviewer(s), but it is important that you really consider what is being said as it is likely that other readers will have similar thoughts. Even if you do not agree with the reviewer comments, ensure that you reply to them in full, even if it is to explain your reasoning as to why you think a reviewer may not be correct. When preparing a paper, consider how you may reply to it if you were asked to review it.

JLPM: Why do you choose to publish in JLPM?

Kade: I was invited to assist Dr. Kate Shipman with the “Investigative Algorithms in Laboratory Medicine” series. I quickly saw on JLPM’s website that it was the prefect journal to take time to write for due to the laboratory focus. Also, JLPM is open access which is great for article accessibility and allowing people to read your hard work.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Libin Yuan

Dr. Libin Yuan is a biochemical geneticist at the metabolic diseases lab at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. He obtained his PhD from McGill University and completed his postdoctoral research at both McGill University and Cornell University. He further advanced his expertise through an American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship at Emory University. Currently, he is a Fellow of both the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (FACMG) and the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (FCCMG). Prior to joining SickKids, Dr. Yuan was the director of the clinical biochemical genetics lab at Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp). His research primarily focuses on lysosomal storage disorders, while also leveraging artificial intelligence to develop innovative diagnostic techniques and biomarkers for inherited metabolic diseases.

According to Dr. Yuan, the key skills of an author involve several important areas. First, critical thinking is essential for evaluating and synthesizing information, forming strong arguments, and making insightful conclusions. Attention to detail ensures that data are presented and analyzed accurately, which helps maintain the integrity of the research and uncover important clues. Strong logistical skills are crucial for managing different aspects of research, including organizing tasks, coordinating various elements, and identifying errors or mistakes in findings. Lastly, effective language skills are vital for clearly expressing complex ideas and results, ensuring that the research is communicated effectively to the audience.

To avoid biases in writing, Dr. Yuan believes that an author should be objective by making sure his/her information and arguments are based on solid evidence. He continues, “Be aware of your own biases and how they might affect your writing. To reduce these biases, get feedback from others who can review your work and point out any issues. Use neutral language to avoid showing favoritism and keep your writing credible. Also, be honest about any limitations in your research or viewpoint to keep your work clear and balanced. This approach helps ensure your writing is fair and reliable.”

“My motivation for academic writing comes from my strong passion for discovery. This drives me to explore my topics deeply and make meaningful contributions to my field. I find great satisfaction in overcoming challenges and creating work that is thorough and impactful. My curiosity also pushes me to investigate new ideas. Academic writing can help me grow in my career, gain recognition, and reach personal goals. I want to influence my field, shape policies, and contribute to positive changes in society, and I enjoy sharing useful insights with others,” says Dr. Yuan.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Masaoki Ito

Masaoki Ito is a thoracic surgeon at Kindai University, Osaka, Japan. His research area is on thoracic malignancy disease, especially lung cancer. He has been engaged in genetic staging or molecular profiling in early-stage lung cancer. In laboratory works, his recent focus is combination treatment strategy using agents targeting mutation and its cascade in lung cancer. His works can be found at ORCID.

In Dr. Ito’s view, the most commonly encountered difficulty in academic writing lies in obtaining and conveying the results which can be useful as widely as possible for readers. It often occurs that what authors are interested in is not so for others. Even among researchers of the same disease, the patients’ or researchers’ backgrounds always vary.

To keep up with current evidence, Dr. Ito believes it is crucial to keep attending congress, checking major journals, and tracking social media. In addition, to improve the quality of research, authors have to accept criticisms from others, and keep collaborating with other institutions. He adds, “As clinicians, we must not forget that the research question should be crucial for patients, and the obtained result should be objectively exciting or useful for patients and medical workers who struggle against diseases.”

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Nathan Lorde

Hailing from the small island of Barbados, in the Caribbean, Dr. Nathan Lorde went to the UK at the age of 18 for Medical School at the University of Leicester and stayed on for post-graduate training. He became interested in Chemical Pathology after being a student selected component in university called Physiological Measurement. He did segway for a short time into renal medicine, again attracted by the manipulation of the measurements of physiology, but eventually found himself back in Chemical Pathology. Dr. Lorde is coming to the end of his post-graduate training in Chemical Pathology, having rotated through a few hospitals in the West Midlands of the UK for this. He has had the benefit of great mentors who have largely influenced his academic interests and the topics he has written about. Most recently he has been centred on topics around sources of error in medical biochemistry and how to detect them.

The way Dr. Lorde sees it, academic literature is very important. In the medical sciences, knowledge is growing every day and what we learn in the university can become obsolete quite quickly. Academic writing is one main way in which those working at the cutting edge of scientific knowledge let others who need to know stay up to date with these rapid changes. The exchange of ideas among those practicing the medical sciences is also important as it leads to the generation of new theories and ideas that overall helps with the advancement of the corpus of scientific knowledge. Again, academic writing facilitates this significantly.

In Dr. Lorde’s view, systematic approaches to searching and reviewing literature that is already out should be done when planning a project. He explains, “That way, you can start with a good understanding of what place your work will have.” Having an open mind is also important, both when doing the initial literature review and also when analysing one’s own work and preparing to write it up. Along with this open-mindedness, he indicates that researchers have to be willing to question their own assumptions and beliefs and make sure that they match up with the facts obtained or reject them if they do not.

In addition, Dr. Lorde stresses that institutional review board approval is important for research involving humans because the board acts as a safety check that the research project will not harm the participants and that it complies with all relevant ethical frameworks for scientific research on human subjects. Approval ensures that the participants’ rights are protected. The board can also help to determine whether a research project’s question and method are methodologically sound and thus are likely to produce results that are valid.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)