Conflicts and Complaints Policy for IJMSRI
The International Journal of Medical Science Research and Innovations (IJMSRI) aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity in the peer-review and publication process. We adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for addressing conflicts and complaints.
Conflicts of Interest
1. Authors’ Disclosures
Authors must disclose any financial or personal affiliations that may influence their work at the time of manuscript submission. These conflicts of interest should be mentioned on the manuscript’s conflict-of-interest notice page, preceding the title page. The disclosure should also include the role of the sponsor, if applicable, in study design, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
If there is any uncertainty about whether a potential conflict exists, authors should err on the side of disclosure. Investigators must disclose conflicts of interest to study participants and indicate whether they have done so in their submitted manuscript.
2. Sponsor Involvement
If the study has been sponsored by a commercial firm, foundation, or government entity, authors must disclose the role of the sponsor in the research. If the sponsor had no involvement, this should be clearly stated. Editors may require a statement from the authors indicating they had full access to the data and were responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the findings.
3. Reviewers’ and Editors’ Disclosures
Peer reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may bias their judgment of a manuscript. If a potential conflict is identified, they must recuse themselves from the review process. Reviewers are expected to declare whether conflicts exist before proceeding with the review.
Editors and editorial staff must avoid handling manuscripts if they have any personal, financial, or professional ties to the research under consideration. They must also provide periodic disclosure statements about any potential conflicts.
Complaints and Appeals
1. Rejected Manuscripts
Authors may request reconsideration of a rejected manuscript by contacting the IJMSRI Editorial Office and providing the manuscript ID number. The request must include specific justifications for why the paper should be reconsidered. Manuscripts may be reevaluated at the editors’ discretion.
If the editorial board decides to reconsider the manuscript, it may be resubmitted as a new manuscript with a new submission date and identification number. Manuscripts may also be rejected due to limited journal space or low priority.
2. Handling Complaints
Complaints regarding the editorial process or publication ethics are handled in line with COPE’s recommendations. Authors or reviewers with concerns may contact the IJMSRI Editorial Office for resolution. The journal is committed to responding promptly and fairly to any issues raised.
For any conflicts of interest or complaints, contact the IJMSRI Editorial Team at conflicts@ijmsri.com.