Advancing Evidence-Based Gastroenterology & Digestive Health Research
Core Research Domains
JDDD prioritizes original research, systematic reviews, and clinical investigations that address critical questions in gastroenterology and hepatology. Our core domains represent areas where we seek the highest-quality submissions with potential for immediate clinical translation.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Crohn's disease pathogenesis, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets
- Ulcerative colitis: mucosal healing, disease activity indices, treatment optimization
- IBD-associated complications: strictures, fistulas, dysplasia surveillance
- Microbiome interactions in IBD pathophysiology
- Biologic and small molecule therapies: efficacy, safety, treatment algorithms
- Pediatric IBD: growth, development, transition of care
Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Disorders
- Chronic liver disease: cirrhosis, fibrosis progression, non-invasive assessment
- Viral hepatitis: HBV, HCV treatment outcomes, resistance patterns
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH): diagnosis, staging, interventions
- Cholestatic liver diseases: primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Acute and chronic pancreatitis: etiology, complications, management
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: surveillance, early detection, treatment strategies
Gastrointestinal Diagnostics & Endoscopy
- Advanced endoscopic techniques: EUS, ERCP, enteroscopy, confocal endomicroscopy
- Artificial intelligence in endoscopy: polyp detection, characterization, quality metrics
- Capsule endoscopy: small bowel imaging, patency assessment, diagnostic yield
- Endoscopic therapeutics: EMR, ESD, ablation techniques, hemostasis
- Novel imaging modalities: narrow-band imaging, chromoendoscopy, molecular imaging
- Quality indicators and performance metrics in endoscopy
Colorectal & Luminal GI Disorders
- Colorectal cancer: screening strategies, early detection, surveillance protocols
- Irritable bowel syndrome: pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, treatment approaches
- Functional GI disorders: Rome IV criteria application, brain-gut axis
- Celiac disease: diagnosis, refractory disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease: PPI therapy, Barrett's esophagus, anti-reflux procedures
- Peptic ulcer disease: H. pylori management, NSAID-related complications
Secondary Focus Areas
We welcome high-quality submissions in these complementary areas that intersect with core gastroenterology practice or represent important translational research directions.
GI Motility & Neurogastroenterology
Esophageal motility disorders, gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, anorectal dysfunction, high-resolution manometry applications
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Host-microbe interactions in GI disease, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics and prebiotics in clinical practice, dysbiosis characterization
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Congenital GI disorders, pediatric IBD, functional abdominal pain, feeding disorders, pediatric liver disease, transition to adult care
Nutritional Gastroenterology
Malabsorption syndromes, short bowel syndrome, enteral and parenteral nutrition in GI disease, dietary interventions for specific GI conditions
GI Pathology & Histopathology
Novel histologic markers, digital pathology applications, biopsy interpretation guidelines, molecular pathology in GI disease diagnosis
Interventional Gastroenterology
Endoscopic bariatric procedures, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), endoscopic full-thickness resection, third-space endoscopy techniques
Emerging Research Frontiers
We selectively consider innovative research in these emerging areas. Submissions undergo additional editorial review to ensure methodological rigor and clear relevance to gastroenterology practice.
Precision Medicine in GI Disease
Pharmacogenomics, biomarker-driven treatment selection, molecular profiling for therapeutic stratification, personalized risk prediction models
Digital Health & Telemedicine
Remote monitoring platforms, patient-reported outcomes via digital tools, telehealth delivery models in gastroenterology, mobile health applications
Artificial Intelligence Applications
Machine learning for disease prediction, natural language processing of clinical notes, AI-assisted diagnosis beyond endoscopy, clinical decision support systems
Health Services Research
Quality improvement initiatives, cost-effectiveness analyses, healthcare disparities in GI disease, implementation science in gastroenterology
Out of Scope: Explicit Exclusions
- General nutrition science without direct connection to specific GI pathophysiology (e.g., general dietary patterns, macronutrient metabolism unrelated to digestive disorders)
- Non-GI metabolic disorders including diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease unless directly investigating GI manifestations or complications
- Basic science research lacking clear translational pathway to clinical gastroenterology (e.g., fundamental cell biology without disease context)
- Dental and oral health topics unless specifically addressing esophageal or systemic GI disease connections
- General surgery without gastroenterological focus (e.g., hernia repair, general trauma, non-GI oncology)
- Anecdotal case reports of common conditions without novel diagnostic, therapeutic, or mechanistic insights
- Traditional medicine or unvalidated complementary therapies without rigorous clinical trial evidence
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track Review
- Original Research Articles: Prospective studies, RCTs, large cohort analyses (3,000-6,000 words)
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses: PRISMA-compliant, registration required (4,000-7,000 words)
- Methods & Validation Studies: Novel diagnostic/therapeutic techniques, biomarker validation (2,500-5,000 words)
- Clinical Practice Guidelines: Evidence-based recommendations, expert consensus (3,000-6,000 words)
Priority 2: Standard Review
- Short Communications: Preliminary findings, pilot studies (1,500-2,500 words)
- Technical Notes: Procedural innovations, technique descriptions (1,200-2,000 words)
- Narrative Reviews: State-of-the-art overviews, educational content (3,000-5,000 words)
- Data Notes: Dataset descriptions, negative results (1,000-2,000 words)
Priority 3: Selective Consideration
- Case Reports: Only exceptionally rare presentations or novel management approaches (1,000-1,500 words)
- Perspectives & Commentaries: Expert opinions on controversial topics, invited only (1,200-2,000 words)
- Letters to the Editor: Substantive scientific discourse on published articles (500-800 words)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
Manuscripts must follow discipline-specific standards: CONSORT (RCTs), STROBE (observational), PRISMA (systematic reviews), STARD (diagnostic accuracy), ARRIVE (animal studies)
Ethics & Transparency
IRB/ethics committee approval required for human studies. Clinical trial registration mandatory (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN). Informed consent documentation. Conflict of interest disclosure.
Data Availability
Raw data deposition in public repositories encouraged. Data sharing statements required. Code availability for computational analyses. Materials and protocols openly accessible.
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting permitted and encouraged (medRxiv, bioRxiv). Does not affect consideration. Must be disclosed at submission. Final version linked to preprint.
Statistical Rigor
Sample size justification required. Appropriate statistical methods with clear reporting. P-value interpretation following ASA guidelines. Effect sizes and confidence intervals mandatory.
Image Integrity
Original, unmanipulated images required. Processing details fully disclosed. No inappropriate enhancement. Compliance with image data integrity guidelines.
Ready to Submit?
If your research aligns with our scope and meets our editorial standards, we invite you to submit your manuscript. For studies that fall outside JDDD's focus, please explore our full portfolio of open access journals to find the best fit for your work.
