The unique challenges of clinical trials in rare disease: A regulatory writer’s perspective - Volume 32, Issue

Designing clinical trials in rare diseases comes with a specific set of challenges including limited knowledge around the natural history of a disease, small sample size available for trial participation, regulatory guidance that is not calibrated…

PhD student: A medical writer in the making! - Volume 27, Issue

With the ever-increasing stock of PhD holders and the diminishing number of permanent academic positions, alternative careers are in demand. Before the impostor syndrome marches in, these graduates need to realise that there can be a bright future,…

Differences between writing for medical devices and pharmaceuticals: An update - Volume 31, Issue

Although the medical device and pharmaceutical industries are related, they are governed by distinct regulatory systems. Despite the similarities, the inherent differences between medical devices and drugs have implications for clinical research…

A beginner´s guide to writing clinical investigation plans and reports for medical devices - Volume 31, Issue

A clinical investigation plan for a medical device must outline and justify all objectives of the clinical investigation, present and justify the investigational design and methodology, and state principal features of  the statistical analysis. A…

Optimizing the value of regulatory writers - Volume 31, Issue

An expanding need for clinical documentation and regulatory health authority interactions during drug development has drawn increased attention to the role of the regulatory medical writer. This role is frequently misunderstood and poorly…

The Crofter: Sustainable Communications - Volume 33, Issue

Section Editor: Kimi Uegaki Breaking barriers in sustainable development in East Africa: How Lightup Impact is leveraging communications to shift the power to the right actors Authors: Nicole Bezuidenhout, Valeria Santoro, Jeniffer Muganda …

Writing for lay audiences - Volume 24, Issue

For most of us, medical writing is highly technical. We prepare regulatory or clinical documents or write materials targeted to medical doctors. Medical writing for lay audiences is different, and it does not come naturally to most of us because…

Allergen immunotherapy in the European regulatory environment - Volume 27, Issue

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) modulates the immune system to prevent and relieve allergic symptoms. Unlike allergen avoidance and medication to control symptoms, AIT targets the underlying pathophysiology of allergic diseases. AIT is now considered a…

How to write about coronavirus: Best practices for health writers - Volume 30, Issue

FOCUS ON FACTS AND EVIDENCE-BASED REPORTING 

what we know, not what we think might happen

AVOID FEAR-MONGERING

watch your language

Addressing vaccine hesitancy in writing: How has COVID-19 changed hesitancy communication, and what works? - Volume 30, Issue

To address vaccine hesitancy in writing, it is important to put yourself in your reader’s shoes, demonstrate an understanding of the hesitancy, and form an effective response using evidence-based writing techniques, clear communication, courtesy,…