Another automated feedback option for authors

Automated tools that assess manuscripts and provide structured feedback to help authors improve the text, strengthen claims, and identify potential gaps in their evidence or logic are being increasingly used in the scientific community. These may be particularly helpful for authors who do not have an existing network of colleagues to provide informal feedback, and they are just one of a number of different ways researchers can choose to have their work reviewed or assessed.

bioRxiv and medRxiv authors can already save time when submitting to >300 traditional journals and automated services. Our bioRxiv to Journal and medRxiv to Journal (B2J/M2J) and bioRxiv to eXternal and medRxiv to eXternal (B2X/M2X) pipelines mean they can send submissions directly from the bioRxiv/medRxiv submission system to these services and do not have to re-enter metadata all over again at their chosen destination. We are now adding Explore Science to the list of options available to authors.  

Explore Science is an AI service that provides feedback on various aspects of manuscripts, including hypothesis formulation and study design, statistical rigor, novelty and scope, and clarity of the writing and figures. The output is linked directly to the relevant section of the manuscript and supporting references—it is intended to be traceable/actionable rather than generalized. Explore Science can also review adherence to relevant reporting standards, such as Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, which are particularly important for health research. Authors can then use this information to improve their papers when revising them for journal submission and ensure they are compliant with applicable standards.

Authors who wish to use Explore Science submit a paper to medRxiv or bioRxiv, then return to their Author Area, and select “Submit Preprint to External Author Service”. Explore Science appears as an option alongside each of their manuscripts. Just like other external services connected by B2X/M2X, it is an author-initiated tool, simply an option authors can select that can save them time with downstream review activities.