Publication Ethics Statement

The Archives of Biotechnology and Biomedicine upholds the highest ethical standards in publishing and adheres to internationally recognized frameworks, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). This Publication Ethics Statement defines the principles and practices that guide authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in the scholarly record.

Ethical Principles

• Integrity: Research must be reported honestly, with accurate data, transparent methods, and appropriate acknowledgment of contributions.
• Transparency: Conflicts of interest, funding sources, and ethical approvals must be clearly disclosed.
• Accountability: All participants in the publishing process share responsibility for maintaining ethical standards.
• Fairness: Decisions must be based solely on academic merit without discrimination or bias.
• Respect: Authors, reviewers, and editors must treat each other with professionalism and respect throughout the publishing process.

Responsibilities of Authors

• Original Work: Authors must submit only original manuscripts not under consideration elsewhere.
• Accurate Reporting: Methods and results must be described clearly to enable replication and verification.
• Authorship Criteria: Only those who made significant contributions should be listed as authors; all authors must approve the final version.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: All financial or personal relationships that could influence results must be declared.
• Ethical Compliance: Human and animal research must follow institutional and international ethical standards, with approval details provided.
• Corrections: Authors must promptly report errors discovered post-publication, facilitating corrections or retractions.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Conduct objective, fair, and timely reviews.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of manuscripts.
• Identify potential ethical issues, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or undeclared conflicts of interest.
• Provide constructive feedback to help authors improve clarity and quality.
• Recuse themselves from reviewing if conflicts of interest exist.

Responsibilities of Editors

• Make unbiased decisions based solely on scientific merit and relevance.
• Ensure confidentiality during the review process.
• Actively detect and address ethical breaches, including plagiarism and misconduct.
• Facilitate transparency by requiring disclosures of conflicts and funding sources.
• Issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to preserve the integrity of the scientific record.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports ethical publishing by ensuring editorial independence, providing systems for secure archiving, and implementing COPE procedures for handling misconduct. The publisher does not influence editorial decisions and ensures financial or commercial interests do not compromise scientific quality.

Ethical Issues in Research and Publication

• Human Research: Must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki; informed consent is mandatory.
• Animal Research: Must follow humane practices and obtain approval from relevant ethical committees.
• Data Management: Data must be retained for verification and made available when possible.
• Image Integrity: Digital images should not be manipulated in ways that misrepresent results.

Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Plagiarism, duplicate submission, or redundant publication violates ethical standards. Manuscripts are screened with plagiarism detection software, and suspected cases are investigated rigorously. Confirmed violations result in rejection, retraction, and notification of institutions or funders.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Errors that do not affect the validity of findings may be corrected with an erratum. Serious issues such as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism may require retraction. Expressions of concern are issued when investigations are pending. All notices are linked transparently to the original article.

Conflicts of Interest

All parties must disclose any conflicts of interest. Editors and reviewers recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist. Authors disclose conflicts during submission. Transparency in conflicts prevents undue influence on scientific judgment.

Complaints and Appeals

Complaints related to editorial decisions, ethical issues, or reviewer conduct are handled confidentially and fairly. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editor not involved in the original decision. The journal follows COPE guidelines in investigating and resolving disputes.

Commitment to COPE Principles

The journal aligns with COPE’s Core Practices, which include clear authorship criteria, rigorous peer review, transparent corrections, and ethical oversight. By adopting these practices, the journal ensures accountability and credibility across all stages of publication.

Conclusion

Ethical publishing is a shared responsibility. Authors must submit original, accurate, and ethical work. Reviewers must evaluate fairly and confidentially. Editors must ensure impartial decisions and uphold integrity. The publisher must protect editorial independence and the scholarly record. Together, these practices safeguard trust in the Archives of Biotechnology and Biomedicine as a reliable platform for scientific communication.