Conflict of Interest
Peer-Reviewed · Open Access · Scientific Research
Conflict of Interest
The International Journal of Bio Sciences and Chemistry is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity throughout the research, peer-review, and publication process. Authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the publication process should disclose any conflict of interest that may affect, or may reasonably appear to affect, their objectivity or judgment.
What Is a Conflict of Interest?
A conflict of interest may arise when an individual's personal, professional, financial, academic, or other interests could influence their judgment or create a reasonable perception of bias in relation to a manuscript or publication decision.
In biological sciences and chemistry, potential conflicts may involve research funding, pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, chemical manufacturers, patents, commercial laboratory services, proprietary products, or other financial and professional relationships relevant to the research.
A conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate misconduct. Disclosure allows potential conflicts to be considered transparently and, where appropriate, managed to protect the integrity of the editorial and peer-review process.
Roles and Responsibilities
Authors
Authors should disclose relevant conflicts of interest associated with their manuscript, including, where applicable:
Research funding, grants, or sponsored research.
Financial relationships, investments, or other financial support.
Paid consultancies, advisory roles, or employment with relevant organizations.
Patents, intellectual property rights, or commercial interests related to the research.
Relationships with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or laboratory equipment companies.
Professional, academic, or institutional relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.
Other interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research, reported findings, or conclusions.
Where no relevant conflict exists, authors should provide a clear Conflict of Interest declaration stating that no conflict of interest exists. Authors should provide this declaration at the time of manuscript submission.
Reviewers
Reviewers should disclose any circumstance that could create an actual or perceived conflict in relation to a manuscript they are invited to review. This may include recent research collaboration, a close personal relationship, competing professional interests, financial relationships, or involvement with a competing research project or commercial product.
A reviewer should not participate in the review where a conflict could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the impartiality of the evaluation.
Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and should not use unpublished research findings, experimental data, or information obtained through peer review for personal, professional, commercial, or other advantage.
Editors and Editorial Team
Editors and members of the editorial team should identify and disclose relevant conflicts that could affect their editorial judgment.
Where a conflict exists, the editor should, where appropriate, recuse themselves from handling the manuscript. Appropriate arrangements may be made for another qualified editor to manage the submission independently and objectively.
Particular care should be taken where manuscripts involve an editor's own research, institutional affiliation, collaborators, funded projects, or commercial interests related to biological or chemical research.
Disclosure and Transparency
Conflict-of-interest disclosures should be accurate, complete, and provided at the appropriate stage of the submission or publication process.
Disclosure enables the journal to assess relevant circumstances and, where necessary, take appropriate measures to protect the fairness, independence, and integrity of editorial and peer-review decisions.
Relevant disclosures may be included in the manuscript's Conflict of Interest statement, Funding Statement, Acknowledgments, or another appropriate section, depending on the nature of the information and the journal's submission requirements.
Undisclosed Conflicts
If a relevant conflict of interest is identified after submission or publication, the journal may review the circumstances and request clarification or an appropriate disclosure from the individuals concerned.
Depending on the nature and significance of the matter, further action may include updating the disclosure, seeking independent editorial assessment, publishing a correction, or taking other appropriate measures in accordance with the journal's applicable editorial and publication ethics policies.
Responsibility
Authors, reviewers, editors, and other relevant participants share responsibility for providing complete and truthful disclosures of conflicts of interest.
Failure to disclose a relevant conflict may be considered when assessing the integrity of the submission, review, or publication process. Any action taken will depend on the circumstances and available evidence.
Policy Review
The International Journal of Bio Sciences and Chemistry may review and update this policy periodically to ensure that it remains consistent with recognized standards, research integrity principles, and responsible practices in scholarly publishing.