Correction: A Brain-Enriched circRNA Blood Biomarker Can Predict Response to SSRI Antidepressants

Why It Matters

Proper authorship attribution safeguards academic credit, facilitates collaboration, and preserves the credibility of high‑impact biomedical research.

Key Takeaways

• Original article misidentified corresponding authors
• Three co‑corresponding authors now correctly listed
• Accurate contact info ensures proper communication
• Correction maintains integrity of multi‑institution collaboration
• Highlights need for rigorous manuscript checks

Pulse Analysis

The original study, led by researchers from Circular Genomics, Harvard Medical School and several European institutions, identified a brain‑enriched circular RNA in blood that could forecast patient response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. If validated, this biomarker promises to personalize depression treatment, reduce trial‑and‑error prescribing, and cut healthcare costs. Its potential clinical impact attracted significant attention from both academia and pharmaceutical developers, positioning the work at the forefront of precision psychiatry.

In scientific publishing, accurate author designation is more than a formality; it determines who receives credit, who is accountable for data integrity, and who external parties contact for queries or collaborations. The correction rectifies the omission of two co‑corresponding authors, ensuring that Madhukar H. Trivedi, Eleni T. Tzavara and Nikolaos Mellios are all properly represented. Such transparency is essential for maintaining trust among peers, especially when findings could influence clinical practice and attract commercial interest.

The incident underscores a broader challenge in multi‑institutional research: coordinating manuscript details across diverse teams and time zones. Implementing stricter internal review checkpoints can prevent similar oversights, preserving the reputations of both authors and journals. As the field moves toward integrating genomic biomarkers into routine care, rigorous documentation and clear authorship will be critical for reproducibility, regulatory approval, and eventual patient benefit.