Policies & Ethical Standards

The Journal of International Medical and Biological Sciences (JIMBS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, research ethics, and responsible publication practices. Our policies ensure that all submitted work adheres to internationally recognized guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

These principles guide our editorial decisions, protect the rights of authors and reviewers, and uphold the credibility of the scientific record.

 

1. Editorial Independence and Responsibilities

The editorial team operates with complete independence and evaluates manuscripts solely on scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions are not influenced by:

  • Institutional affiliations

  • Author nationality, gender, or background

  • Commercial interests

  • Political or personal considerations

Editors ensure fair peer review, maintain confidentiality, and avoid conflicts of interest.

 

2. Peer Review Policy

JIMBS uses a double‑blind peer review system to ensure objectivity and fairness.

  • Authors do not know the identity of reviewers.

  • Reviewers do not know the identity of authors.

  • All manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent experts.

  • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and decline assignments when necessary.

Review reports must be constructive, respectful, and focused on improving scientific quality.

 

3. Research Ethics and Compliance

Authors must ensure that all research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive biological materials complies with international ethical standards.

Human Subjects

Studies involving human participants must include:

  • Approval from an accredited ethics committee

  • Informed consent from participants

  • Protection of privacy and confidentiality

Animal Research

Animal studies must follow recognized welfare guidelines and demonstrate humane treatment.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov).

 

4. Authorship and Contribution Standards

Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contribution. JIMBS follows ICMJE criteria:

  • Significant involvement in study design, data acquisition, or analysis

  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript

  • Approval of the final version

  • Accountability for the integrity of the work

Gift authorship, ghost authorship, and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.

 

5. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

JIMBS has zero tolerance for plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, or manipulation of images or results.

All submissions are screened using advanced plagiarism detection tools. Suspected misconduct is investigated following COPE guidelines.

 

6. Data Availability and Transparency

Authors must ensure that data supporting their findings are:

  • Accurate

  • Complete

  • Available upon request

  • Shared through repositories when appropriate

Transparency strengthens reproducibility and scientific trust.

 

7. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their work.

Conflicts do not disqualify submissions but must be openly declared.

 

8. Open Access Policy

JIMBS is an open access journal, ensuring that all published articles are freely available to the global scientific community. Authors retain copyright under a Creative Commons license.

 

9. Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy

The journal follows COPE procedures for handling:

  • Retractions

  • Corrections

  • Expressions of concern

  • Article withdrawals

These actions are taken to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

 

10. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to JIMBS must:

  • Ensure originality of work

  • Follow ethical guidelines

  • Provide accurate data

  • Respond promptly to editorial queries

  • Cooperate during peer review

  • Avoid simultaneous submission to other journals

 

11. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • Provide objective, timely, and constructive feedback

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Refrain from using unpublished data for personal benefit

 

12. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must:

  • Ensure fair and unbiased evaluation

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Uphold ethical standards

  • Act promptly on ethical concerns

Conclusion

The Journal of International Medical and Biological Sciences is dedicated to fostering responsible scientific communication. By adhering to these policies and ethical standards, we ensure that our publications contribute meaningfully to global medical and biological research.