FAQs
- What is ‘PRICE’?
‘PRICE’ is an acronym for Pediatric Rheumatology India Collaborative Experience. It was formed to foster research collaboration in the field of Pediatric Rheumatology amongst members of Pediatric Rheumatology Society (PRS). It lays down ground rules for collaboration in the field of Pediatric Rheumatology. - When and how was it formed?
It was formed in May 2020. The then office bearers of the society, Dr. Anand P Rao, Dr. Suma Balan and Dr. Mahesh Janarthanan with inputs from senior members including Dr. Raju Khubchandani, Dr Amita Aggarwal, Dr. Surjit Singh and Dr. Sujata Sawhney formulated the draft to make PRICE a reality. - What is its structure?
The PRICE coordinators who will be 2 in number shall be nominated for a period of 2 years. The PRICE coordinators would be members who have impeccable reputation for academics and research. Of the two, one of the co-ordinators will demit office after completion of his/her term and a new person will be nominated to be a co-ordinator. This would mean in the first term, one of the co-ordinators would have 3-year term which will revert back to 2-year term subsequently. This is to ensure continuation of practices put forward. Their term would overlap with 2 batches of office bearers whose term is also for 2 years. - Who are the current co-ordinators?
Dr. Amita Aggarwal has been nominated for a period of 3 ½ years from June 2020 to Jan 2024.
Dr. Raju Khubchandani has been nominated for a 2 ½ year period from June 2020 to Jan 2023.
- What role will the co-ordinators of ‘PRICE’ play?
The PRICE co-ordinators would work with the President of the PRS to form a committee of three (PRICE committee) whose role will be as follows.
a) They would facilitate collaborative projects by the members of PRS.
b) They would screen, help in modifying and give final approval to research projects submitted by members of PRS. Members desirous of leading a project would have to submit a concept proposal
c) They would have 6 monthly review of the collaborative projects which have been approved under the banner of PRICE/PRS. - What are the benefits of doing a research project under the ‘PRICE’ umbrella?
The advantages of doing a research project under PRICE are as follows
● This will ensure involvement of multiple investigators thus a larger sample size and better strength of study
● An internal review system would help in mid-term correction and good quality research.
● The aim is also to provide hand holding to early stage researchers and encourage their pursuits.
● This will help sow a seed of collaborative research in Pediatric Rheumatology - Will ‘PRICE’ offer funding?
At present there is no funding support. However, if the manuscript is being submitted to a journal which requires funding for publication, funding can be provided by the Pediatric rheumatology society on a case to case basis based on the discretion of the PRICE committee. - What are the rules under which ‘PRICE’ will supervise studies?
● All ‘PRICE’ studies are expected to follow the following rules. A concept note/proposal should be submitted to the committee for approval. The committee would vet the proposal and give its comments about feasibility and suggestions if any.
● The PRICE committee is responsible for identifying the eligible authors on the basis of the number of enrolled patients AND the requirements listed under Section 1. The PRICE committee would determine the leading two Authors and the Co-senior and Senior Authors. Generally, the leading Authors, the Co-Senior Author and Senior Author will be members of the institute/hospital/networks who were actively involved in the study design, conduct or analysis. All remaining Authors from the networks will follow as per the number of patients contributed to the study and if they contribute the same number of cases will be listed in the alphabetical order. If a study results in more than one publication, then the PRICE coordinator will make every effort to offer authorship to at least 1 publication for each Investigator who enrolled at least 1 patient; Investigators who contributed a high number of patients to a given study can be expected to be listed in multiple publications. More authors can be included from the same site/institution as per the guidelines set forward for the particular project.
● The Principal Investigator/first author will send manuscript requests for revision and disclosures forms to ALL of the co-authors. This provision and the following apply to ALL manuscripts. A similar, possibly simplified procedure will be followed for abstract submissions, as needed.
● If in case of a member of the PRICE committee being involved in a research project, He/She should recuse himself/herself at the time of submission of the research proposal to PRICE committee for the sake of probity.
● The Principal Investigator (PI) of a research project has the following responsibilities.- Preparing the first draft and subsequent draft of the paper/abstract.
- Distributing all versions to collaborators/authors.
- Collecting and coordinating comments from collaborators /authors;
- Submitting the comments from the PRS/PRICE member Authors via email.
- Ensuring that all listed Authors fulfil requirements for Authorship detailed in Section 1;
- Collecting and submitting written documentation (i.e. fax, email or written letter) from each individual member Authors regarding approval of the final manuscript.
- The final decision of the list of Authors that will appear in publication is a shared decision between PRICE coordinators and the PI.This should be done without fear, favour or prejudice with rules as set forward earlier in this charter.
- After approval of the final version of the manuscript has been obtained from all Authors, it is the responsibility of the PI/first Author to submit or resubmit to the manuscript for peer-review to the selected target journal while copying the rest of the authors.
- In each manuscript, all site Investigators not listed as a named Author will be listed in the Acknowledgments section or, alternatively if allowed by the journal, as authors list group on the cover page of the manuscript.
- Each manuscript will report after the by-line of Authors “for the Paediatric Rheumatology Society/Pediatric Rheumatology society India collaborative experience” if the lead author is from PRS/PRICE
- The protocol should mention that publication will follow the ICMJE and PRICE policy.
- Each author is aware of and accountable for the work of the other.
- Will or can these rules be amended? Can I suggest amendments?
The rules can be amended as time goes on and this would have to be ratified by an AGM/SGBM of Pediatric rheumatology society. - If I am doing an independent study or merely collaborating with one or two colleagues at my invitation do I still need to inform PRICE? Is PRICE only for collaborative multicentric studies?
PRICE is ideally meant for multicentre collaborative studies. Individual studies don’t require PRICE committee approval but would yet be welcomed. The PRICE committee inputs may help the researcher and also add to the list under the PRSI/PRICE banner. - How do I submit a proposal to PRICE?
(Concept Note – PRICE) - How soon will PRICE revert ?
PRICE Committee would like to give the first review by 4 weeks. The committee may have a conference call with the investigator and will also send their comments. - PRICE makes suggestions I do not agree with. Can I still do my study?
Negotiations are always bilateral. With both sides keeping an open mind this is less likely. However the decision whether to include the project under the PRICE umbrella will be with the PRICE Committee. - PRICE makes suggestions which are implemented by me. Can I opt out of PRICE ?
As of today PRICE is an advisory body and has no legal status. Titles of all approved projects will be listed with the PI names on the website immediately after approval. Withdrawals will thus be visible in the public domain and be deemed morally incorrect.