The goal of the SCTC Working Groups is to stimulate focused discussion and collaborative research projects related to either increasing the efficiency of clinical trials and observational studies or producing position papers that should be representative of the opinions of a majority of SCTC members.  Particular emphasis is on less well-studied manifestations of disease.

As such the primary focus of Working Groups will be:

1. The development or evaluation of outcome measures
2. The classification of disease manifestations
3. Performing proof-of-concept studies for novel clinical trial design
4. The development of SCTC position papers on issues related to systemic sclerosis.

When necessary observational studies or translational research in systemic sclerosis can be performed to fulfill the above goals.

New Working Groups are created upon completion of an application that is reviewed and approved by the SCTC Executive Committee.  Any investigator at an SCTC member institution in good standing may propose a new working group. They are encouraged to create a small lead group of both senior and junior investigators; this group may be expanded upon initiation of the group.  The brief application should include an explanation of the goals/objectives of the Working Group, the methodologies to be employed, and an explanation of how the Working Group will fulfill the mission of the SCTC. Upon receiving endorsement, Working Groups will be eligible to apply and compete for SCTC-sponsored funding for their research endeavors but will be responsible for obtaining sufficient/additional funding for their respective projects.  Working groups can have multiple projects ongoing with different leadership, and funding for more than one project within a Working Group (but with different principal applicants) can be applied for. However, we encourage communication and collaboration amongst each Working Group. The SCTC shall assist with Working Group communications and organization of meetings.  Participation in all SCTC Working Groups will be open to all investigators at SCTC member institutions.   Requirements for SCTC Working Groups include the following:

• PRESENT AT ANNUAL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
• PROVIDE ANNUAL UPDATES FOR WORKING GROUP TO BE POSTED ON WEBSITE
• ACKNOWLEDGE SCTC IN THE AUTHORSHIP GROUP FOR ANY PRESENTATIONS, ABSTRACTS, OR PUBLICATIONS
• SUBMIT ALL SCTC WORKING GROUP RELATED PUBLICATIONS TO SCTC EXECUTIVE FOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO ANY JOURNAL*.

*This process is not designed to replicate the peer-review process of publication. Manuscript titles, abstracts and authorship lists will be reviewed promptly by the SCTC Executive Committee, with the expectation that robustly conducted and reported work will be given immediate approval for submission. If necessary, a review of the full manuscript may be requested before approval for submission with SCTC affiliation is granted. Only in exceptional circumstances, in which the manuscript raises points that might harm the integrity or reputation of the SCTC, shall approval for reference to SCTC affiliation be withheld. The reasons for this decision would be communicated with the corresponding author. This would not prevent investigators from submitting a manuscript to a scientific journal, but would only preclude reference to SCTC affiliation.