Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

1. Introduction

Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity in the publication process. This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal itself to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and ethical conduct of research published in the journal.

This policy is in line with the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) recommendations.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their manuscript is original and has not been published elsewhere or is under consideration for publication in other journals. Proper citation must be given to all sources, including data, ideas, or words that are not original. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without citation), is strictly prohibited.

  • Data Integrity: Authors must present their research data honestly and accurately. Data manipulation, falsification, or fabrication is unacceptable. All methods and data used in the research must be clearly presented, and authors must provide access to supporting data upon request.

  • Authorship: All individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as co-authors. All co-authors must have reviewed and approved the manuscript and its final version.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest that could affect their research or its interpretation. This includes funding sources, personal relationships, and affiliations with organizations that may have a vested interest in the outcomes of the research.

  • Ethical Approval: For studies involving human participants or animals, authors must ensure that appropriate ethical approval was obtained from the relevant ethical committee or institution. Informed consent must be obtained from human participants, and ethical guidelines for animal research must be followed.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must properly acknowledge sources of funding, assistance, and other influences on the research. Any prior work that influenced the research should be cited appropriately.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are essential to maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal’s content. Reviewers must:

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not share or discuss the manuscript or its contents with others outside the review process.

  • Impartiality: Reviews should be conducted based solely on the scientific merit of the manuscript. Personal biases, relationships with the authors, or other conflicts of interest should not affect the review process.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers must complete their review within the designated time frame. If they are unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editorial team promptly.

  • Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide clear, specific, and constructive feedback that will help authors improve their manuscripts. They should focus on the manuscript’s scientific content, methodology, and clarity.

  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest. If a reviewer has a conflict (e.g., financial, professional, or personal relationships with the authors), they should recuse themselves from the review process.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for overseeing the publication process and ensuring that the journal adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity. Editors must:

  • Fairness: Editors must evaluate manuscripts based solely on their scientific merit and relevance to the journal’s scope, ensuring that decisions are made impartially and without bias.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all manuscripts and their contents. Manuscripts and review comments should only be shared with authorized individuals (reviewers, authors, editorial board members).

  • Decision Making: Editors must make the final decision on manuscript acceptance or rejection based on the reviewers' feedback, the quality of the manuscript, and its relevance to the journal. They are also responsible for communicating these decisions to the authors in a timely and transparent manner.

  • Handling Ethical Issues: Editors must address any ethical concerns raised during the peer review process, such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical violations. In cases of suspected misconduct, editors will investigate the issue and take appropriate action, including rejecting the manuscript or retracting the article if already published.

  • Transparency: Editors must ensure transparency in the publication process, including disclosing conflicts of interest and ensuring that reviewer comments are taken seriously.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of the Journal

Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology is committed to the integrity of the academic publishing process. The journal adheres to the following principles:

  • Academic Integrity: The journal is committed to publishing only high-quality, original research. All manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review to ensure they meet scientific, ethical, and methodological standards.

  • Correction and Retraction: If an article is found to have significant errors or ethical violations after publication, Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology will issue corrections, clarifications, or retractions as needed. Retraction notices will be published when necessary to ensure the transparency and accuracy of the published research.

  • Transparency in Publishing: Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology provides clear guidelines on the submission, review, and publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are all encouraged to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to maintain the integrity of the process.

6. Consequences of Ethical Violations

Violations of ethical standards, such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or failure to disclose conflicts of interest, will result in serious consequences, including:

  • Immediate Rejection: Manuscripts found to violate ethical guidelines will be rejected immediately and will not proceed to the peer review process.

  • Retraction: Articles found to have ethical violations after publication will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued explaining the reason for retraction.

  • Permanent Ban: Authors found to repeatedly violate ethical standards may be permanently banned from submitting to Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology.

7. Appeals Process

If an author disagrees with the editorial decision (e.g., rejection, major revisions), they may submit an appeal to the editorial board. The editorial board will review the case and provide a final response within 10–15 business days.

8. Policy Review

This Publication Ethics Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains in line with best practices in academic publishing. Any significant changes to this policy will be communicated to authors, reviewers, and editors promptly.