Data Sharing Policy

Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS)

Introduction

The Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) firmly supports open science and transparent research practices by encouraging authors to share their underlying data whenever possible. Data sharing enhances the credibility, reproducibility, and long-term value of published research while promoting collaboration and innovation in the medical and biosocial sciences.

This policy outlines AJMBS’s expectations regarding the availability, citation, and ethical handling of data associated with submitted manuscripts.

1. Purpose and Rationale

The primary purpose of this policy is to advance scientific discovery and strengthen research integrity by promoting responsible data sharing. Openly accessible data allows other researchers to:

  • Verify and reproduce study findings, strengthening confidence in published work.

  • Explore new research questions using existing datasets.

  • Foster global collaboration across disciplines.

  • Accelerate innovation in healthcare, biosocial research, and clinical decision-making.

By implementing this policy, AJMBS aligns with international standards set by ICMJE, COPE, and the FAIR Data Principles for responsible data management and stewardship.

2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to all article types submitted to AJMBS, including:

  • Original Research Articles

  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

  • Clinical Trials and Observational Studies

  • Case Studies (where applicable)

  • Short Communications and Reports involving quantitative or qualitative datasets

All authors are expected to include a Data Availability Statement (DAS) as part of their manuscript submission.

3. Data Availability Statement (DAS)

Every submission to AJMBS must include a clear Data Availability Statement, specifying:

  • Whether the data underlying the findings are publicly available or restricted.

  • The repository name, link, and persistent identifier (DOI) if data are deposited in a recognized repository.

  • Access conditions, such as open access, controlled access, or embargoed data.

  • A justified explanation if data cannot be shared due to ethical, privacy, or legal restrictions.

Example Data Availability Statements:

  • “The datasets generated during this study are available in the Dryad repository, [DOI link].”

  • “Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request due to participant confidentiality restrictions.”

  • “No new data were created or analyzed in this study; therefore, data sharing is not applicable.”

4. Use of Public Repositories

AJMBS strongly encourages authors to deposit datasets in trusted public repositories that ensure long-term preservation, accessibility, and citation. Authors should select repositories appropriate to their data type and discipline. Examples include:

  • Health and Medical Data: Dryad, Figshare, Zenodo, Harvard Dataverse, ClinicalTrials.gov

  • Genomic/Biological Data: GenBank, EMBL-EBI, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)

  • Social and Behavioral Data: ICPSR, Open Science Framework (OSF)

Repositories should provide:

  • A persistent identifier (DOI) for permanent referencing.

  • Data in formats that promote reusability and interoperability.

5. Exceptions and Restrictions

AJMBS recognizes that data sharing may not always be feasible due to:

  • Ethical considerations — involving sensitive or personal health information.

  • Privacy or confidentiality — where participant anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

  • Legal or regulatory limitations — such as institutional or governmental restrictions.

  • Commercial or intellectual property constraints — involving proprietary data.

In such cases, authors must:

  • Clearly explain the reason for restricted access within the Data Availability Statement.

  • Indicate any alternative ways the data could be accessed (e.g., de-identified summaries or controlled access).

6. Ethical and Legal Compliance

All shared data must comply with applicable ethical standards and legal frameworks. Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Data sharing does not compromise participant privacy, consent, or confidentiality.

  • All human data are de-identified or anonymized before sharing.

  • Data sharing aligns with institutional ethics approvals and informed consent agreements.

  • Where required, participants have been informed that their data may be shared publicly in an anonymized format.

Non-compliance with these ethical standards may result in manuscript rejection or post-publication corrections.

7. Data Citation and Acknowledgment

Proper data citation is essential to give credit to data creators and enable dataset tracking.

  • All datasets used or generated must be cited in the reference list following formal scholarly citation practices.

  • Data citations should include author(s), title, repository name, year, and persistent identifier (DOI or accession number).

  • Example format:
    Smith AB, Khan T. Dataset on microbial activity under heat stress. Zenodo. 2024. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1234567

AJMBS follows the Joint Data Citation Principles to ensure recognition for data as legitimate research outputs.

8. Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance with the AJMBS Data Sharing Policy is a mandatory condition of publication.

  • Authors must submit a complete and accurate Data Availability Statement during the submission process.

  • The editorial office reserves the right to request access to raw data for verification during review.

  • Manuscripts lacking adequate data sharing information may be returned for revision or declined.

  • Non-compliance detected post-publication may lead to editorial corrections or retractions in line with COPE guidelines.

9. Editorial Support for Authors

AJMBS recognizes that data management and sharing can pose challenges for researchers. The editorial team is committed to supporting authors by:

  • Providing guidance on selecting suitable repositories and preparing datasets.

  • Advising on ethical data anonymization practices.

  • Assisting in drafting Data Availability Statements and data citations.

  • Offering technical support for integrating dataset DOIs into published articles.

Authors seeking clarification or support may contact the AJMBS editorial office prior to submission.

10. Bibliographic Foundations

This policy draws on best practices and standards recommended by:

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)

  • OASPA Guidelines for Open Scholarly Publishing

Conclusion

Through its comprehensive Data Sharing Policy, the Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) reinforces its dedication to transparency, reproducibility, and scientific collaboration. By encouraging authors to make their data openly accessible and ethically managed, AJMBS contributes to the advancement of trustworthy, verifiable, and high-impact research across medical and biosocial disciplines.