This vision of cultural expansion must include a new generation of young potential researchers approaching the cross-disciplinary subfield of headache research. The Journal of Headache and Pain today stands as a significant draw for young researchers due to its top-tier positioning in neuroscience, clinical neurology, and pain medicine journals. However, it is evident that a potential barrier for early-career researchers lies in securing the funds required to cover the Article Processing Charge (APC).
To address this, a Thematic Series 2025 Early Career Research Mentorship Program has been launched, dedicated to this category of young talents—PhDs, Postdocs, or Residents—offering 10 full individual waivers throughout 2025. Access is unrestricted by geography (Global North or Global South), affiliation, or membership in Health Care Professional Working Parties.
The only selection criteria are innovation and quality, which will be assessed and validated through peer review.
The waivers will be granted to the first 10 manuscripts that, after passing peer review, are accepted for publication, with the acceptance date—as recorded in the Peer Review Report accompanying each published article—serving as the deciding factor. Each author may submit only one manuscript as the corresponding author.
Details on the access process, competition rules, and transparency measures are available [here].
The Early Career Mentorship Program also offers the remarkable opportunity for participants to join the Junior Editorial Board of The Journal of Headache and Pain on the end-of-year Boards rotation and update.
Let the 2025 competition begin!
Paolo Martelletti
Editor-in-Chief (Founding), The Journal of Headache and Pain