Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry (BIOMEDICH) is committed to maintaining transparency, objectivity, fairness, and integrity throughout the research and publication process. The journal recognizes that conflicts of interest may arise when personal, financial, professional, or other relationships could influence, or be perceived to influence, the preparation, evaluation, and publication of scholarly work.
All authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the editorial process are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest to ensure that editorial decisions are made independently and that published research is evaluated fairly.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial relationships that could reasonably be considered relevant to the research submitted to BIOMEDICH. These may include, but are not limited to, research funding, employment, consultancies, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patents, stock ownership, personal relationships, institutional affiliations, and other professional or commercial interests.
Authors must provide a conflict of interest statement during manuscript submission. All sources of financial support relevant to the research must also be acknowledged in the manuscript.
If no conflicts of interest exist, authors must explicitly state that they have no competing interests to declare.
The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have been informed of the disclosure requirements and that the submitted statement accurately reflects the interests of all authors.
Any relevant conflict of interest identified after submission or publication must be reported promptly to the Editorial Office. The journal may request additional information or take appropriate action to ensure the transparency and integrity of the published record.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could affect their ability to evaluate a manuscript objectively and impartially.
Potential conflicts may include recent collaboration with the authors, close personal or professional relationships, direct academic competition, financial interests, institutional affiliations, or other circumstances that could compromise independent judgment.
Reviewers who believe that a conflict of interest may affect their impartiality must notify the editor promptly and decline the review or withdraw from the process when appropriate.
Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal, professional, or financial benefit. All manuscript information must be treated as confidential.
Responsibilities of Editors
Editors must ensure that editorial decisions are based on the scientific quality, originality, relevance, and validity of submitted manuscripts rather than personal, financial, institutional, or professional interests.
Editors must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality. When a conflict exists, the editor must withdraw from handling the manuscript and arrange for an independent editor to oversee the review and decision-making process.
Editors must not participate in decisions involving manuscripts authored by themselves, family members, close collaborators, or individuals with whom they have relationships that could reasonably affect their judgment.
Editorial independence must be maintained throughout the publication process, and all manuscripts must be handled fairly and consistently in accordance with the journal's editorial policies.
Types of Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest may be financial or non-financial.
Financial conflicts of interest may include research grants, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, royalties, paid advisory positions, or other financial relationships with organizations that may benefit from the publication of the research.
Non-financial conflicts of interest may include personal relationships, academic rivalry, professional affiliations, intellectual or ideological commitments, institutional interests, or other circumstances that could influence scholarly judgment.
The existence of a conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate misconduct or invalidate research findings. However, full disclosure is essential to allow editors, reviewers, and readers to assess the potential influence of such interests.
Disclosure and Declaration
All authors must include a Conflict of Interest Statement in their manuscript. The statement should clearly identify any relevant competing interests or confirm that none exist.
If the authors have no competing interests, the following statement may be used:
“The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.”
If competing interests exist, authors must provide a clear and accurate description of the relevant relationships, including the nature of the interest and its connection to the submitted research.
The journal may request additional clarification or supporting information when necessary. Disclosures will be assessed by the Editorial Team to determine whether further action is required to maintain transparency and impartiality.
Handling Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest
If BIOMEDICH becomes aware of a potential undisclosed conflict of interest, the Editorial Office will assess the matter and may request clarification from the relevant individuals.
Depending on the circumstances and the significance of the conflict, the journal may take appropriate measures, including requesting a revised disclosure statement, obtaining an independent editorial assessment, publishing a correction, or taking other actions consistent with its publication ethics policies.
If an undisclosed conflict raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of the research or the editorial process, the journal may conduct further investigation and consider additional measures in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance.
All cases will be handled fairly, confidentially where appropriate, and on the basis of the available evidence.
Commitment to Transparency and Editorial Integrity
BIOMEDICH is committed to ensuring that conflicts of interest are identified, disclosed, and managed appropriately at every stage of the publication process.
Disclosure of competing interests supports transparency but does not automatically constitute grounds for rejection. Editorial decisions will be based on the scientific merits of the manuscript, the nature of the disclosed interests, and the measures necessary to preserve an impartial review process.
By requiring appropriate disclosure from authors, reviewers, and editors, BIOMEDICH aims to strengthen public trust, protect the integrity of scholarly communication, and ensure that published research is evaluated according to sound scientific and ethical standards.
