Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research

History of the Journal

The Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research was established in 2014 to address the growing need for interdisciplinary communication between biologists, pharmacologists, and biomedical researchers. Since its inception, the journal has become a respected forum for sharing discoveries that bridge basic science and clinical applications.

Milestones

• 2014: Journal launched with inaugural issue focusing on molecular therapeutics
• 2016: Achieved inclusion in major biological abstracting services
• 2018: Implemented advanced online manuscript submission and tracking system
• 2020: Reached 600+ published articles with significant impact on drug discovery research
• 2022: Expanded editorial board with Nobel laureates and field pioneers
• 2024: Celebrated 10 years of advancing biological and pharmaceutical sciences

Growth and Impact

The journal has grown exponentially, attracting submissions from top research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and universities worldwide. Our readership includes basic scientists, clinical researchers, pharmaceutical industry professionals, and policy makers across all continents. The journal's articles have informed clinical guidelines and contributed to drug development pipelines.

Aims and Scope

The Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research aims to publish high-quality, innovative research that advances our understanding of biological systems and contributes to the development of new therapeutic approaches for human diseases.

Scope

The journal covers a comprehensive range of topics within biological and pharmaceutical sciences, including but not limited to:

• Molecular Biology: Gene regulation, signal transduction, molecular mechanisms of disease
• Cell Biology: Cellular processes, organelle function, cell signaling pathways
• Genetics and Genomics: Genetic variations, genome sequencing, functional genomics
• Pharmacology: Drug action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences: Drug design, formulation, delivery systems, nanotechnology
• Biochemistry: Enzyme mechanisms, metabolic pathways, protein structure-function
• Microbiology: Bacteriology, virology, parasitology, antimicrobial resistance
• Immunology: Immune responses, vaccine development, immunotherapy
• Neuroscience: Neurobiology, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropharmacology
• Cancer Biology: Oncogenesis, tumor biology, targeted therapies
• Stem Cell Research: Regenerative medicine, cell therapy, tissue engineering
• Bioinformatics: Computational biology, systems biology, data mining
• Clinical Research: Clinical trials, translational medicine, evidence-based practice
• Biotechnology: Recombinant DNA technology, protein engineering, biosensors

Editorial Board

Chief Editors

Associate Editors

• Prof. Adel Sakr
  Professor of Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics Sciences,
  Future University,
  New Cairo,
  Egypt.
• Professor K.Purushotham Rao
  H.K.E.'s College of Pharmacy,
  (M.R. Medical College Campus),
  Gulbarga-585 105.
  Karnataka,
  India

Editorial Board Members

• Professor Louay Labban
  Faculty of Health Sciences,
  Al-Kalamoon University,
  Dier Attiah,
  Syria.
• Dr. Rachayya M. Devarumath
  Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering Lab.,
  Vasantdada Sugar Institute,
  Manjari (Bk), Tal. - Haveli, Dist. Pune - 412307
  Maharashtra State, INDIA
• Professor Maha Mohamed El-sayed Eissa.
  Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University.
  Parasitology Department,
  Alexandria University,
  Alexandria, Egypt.
• Dr.Yanfeng Chen
  Department of Head and Neck Surgery
  State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China
  Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Cente

Editorial Policy

This policy describes guidelines in the publication process of our journals. Specifically, Journal Issues adopts and strive to adhere to the following standards and requirements:

Authorship

An author is an individual who has significantly contributed to the development of a manuscript. The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following four criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; and
2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and
3. Final approval of the version to be published; and
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Acknowledgement

Individuals who participated in the development of a manuscript but do not qualify as an author should be acknowledged. Organizations that provided support in terms of funding and/or other resources should also be acknowledged.

Changes in authorship

Whenever there is a need to make changes in the authorship of a manuscript or a published article, the changes will be implemented according to COPE specification.

Only corresponding authors can make request for a change in authorship. Request should be made to the editor using the Changes in Authorship Form or via e-mail from the corresponding authors email address.

Conflict of interest

"Conflict of interest (COI) exists when there is a divergence between an individual's private interests (competing interests) and his or her responsibilities to scientific and publishing activities such that a reasonable observer might wonder if the individual's behavior or judgment was motivated by considerations of his or her competing interests" WAME.

Authors should disclose all financial/relevant interest that may have influenced the development of the manuscript.

Reviewers should disclose any conflict of interest and if necessary, decline the review of any manuscript they perceive to have a conflict of interest. Editors should also decline from considering any manuscript that may have conflict of interest. Such manuscripts will be re-assigned to other editors.

Confidentiality

A submitted manuscript is a confidential material. Journal Issues will not disclose submitted manuscript to anyone except individuals who partake in the processing and preparation of the manuscript for publication (if accepted). These individuals include editorial staff, corresponding authors, potential reviewers, actual reviewers, and editors. However, in suspected cases of misconduct, a manuscript may be revealed to members of Journal Issues' ethics committee and institutions/organizations that may require it for the resolution of the misconduct.

Peer review

The review process is an important aspect of the publication process of an article. It helps an editor in making decision on an article and also enables the author to improve the manuscript.

Journal Issues operates a blind peer review system.

Author(s) identity is removed from the manuscript and shielded from the reviewers during the review process. The reviewer is left with only manuscript without any information that might enable him/her uncovers the identity of the author(s). Information removed includes the author(s) name, address/affiliation, country, phone/fax and email. Any information in the Acknowledgement and Declaration of Conflict of Interest that may lead to the uncovering of the identity of the author is also removed from the manuscript prior to sending it to reviewers.

Manuscripts are assigned to members of the editorial board of the journal or other qualified reviewers. The Manuscript Review Form is used to report the reviewers' evaluation of the manuscript.

A Review Certificate is issued to reviewers after the review of the manuscript (Optional).

Editors and Editorial Boards

Editors are responsible for making final decisions on a manuscript. Journal Issues require all editors and editorial board members to adhere to COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Editorial Freedom

Interference with the editorial freedom of editors construes misconduct. Journal Issues strictly forbids the interference with the editorial freedom of any of its editors. Suspect cases of interference will be reported to the ethics committee.

Joining Editorial Boards

To join an editorial board of a journal published by Journal Issues, a prospective board member should have completed a doctorial programme. The area of expertise of the prospective board member should fit with the aims and scope of the journal. The applicant should also have research experience and publications in his/her area of expertise.

Editorial board member should be prepared to create adequate time to evaluate assigned manuscript in a timely manner.

Applicants for editorial board should complete the editorial board membership form and submit current resume. The application will be evaluated by an editor or an existing editorial board member.

Editorial board is reviewed periodically. Members may be asked to submit updated version of their profile/resume. Inactive members may be removed from the board.

Misconduct

Misconduct constitutes violation of this editorial policy, journal policies, publication ethics, or any applicable guidelines/policies specified by COPE, WAME, ICMJE, and STM. Any other activities that threaten/compromise the integrity of the research/publication process are potential misconducts. Suspected cases of misconduct will be investigated according to COPE guidelines.

Correction and Retraction of Articles

Corrections may be made to a published article with the authorization of the editor of the journal. Editors will decide the magnitude of the corrections. Minor corrections are made directly to the original article. However, in cases of major corrections, the original article will remain unchanged, while the corrected version will also be published. Both the original and corrected version will be linked to each other. A statement indicating the reason for the major change to the article will also be published.

When necessary, retraction of articles will be done according to COPE retraction guidelines.

Journal Issues will review and update this editorial policy periodically.

Instructions for Authors

Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research (IBSPR) (ISSN: 2350-1588, Print: 2814-3809) is an international journal published bimonthly online by Journal Issues .It is a double blind peer- review open access journal that publishes theoretical, empirical and experimental papers that contribute significantly to the disciplines of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Procedure for the submission of manuscripts

Manuscript should be submitted online via IBSPR SUBMISSION PORTAL . Upon receipt of manuscript submission, the Editor-in-chief sends an e-mail of confirmation to the corresponding author within 1-2 working days. In absence of a confirmation email, you are advice to contact the help Assistant via this email address: info@journalissues.org.

Organisation and style of manuscripts

The cover letter should include:

• The name of author(s) including first name(s).
• Name of the department(s) institution(s) in which the work was done including full contact address telephone/fax numbers of authors and that of the corresponding authors.
• It should be in an e-mail message sent to the Editor-in-chief along with the article.
• The authors may also suggest two or more reviewers for the manuscript along with their Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for proper identification of the reviewer(s).
• The author should take the undertaking that the manuscript has not been published elsewhere except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis. Also, in the case of more than one author, the corresponding author should do same.

Peer Review

All manuscripts are subject to double-blind system for peer-review; the reviewer(s) identities remain anonymous to authors. The paper will be peer-reviewed by three experts; one is an editorial board member and the other two are external reviewers. The review process may take 12 days. Decisions will be made as fast as possible, and reviewer(s) comments sent to the author immediately.

Types of Articles

Author(s) are advised to carefully consider the preparation of papers to ensure that they communicate efficiently. Papers are much more likely to be accepted, if they are carefully designed and laid out, containing fewer or no errors. Papers should be conventional to the approach and instructions. However, author(s) are advised not to do self citation of previous study within their paper in order to uphold the credibility of their paper. Articles with self citations may not stand the chance of being accepted except absolutely necessary.

Original Research Articles Format

All portions of the manuscript must be typed double-spaced and all pages numbered starting from the title page.

• The Title should be a brief phrase describing the contents of the paper. The Title Page should include the authors' full names and affiliations, the name of the corresponding author along with phone, fax and E-mail information. An asterisk (*) must be placed after the corresponding authors name as superscript whose email id, fax, telephone number can be given at the bottom left corner of the title. Corresponding author has the responsibility to ensure that all co authors are aware and approve the contents of the submitted manuscript.
• An abstract of not more than 200 words should contain the objective, concise description of study design of plan, result and conclusion. Authors may list a maximum of ten keywords for subject classification.
• Abbreviations are to be used sparingly and given at first mention of word. Each abbreviation should be spelled out and introduced in parentheses the first time it is used in the text. Only recommended SI units should be used. Please separate the items by ";".
  E.g. HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; SIV: simian immunodeficiency virus;
• The Introduction should provide a clear statement of the problem, the relevant literature on the subject, and the proposed approach or solution. It should be understandable to colleagues from a broad range of scientific disciplines.
• Materials and methods This should be sufficiently detailed (with reference where possible) to permit other work to duplicate the study. Sources of materials used must be given and statistical method must be specified by reference unless non standard ones are used.
• The Results must be clearly and concisely with the help of appropriate illustrative material tables and/or figures.
• The Discussion should interpret the findings in view of the results obtained in this and in past studies on this topic. Unjustified speculation should be avoided.
• Acknowledgments (if any) should be included at the very end of the paper before the references and may include supporting grants, presentations, and so forth.
• Tables should be kept to a minimum and be designed to be as simple as possible. Tables are to be typed double-spaced throughout. Including headings. Each table should be on a separate page, numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals and supplied with a heading and a legend. Each table should include a title and be comprehensible without reference to the text. Tables adapted or reproduced verbatim from another source must acknowledge that source in footnote.
• Figure legends should be typed in numerical order on a separate sheet. Graphics should be prepared using applications capable of generating high resolution GIF, TIFF, JPEG or PowerPoint before pasting in the Microsoft Word manuscript file. Tables should be prepared in Microsoft Word. Use Arabic numerals to designate figures and upper case letters for their parts (Figure 1). Begin each legend with a title and include sufficient description so that the figure is understandable without reading the text of the manuscript. Information given in legends should not be repeated in the text. Please present the Tables and Figures at the end of the paper.

References

In the text, a reference identified by means of an author's name should be followed by the date of the reference in parentheses. Authors are responsible for ensuring that the information in each reference is complete and accurate. All references should be cited within the text; otherwise, these references will be automatically removed. References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted chronologically if necessary. More than one reference from the same author(s) in the same year must be identified by the letters "a", "b", "c", etc., placed after the year of publication. Journal names are abbreviated according to the ISSN List of Title Word Abbreviations . Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of the references.

Proofs and Reprints

Electronic Gallery proofs will be sent via (e-mail attachment) to the corresponding author as a PDF file. Gallery proofs are considered to be the final version of the manuscript. With the exception of typographical or minor clerical errors, no changes will be made in the manuscript at the proof stage. It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to ensure that the galley proofs are to be returned 3-4days of receipt with correction if (any). The authors are responsible for the contents appeared in their published manuscripts.

Fees and Charges

Author(s) will be charged a handling fees upon acceptance of paper for publication. The author's ability to pay the charges is not certain that the paper will be accepted for publication. However, we routinely offer partial waiver for students and authors from low-income countries. Please contact the help Assistant via this email address: info@journalissues.org.

Copyright

Submission of a manuscript implies: that the work described has not been published before (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, or thesis) that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that if and when the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors agree to automatic transfer of the copyright to the publisher. Open Access authors retain the copyrights of their papers, and all open access articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.

IBSPR Indexing

Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research(IBSPR) has been indexed by several world-class databases, ensuring high visibility and accessibility of published research to the global scientific community.

Continuous Indexing Efforts

Our editorial team continuously works to expand IBSPR's indexing in additional prestigious databases. We are actively pursuing inclusion in major Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research indexes to ensure maximum visibility and impact for our authors' work.

Peer Review Process

All submitted manuscripts follow a structured editorial and double blind peer review workflow designed to ensure originality academic integrity and publication quality.

Review Process Steps

1. Author Submission: The author submits the manuscript to the journal through the official submission system.
2. Plagiarism and Quality Check: The editorial office screens the paper for plagiarism originality scope relevance formatting and basic academic quality.
3. Initial Decision: If the paper fails plagiarism or quality standards it is rejected and returned to the author. If it passes it proceeds to peer review.
4. Paper Sent to Reviewers: The editorial office assigns qualified reviewers and sends the manuscript for blind peer review.
5. Reviewers Evaluation: Reviewers assess the paper for originality methodology clarity contribution to knowledge and ethical compliance.
6. Review Reports Returned: Reviewers submit their evaluations and recommendations to the editorial office.
7. Feedback Sent to Author: The editorial office sends the reviewers comments and the original paper back to the author for revision.
8. Revised Paper Submission: The author revises the manuscript according to reviewers feedback and resubmits it to the editorial office.
9. Revised Paper Sent to Editor: The revised manuscript is forwarded to the editor for a final decision.
10. Editor Decision: The editor either accepts or rejects the revised paper. If rejected the paper is returned to the author. If accepted it moves to production.
11. Proof Sent to Author: The publisher sends the final proof to the author for final checks and minor corrections.
12. Publication: After proof approval the paper is officially published in the journal.

Average Review Time: 4 to 6 weeks
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 25 percent
Rejection Rate: Approximately 75 percent
Revision Success Rate: Over 80 percent of manuscripts invited for revision are eventually published

Open Access Policy

Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research is a fully open access journal. All articles are immediately available online upon publication without subscription, registration, or paywall barriers, maximizing global accessibility and impact.

Benefits of Open Access for Biomedical Research

• Global Accessibility: Free access for all readers worldwide, including researchers in developing countries and healthcare professionals without institutional subscriptions
• Accelerated Discovery: Immediate availability accelerates scientific progress and follow-up research
• Clinical Impact: Healthcare providers can access latest research to inform clinical practice
• Policy Influence: Greater potential to inform health policy, clinical guidelines, and regulatory decisions
• Educational Resource: Available as teaching material for medical and biological sciences education globally
• Compliance: Meets open access mandates of major research funders (NIH, Wellcome Trust, ERC, etc.)
• Public Engagement: Enables patients and the public to access research relevant to their health

Creative Commons License

All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This license allows:

• Commercial and non-commercial use of the research
• Adaptation, modification, and building upon the work
• Sharing in any format or medium
• Attribution to the original authors and source

Article Preservation

All published articles are archived in multiple digital repositories including PubMed Central, CLOCKSS, Portico, and institutional repositories to ensure permanent access for future generations of researchers and clinicians.

Licensing and Copyright

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right of first publication under a Creative Commons license that allows for wide dissemination and reuse, balancing author rights with broad accessibility.

Copyright Policy

• Author Copyright: Authors retain copyright of their published work
• Publication License: Authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish the article
• CC BY License: Articles are published under CC BY 4.0 license for maximum reuse
• Self-Archiving: Authors may deposit published version in institutional repositories immediately
• Reuse Rights: Authors may reuse their work in teaching, conferences, grant applications, and future publications
• Commercial Use: Others may use the work commercially with proper attribution
• Translation Rights: Authors may translate their work or authorize translations

Permissions for Reuse

For permission to reuse content published in the journal beyond what is allowed by the CC BY license, please contact the editorial office with details of the intended use. We generally grant additional permissions for educational, non-commercial, and public health purposes.

Third-Party Material

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any third-party material (figures, tables, text extracts, images) included in their manuscript and for covering any associated costs. This includes material from previously published works, commercial databases, or copyrighted clinical images.

Plagiarism Policy

Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research maintains a strict, zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism in any form. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarship in biological and medical research.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

• Verbatim Copying: Copying text, data, figures, or ideas without proper attribution and quotation marks
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Substantial paraphrasing of others' work without appropriate citation
• Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one's own previously published work without citation or permission (text recycling)
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Combining phrases from multiple sources without attribution (patchwriting)
• Idea Plagiarism: Using others' ideas, concepts, theories, or hypotheses without citation
• Image/Figure Plagiarism: Using images, graphs, photographs, or figures from others without permission and attribution
• Translation Plagiarism: Translating others' work without attribution
• Data Plagiarism: Presenting others' data as one's own without permission

Screening Process

All submissions undergo comprehensive screening:

1. Initial Screening: All manuscripts checked upon submission using iThenticate
2. Similarity Report: Detailed similarity report generated and reviewed by editors
3. Contextual Analysis: Editors review similarity reports considering proper citation of methods, common phrases, and legitimate overlaps
4. Revision Check: Revised manuscripts re-checked before acceptance
5. Final Verification: Final version checked before publication
6. Post-publication Monitoring: Ongoing checks of published articles

Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

• Overall Similarity: Less than 20% (excluding references and methods sections)
• Single Source: Less than 5% from any single source
• Methods Section: Standard methods may have higher similarity if properly cited
• Self-Citation: Properly cited self-plagiarism within reasonable limits (typically <10%)
• Common Phrases: Technical terminology and common phrases are considered differently

Consequences of Plagiarism

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism are handled according to COPE guidelines:

• Minor Cases: Manuscript returned for revision with proper attribution (similarity 20-30%)
• Moderate Cases: Manuscript rejected with option to resubmit after substantial revision (similarity 30-50%)
Serious Cases: Immediate rejection and notification to authors' institutions (similarity >50% or clear intentional plagiarism)
• Published Articles: Retraction with published notice and notification to indexing services, PubMed, etc.
• Author Sanctions: Temporary or permanent ban from future submissions; notification to other journals
• Institutional Notification: Serious cases reported to authors' institutions for investigation

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of research and publication ethics in biological and pharmaceutical sciences, following international guidelines from COPE, ICMJE, and other relevant bodies.

Authorship Criteria

All listed authors must meet all four ICMJE authorship criteria:

• Substantial Contribution: Made significant contributions to conception, design, execution, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation
• Drafting/Revision: Participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content
• Approval: Approved the final version for publication
• Accountability: Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring questions about accuracy or integrity are properly investigated and resolved

Excluded Practices: Ghost authorship, guest authorship, and gift authorship are strictly prohibited. Contributors who do not meet all authorship criteria should be acknowledged. Corresponding author must confirm that all authors meet criteria and have seen and approved final manuscript.

Research Ethics Requirements

• Human Subjects Research: Must have IRB/ethics committee approval and documented informed consent; clinical trials must be registered (ClinicalTrials.gov or equivalent)
• Animal Research: Must follow ARRIVE guidelines, have IACUC/ethics committee approval, and comply with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
• Biosafety and Biosecurity: Research with hazardous biological agents must follow appropriate containment procedures
• Data Integrity: No data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, or selective reporting
• Confidentiality: Protect patient/participant confidentiality and privacy; de-identify data
• Conflict of Interest: Disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts; include conflict of interest statement
• Funding Disclosure: Disclose all funding sources and their role; include funding statement
• Materials Availability: Share unique materials (cell lines, antibodies, plasmids) or explain restrictions

Data and Methodology Transparency

• Data Availability: Share data in public repositories (Gene Expression Omnibus, Protein Data Bank, etc.) whenever possible; include data availability statement
• Methodological Detail: Describe methods in sufficient detail for replication; include essential details for complex biological assays
• Statistical Reporting: Use appropriate statistical methods; report statistical tests, sample sizes, p-values, confidence intervals
• Reproducibility: Provide necessary information for study replication; consider sharing protocols, code, analysis pipelines
• Image Integrity: No inappropriate image manipulation; original images available upon request

Clinical Research Standards

• Trial Registration: Clinical trials must be registered before patient enrollment
• Reporting Guidelines: Follow appropriate reporting guidelines (CONSORT for trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews)
• Patient Involvement: Consider patient and public involvement in research design and dissemination
• Ethical Oversight: Multicenter studies require central ethics approval or approval at all sites

Permanency of Articles

Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research is committed to preserving all published content for permanent access, ensuring that critical biomedical research remains available for future generations of scientists, clinicians, and patients.

Digital Preservation Systems

• PubMed Central: All articles deposited in PubMed Central (PMC) for permanent preservation and access
• CLOCKSS: Participating in the CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS) preservation system
• Portico: Archived in Portico's digital preservation service
• Institutional Repositories: Encouraged deposition in authors' institutional repositories
• Multiple Backups: Regular backups in geographically dispersed, secure locations
• Format Migration: Commitment to migrate content to new formats as technology evolves

DOIs and Permanent Identifiers

• DOIs: All articles receive Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for permanent linking
• Crossref Registration: DOIs registered with Crossref for global resolution and citation tracking
• PubMed IDs: Articles receive PubMed IDs (PMIDs) and PubMed Central IDs (PMCIDs)
• Persistent URLs: Permanent URLs maintained regardless of platform changes
• ISBN/ISSN: Regular issues receive ISSN, special issues receive ISBN

Version Control

Articles are published as Version of Record (VoR). Any subsequent corrections or updates are clearly indicated:

• Version History: Clear version labeling for all updates (V1, V2, etc.)
• Correction Linking: Corrections linked to original articles and vice versa
• Retraction Marking: Retracted articles remain accessible with clear marking and explanation
• Update Policy: Major updates may be published as new articles with reference to original

Long-Term Accessibility Commitment

• Format Standards: Use of sustainable digital formats (PDF/A, XML, JATS)
• Metadata Preservation: Rich metadata preserved with articles (authors, affiliations, funding, etc.)
• Access Guarantee: Commitment to provide access even if journal ceases publication through preservation partners
• Print Archives: Selective print archiving in major libraries for very long-term preservation
• Data Archiving: Encouragement to archive supporting data in specialized repositories

Author Archiving Rights

Authors have the right to:

• Deposit final published version in institutional repositories immediately
• Share on academic social networks (ResearchGate, Academia.edu) with proper attribution
• Use in teaching materials, conference presentations, and grant applications
• Include in dissertations, theses, and scholarly monographs
• Share with colleagues and research collaborators
• Post on personal or laboratory websites

Correction to an Article

The journal follows transparent and systematic procedures for correcting errors in published articles while maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring accurate scientific information.

Types of Corrections

• Erratum: Correction of publisher-introduced errors (formatting, production errors, metadata issues)
• Corrigendum: Correction of author-introduced errors (data errors, analysis errors, interpretation errors)
• Addendum: Addition of important information that doesn't contradict the original (additional data, clarification)
• Expression of Concern: Notice when serious doubts arise about article integrity pending investigation
• Author Correction: Correction affecting authorship (addition/removal of authors, name changes)

When Corrections Are Issued

Corrections are issued when errors affect:

• Scientific interpretation or conclusions of the article
• Accuracy of data, figures, tables, or statistical analysis
• Clinical implications or safety information
• Missing or incorrect author information, affiliations, or contributions
• Ethical issues requiring clarification
• Important information discovered post-publication
• Citations or references affecting scholarly attribution

Correction Process

1. Identification: Error identified by authors, readers, reviewers, or editorial staff
2. Verification: Editorial team verifies the error and assesses its significance
3. Decision: Editor decides on appropriate correction type based on error nature and impact
4. Preparation: Correction notice drafted with clear explanation of error and correction
5. Approval: Correction approved by corresponding author and all co-authors (for author errors)
6. Publication: Correction published as separate article with its own DOI
7. Linking: Correction linked to original article and original article updated to link to correction
8. Notification: Indexing services (PubMed, CrossRef), readers, and relevant parties notified
9. Versioning: Article page clearly indicates corrected status

Minor Corrections

Minor errors not affecting scientific interpretation (typographical errors, minor formatting issues, broken links) may be corrected in the article without formal correction notice if:

• No scientific meaning is changed
• The correction is made shortly after publication
• A record of the change is maintained in version history
• Authors are notified of the correction

Timeline for Corrections

• Urgent Corrections: Critical errors affecting clinical interpretation addressed within 72 hours
• Standard Corrections: Most corrections published within 2-4 weeks of identification
• Complex Cases: Investigations requiring author response or external review may take longer

Retraction of an Article

Articles may be retracted in cases of serious ethical violations, irreproducible results, or significant errors that undermine the article's conclusions, following established guidelines from COPE, ICMJE, and other relevant bodies.

Grounds for Retraction

• Scientific Misconduct: Clear evidence of data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
• Plagiarism: Significant plagiarism or copyright infringement
• Ethical Violations: Serious ethical breaches in research conduct (no IRB approval, no informed consent)
• Irreproducible Results: Major errors making results irreproducible despite author attempts
• Duplicate Publication: Previously published without proper attribution or disclosure
• Author Dispute: Unresolved authorship disputes or unauthorized submission
• Legal Issues: Legal requirements or court orders
• Health/Safety Risks: Research posing immediate health or safety risks if uncorrected
• Peer Review Manipulation: Compromised or manipulated peer review process
• Unethical Research: Research conducted unethically (coerced participants, etc.)

Retraction Process

1. Allegation: Concern raised by readers, reviewers, authors, or editorial staff
2. Initial Assessment: Editor assesses allegation for credibility and seriousness
3. Investigation: Thorough investigation following COPE guidelines; may involve external experts
4. Author Response: Authors given opportunity to respond with evidence and explanation
5. Editorial Board Review: Case reviewed by editorial board with recommendations
6. Decision: Final retraction decision made by editor-in-chief with board input
7. Notice Preparation: Retraction notice drafted with clear rationale and transparency
8. Author Notification: Authors notified of retraction decision and notice content
9. Publication: Retraction published as separate article with its own DOI
10. Article Marking: Original article marked as retracted in all versions
11. Notification: Indexing services (PubMed, CrossRef), institutions, funders notified

Retraction Notice Content

Retraction notices include:

• Clear title identifying as a retraction notice
• Complete citation of retracted article (title, authors, journal, volume, issue, pages, DOI)
• Clear statement of retraction reason in transparent language
• Names of authors agreeing to retraction
• Names of authors not agreeing (if applicable) with their position
• Date of retraction
• DOI and link to retracted article
• Who initiated the retraction (editor, authors, institution)
• Whether misconduct was found and by whom

Post-Retraction Access

• Article Availability: Retracted articles remain accessible with clear "RETRACTED" watermark
PDF Marking: PDFs marked "RETRACTED" on every page in red text
• Database Updates: Indexing databases updated to show retracted status
• Linking: Bidirectional linking between article and retraction
• Version Control: All versions of article marked as retracted
• Citation Alert: Authors citing retracted articles alerted where possible

Partial Retractions

In some cases, only part of an article may be retracted if:

• Only specific results, figures, or sections are affected
• Remaining content remains valid, useful, and scientifically sound
• Authors agree to partial retraction and correction of remaining content
• The retracted portion can be clearly identified and separated

Appeals Process

Authors may appeal retraction decisions by:

• Submitting written appeal to editorial office within 30 days
• Providing new evidence, data, or clarification not previously considered
• Requesting review by independent committee of experts
• Appeal decision made within 60 days with written explanation

Article Processing Charges (APC)

To support open access publishing and ensure high-quality services, the journal charges Article Processing Charges (APC) for accepted manuscripts. These charges cover the full cost of peer review, editing, production, hosting, dissemination, and long-term preservation.

Current APC Rates (2025)

• Low-income countries (World Bank classification): $150 USD (full waiver available)
• Lower-middle-income countries: $200 USD
• Upper-middle-income countries: $250 USD
• High-income countries: $300 USD

Note: Corresponding author's country of affiliation determines applicable rate. Country classification based on current World Bank list.

Comprehensive Waivers and Discounts

APC waivers or discounts are available in the following cases:

• Full Waivers (100%): Authors from low-income countries with no research funding; early-career researchers (within 5 years of PhD) from developing countries; authors experiencing financial hardship
• Partial Waivers (50%): Authors from lower-middle-income countries with limited funding; authors from institutions with limited resources; corresponding authors from patient advocacy groups
• Institutional Memberships: Discounts for institutions with membership agreements (typically 20-30%)
• Society Members: Discounts for members of partner professional societies (e.g., ASBMB, ASCB, APS)
• Editorial Board: Discounts for editorial board members submitting their work (20%)
• Special Issues: Reduced rates for special issue articles (typically 20% discount)
• Group Submissions: Discount for multiple submissions from same research group (10% for 3+ articles)
• COVID-19 Research: Special rates for pandemic-related research

Waiver Application Process

1. Submission: Request waiver during manuscript submission via checkbox and brief explanation
2. Documentation: Provide supporting documentation if requested (institutional letter, funding statement)
3. Review: Editorial office reviews waiver request confidentially
4. Decision: Decision communicated before final acceptance (typically within 1 week)
5. Confirmation: Waiver confirmed in acceptance letter

Payment Methods

• Credit Card: Secure online payment via Stripe (all major cards accepted)
• Bank Transfer: International bank transfer (SWIFT) with detailed instructions
• PayPal: PayPal payment option available globally
• Institutional Invoice: Invoice to author's institution with purchase order number
• Third-Party Payment: Payment by funders, institutions, or research sponsors
• Wire Transfer: Direct wire transfer for urgent payments

Payment Timeline and Process

• Invoice Issuance: Upon article acceptance with detailed breakdown
• Payment Due: Within 30 days of invoice date (extensions available)
• Publication: Article published upon payment confirmation (within 1-2 business days)
• Extensions: Payment extensions available upon request (up to 60 days)
• Installments: Payment in installments possible for large amounts
• Receipts: Official receipt provided upon payment completion

What APC Covers - Comprehensive Services

• Peer Review Management: Coordination of double-blind peer review process
• Professional Editing: Copyediting, proofreading, language polishing by native English speakers
• Technical Production: XML conversion, typesetting, figure preparation, PDF generation
• Digital Identifiers: DOI assignment and registration with CrossRef
• Indexing Support: Submission to major indexing services (PubMed, Scopus, etc.)
• Online Hosting: Secure hosting on high-availability servers with 99.9% uptime
• Global Distribution: Distribution to major databases, libraries, and discovery services
• Long-term Preservation: Archiving in CLOCKSS, Portico, and PubMed Central
• Marketing and Promotion: Social media promotion, email alerts, press releases for significant findings
• Customer Service: Author and reader support, technical assistance
• Metrics and Analytics: Usage statistics, citation tracking, impact metrics
• Compliance Services: Funder and institutional compliance support

No Hidden Fees Policy

Our APC includes all necessary services. There are no additional charges for:

• Color figures or images (essential for biological research)
• Supplementary materials (data files, videos, extended methods)
• Article length within reasonable limits (up to 12,000 words)
• Standard formatting requirements
• Author corrections (minor corrections post-publication)
• Standard licensing (CC BY 4.0)

Financial Transparency

• Breakdown Available: Detailed cost breakdown available upon request
• Non-profit Model: All revenue reinvested in journal operations and development
• Annual Reporting: Financial summary published annually
• Ethical Pricing: Commitment to fair pricing without profit maximization

Contact Journal Editor

For inquiries related to submissions, reviews, editorial matters, or general questions about the journal, please contact our editorial team. We are committed to providing timely, helpful responses to all queries.

Journal Issues Guidelines

The Journal Issues platform provides comprehensive guidelines to ensure quality, consistency, and ethical standards across all our publications. These guidelines are essential for authors, reviewers, and editors to maintain the high standards of our academic publications.

Guidelines Categories

• Author Guidelines: Manuscript preparation, formatting, submission requirements, and publication process
• Reviewer Guidelines: Best practices for peer review, evaluation criteria, and ethical reviewing
• Editorial Guidelines: Editorial processes, decision-making frameworks, and editorial ethics
• Ethical Guidelines: Publication ethics, research integrity, and misconduct handling
• Style Guidelines: Formatting requirements, citation styles, and reference management
• Technical Guidelines: Technical requirements for figures, tables, supplementary materials, and data
• Clinical Guidelines: Special requirements for clinical research and trials
• Data Guidelines: Data sharing, availability, and repository requirements

Accessing the Guidelines

For detailed information, please visit our comprehensive guidelines portal. The portal is regularly updated to reflect current best practices in academic publishing, ethical standards, and technological advancements.