Publishing Without Borders: Advancing Equity in Scientific Authorship.

Researchers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain underrepresented in global academic publishing despite their substantial contributions to science and public health. Evidence indicates that only a small proportion of articles in leading medical journals originate from LMIC regions that account for the majority of the global population, alongside limited representation in editorial leadership, which remains largely concentrated in high-income countries (HICs). Structural factors, including constrained access to mentorship, limited editorial inclusion, and persistent gender and geographic disparities, continue to restrict equitable participation. These challenges may also influence publication outcomes, contributing to lower acceptance rates, higher desk rejections, and reduced visibility of manuscripts from LMIC authors compared with those from HICs. Although mentorship and capacity-building initiatives have been introduced to address these gaps, their impact remains limited, as many programs operate at a small scale, engage relatively few participants, and lack long-term follow-up for sustained improvements in publication outcomes. Achieving equity in scientific publishing will require sustained structural reform. This includes greater investment in manuscript development, diversification of editorial boards, adoption of equitable authorship practices, and inclusive institutional partnerships between the Global North and South. Journals that adopt inclusive models with minimal financial barriers have a unique opportunity to lead this transformation and contribute to a more representative and just global research ecosystem.