Passing the torch - Volume 21, Issue

This issue is the first where I will be serving as Editor-in-Chief of Medical Writing (MEW). Elise Langdon-Neuner, Editor-in-Chief since 2004, will be stepping down. This is yet another step in the evolution of the journal.

For those of you unfamili…

Message from the President - Volume 23, Issue

As my 1-year term as the EMWA president is ending, I would like to say that it has been a great year! Manchester and Barcelona were incredible successes. The Executive Committee is working hard to improve all aspects of the EMWA, and, thanks to…

Translating medical devices: A rule-driven game - Volume 33, Issue

Translation for medical devices often presents a unique set of challenges arising from the products’ complex natures and associated regulatory requirements. Beyond medical expertise, linguists – from translators and editors to bilingual quality…

Good pharma - Volume 22, Issue

Drugs companies publish only a fraction of their results and keep much of the information to themselves. Drug companies are ‘debasing’ drug trials whose publication in journals can apparently confer scientific approval. Merck had fought for years to …

In the Bookstores - Volume 26, Issue

Publishing Your Medical Research (Second Edition)Daniel W. ByrneWolters Kluwer, 2017Daniel Byrne has taught courses on biostatistics and medical writing at Vanderbilt University since 1999. He wrote the first edition of Publishing Your Medical…

The Webscout - Volume 24, Issue

When thinking about the topic of this issue I questioned why for some people business is a source of fun while for others it is not. We all know that factors like time pressure, an inadequate working environment and a lack of variety in our tasks…

Transition to the EU Clinical Trials Regulation: Trick or treat? - Volume 32, Issue

The etiquette in clinical trial research requires companies to respect rules and to be precise and accurate. The new EU Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014 (EU CTR) pushes companies and health authorities one step further – to be more flexible and…

Lingua Franca and Beyond - Volume 25, Issue

Communication, communication and even medical communication What is it about? Let’s start with the Wikipedia definition: “Communication (from Latin comm - ūnicāre, meaning ‘to share’) is the purposeful activity of information exchange between two…

Your professional association: A great way to expand your skills and advance your career - Volume 22, Issue

Many medical writers and translators are not members of professional associations. While online networking is clearly accepted as a key element for success in business, the benefits of joining associations are still not obvious to all, even though…

How to soften the red pen’s blow: Tips for editing a colleague’s work - Volume 27, Issue

Applying the dreaded red editing pen to colleague's work can be nerve-racking for professional writers. But there are some concrete steps every writer can take that will improve his or her ability to communicate the type of clear, constructive…