Publication Ethics Policy

The Annals of Proteomics and Bioinformatics (APB) enforces a comprehensive Publication Ethics Policy based on internationally accepted standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). This policy ensures integrity, transparency, and fairness in every stage of publication—from submission to dissemination.

APB promotes a culture of ethical research, editorial independence, and respect for intellectual property, ensuring that the scientific record remains credible and trustworthy.

1. Core Principles

  • Integrity, transparency, and accountability are the pillars of APB’s publication ethics.
  • Editorial decisions are based purely on academic merit and relevance.
  • All participants—authors, editors, and reviewers—share the responsibility for maintaining ethical conduct.

2. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship must accurately reflect individual contributions. Only those who have substantially contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors.

  • All authors must approve the final version before publication.
  • Contributors not meeting authorship criteria must be acknowledged appropriately.
  • Any change in authorship after submission requires written consent from all co-authors.

3. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and properly cited. APB employs advanced plagiarism detection software to identify copied or duplicated content before peer review.

Reuse of text or data from previously published work without citation is considered unethical. Duplicate submission to multiple journals is strictly prohibited.

4. Data Integrity and Research Misconduct

Authors must present accurate data without fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting. Misconduct includes:

  • Manipulation of figures or datasets.
  • Suppression of contradictory results.
  • Unethical reuse of previously published material.

Any misconduct allegation triggers an editorial investigation following COPE procedures.

5. Conflict of Interest

All parties involved in the publication process must disclose financial, personal, or institutional interests that may influence the research or its interpretation.

  • Conflicts of interest must be declared at submission and during peer review.
  • Funding sources must be clearly stated in the manuscript’s Acknowledgment section.

6. Ethical Treatment of Humans and Animals

Research involving human or animal subjects must follow internationally accepted ethical standards and obtain institutional approval.

  • Authors must include ethical approval reference numbers.
  • Informed consent is mandatory for human studies.
  • Animal experiments must comply with ARRIVE or equivalent guidelines.

7. Peer Review Ethics

The peer review process at APB is objective, confidential, and impartial. Reviewers must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely for scientific quality.
  • Declare any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Refrain from sharing or using unpublished data for personal advantage.

8. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors must ensure fair handling of all manuscripts. Editorial decisions are based on significance, originality, and clarity of research without discrimination. Editors shall not disclose any manuscript information beyond authorized personnel.

9. Retractions and Corrections

If errors or misconduct are identified after publication, APB follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines to correct or retract the article. Retractions are issued transparently, stating the reason and responsible parties.

10. Data Sharing and Transparency

APB encourages authors to deposit datasets and supplementary materials in publicly accessible repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Dryad, ProteomeXchange). Clear data availability statements should be included in each article to promote reproducibility.

11. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or raise ethical concerns by writing to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals are reviewed independently by senior editors to ensure fairness.

12. Publisher’s Ethical Role

The publisher supports editorial autonomy, implements plagiarism prevention systems, and ensures all ethical complaints are resolved according to COPE and DOAJ standards.

13. Misconduct Investigation Procedure

When suspected misconduct arises, the following steps are taken:

  1. Initial screening by the Editor-in-Chief.
  2. Request for author explanation or supporting evidence.
  3. Consultation with institutional or external experts.
  4. Implementation of corrective measures such as corrections, retractions, or bans.
Outcome Transparency: All final outcomes are communicated publicly through corrigenda or retraction notices while maintaining confidentiality during the investigation.

14. Policy Review and Updates

The Publication Ethics Policy is reviewed annually to ensure alignment with new ethical frameworks and technological developments affecting scholarly publishing.

15. Contact Information

For queries or concerns regarding publication ethics, please contact:

© 2025 Annals of Proteomics and Bioinformatics (APB) · Heighten Sciences Publication Incorporation

Source Reference: COPE Core Practices, ICMJE Recommendations, WAME Ethical Guidelines, and DOAJ Best Practices.