Month 1–3: Topic + Guide
Pick a topic your guide is genuinely interested in — not just one that sounds good. This decides everything downstream.
Month 4–6: Synopsis + IEC
Institutional Ethics Committee approval usually adds 6–10 weeks of delay. Submit early.
Month 7–20: Data collection
Expect at least one seasonal / patient-load disruption. Budget a 20% buffer.
Month 21–30: Writing + submission
Writing takes 3× longer than you think. Start writing during data collection, not after.