Working GroupS

Mission Statement and Overview of the SCTC Working Group Program

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:

The development or evaluation of outcome measures.
The classification of disease manifestations.
The development of SCTC position papers on issues related to systemic sclerosis.

When necessary, observational studies, proof-of-concept studies to inform clinical trial design, or translational research in systemic sclerosis can be performed to fulfil the above goals.

Structure of Working Groups

This should reflect engagement across the SCTC membership and involvement of junior as well as senior investigators. At the time of creation of a Working Group, a typical model would include one junior and one senior leader.

It is recommended that at least six individuals (each from a different SCTC member institution) are named as being supportive of the group’s objectives, in anticipation of the group being expanded upon initiation to include members from different countries (and preferably different continents).

Although there will be one named senior and one named junior leader, other Working Group members may lead on different projects. Although there is flexibility as to how different Working Groups are structured and how they operate, an overarching principle is that they must be inclusive to any SCTC member institution/investigator who expresses interest in joining. In other words, participation in all

SCTC Working Groups will be open to all investigators at SCTC member institutions.

Creating a new Working Group

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. 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 fulfil 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, communication and collaboration amongst each Working Group is required.

The SCTC shall assist with Working Group communications and organization of meetings.

Requirements of each Working Group

Leading a Working Group carries responsibilities. Requirements for each Working Group include to:

Present at annual Working Group meetings.
Provide an annual update to be posted on the SCTC 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.

Sustaining Working Group activities

To ensure the long-term viability and success of individual Working Groups (and encourage junior investigator participation), Working Groups should remain open to new membership.

Opportunities for junior investigators to propose new studies and apply for Working Group funding should be encouraged and provisions made for transition in leadership to allow new investigators to come forward and take over the lead of existing working groups.

A Working Group will be disbanded once it has achieved all its objectives, or if it fails to meet the above requirements.

Working Groups

SCTC Benedict Visiting Fellowship Programme

The 2025 Request for Funds Application for the SCTC and SRF sponsored Betty Z. Benedict Grant is OPEN

Find out more

OPEN SOON

Get involved

You can contribute to scleroderma research in several ways: