Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed Consent Policy

Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS)

Purpose and Ethical Commitment

The Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) upholds the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability in academic publishing. To maintain public trust and scholarly credibility, AJMBS requires full disclosure of any conflicts of interest (COI), adherence to internationally accepted human and animal research ethics, and strict compliance with informed consent procedures.

This policy ensures that all research published in AJMBS meets the highest ethical standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the Declaration of Helsinki.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest (COI)

A conflict of interest exists when financial, personal, academic, or professional relationships may influence—or appear to influence—the objectivity, integrity, or interpretation of scholarly work. Such conflicts may affect authors’ research design or reporting, reviewers’ impartiality, or editors’ judgment during decision-making.

Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:

  • Financial ties such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, or paid expert testimony.

  • Institutional or personal relationships that could bias professional judgment.

  • Intellectual or ideological commitments that may influence interpretation of results.

  • Pending or granted patents related to the submitted work.

2. Disclosure Requirements

a. Authors

  • All authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission.

  • Disclosures must include financial interests, personal or professional relationships, and affiliations that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research.

  • Any funding source, grant, or sponsorship must be clearly identified in the manuscript.

  • Authors must state explicitly if no conflicts of interest exist by including a statement such as:
    “The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.”

b. Reviewers

  • Reviewers must decline invitations to review manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest (e.g., personal relationship with the authors, direct competition, or collaborative work within the past three years).

  • Any suspected conflicts that arise during the review process must be immediately reported to the editorial office.

c. Editors and Editorial Board Members

  • Editors involved in manuscript decisions must disclose any conflicts of interest related to a submission.

  • If such a conflict exists, the handling of the manuscript will be reassigned to another editor to preserve impartiality.

  • Editorial board members must avoid participating in decisions involving their own work or the work of close colleagues or collaborators.

3. Management of Conflicts of Interest

To ensure transparency and credibility in the publication process, AJMBS follows the following measures:

  • All disclosed conflicts of interest will be reviewed by the editorial board and, where appropriate, disclosed in the published article.

  • If significant conflicts are identified, the editor may:

    • Request revision of disclosure statements,

    • Reassign the manuscript to an independent editor or reviewer,

    • Include an editorial note explaining the management of the conflict.

  • Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in manuscript rejection, publication delay, or post-publication corrections and notices.

4. Human and Animal Rights Policy

a. Research Involving Humans

  • All studies involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and national research ethics standards.

  • Authors must obtain prior approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.

  • The manuscript should include a clear statement identifying the approving body and the approval reference number.

  • Informed consent must be obtained from all participants prior to inclusion in the study, ensuring they understand the purpose, risks, and rights associated with their participation.

b. Research Involving Animals

  • All animal studies must adhere to internationally recognized standards for the ethical treatment of animals, such as those defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

  • Authors must confirm that procedures minimized animal suffering and were approved by an institutional or national ethics committee.

  • Manuscripts must explicitly mention compliance with animal welfare guidelines and ethical approval numbers.

5. Informed Consent Policy

a. Requirement for Informed Consent

  • Informed consent is mandatory for all human participants involved in research published in AJMBS.

  • Authors must obtain written consent not only for participation but also for the publication of any identifiable personal or clinical information, including images, case details, or genetic data.

b. Documentation and Verification

  • Authors must include a statement within the manuscript affirming that written informed consent was obtained.

  • AJMBS reserves the right to request copies of consent forms for verification during the review process (confidentially and without public disclosure).

c. Privacy and Confidentiality

  • Participant privacy and data confidentiality must be maintained in accordance with international legal and ethical standards.

  • Identifiable information may only be published if essential for scientific purposes and with explicit participant consent.

6. Implementation and Compliance

a. During Submission

  • Authors must provide completed COI disclosure forms, ethics approval certificates, and informed consent statements as part of their submission package.

  • Submissions lacking these documents will not be processed for review until compliance is ensured.

b. During Review

  • The editorial team will verify that all ethical requirements are fulfilled prior to acceptance.

  • Any discrepancies or omissions will be communicated to the corresponding author for correction or clarification.

c. During Publication

  • All published articles will include a note summarizing the study’s ethical compliance, including COI disclosures, IRB approvals, and informed consent confirmations.

7. Consequences of Non-Compliance

Non-adherence to this policy may result in:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript;

  • Retraction of a published article;

  • Notification of the authors’ affiliated institution;

  • Suspension of future submissions from the authors involved.

8. Policy Review and Updates

The AJMBS editorial board periodically reviews this policy to ensure its continued alignment with global ethical standards and to incorporate emerging best practices in research integrity.

Conclusion

Through this comprehensive framework on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed Consent, Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) reinforces its dedication to transparent, ethical, and responsible research publication. Upholding these standards preserves scientific credibility, protects participant welfare, and strengthens public trust in medical and biosocial research.