Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest Policy
1. Scope & Purpose
This policy applies to all journals published or hosted by Discover STM Publishing Ltd, ensuring alignment with global publishing ethics standards and COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Conflicts of interest (COI) must be transparently disclosed to maintain research integrity and public trust.
2. Definition & Types of Conflicts
A conflict of interest arises when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional relationships could unduly influence their judgment in research, peer review, or editorial decisions. Conflicts may include:
· Financial interests (e.g., funding, stock ownership, consulting fees)
· Institutional affiliations (e.g., employment, advisory roles)
· Personal relationships (e.g., family ties, professional rivalries)
· Intellectual biases (e.g., strong advocacy for/against a theory)
Failure to disclose COIs may lead to manuscript rejection, retraction, or sanctions.
3. Author Responsibilities
Authors must:
· Disclose all funding sources, including industry sponsorships, grants, or commercial ties.
· Declare any financial or non-financial COIs in a cover letter upon submission.
· Avoid restrictive agreements with sponsors that:
Block publication of negative/null results
Require sponsor approval before submission
· Follow journal-specific COI policies (check submission guidelines).
4. Editor & Guest Editor Responsibilities
Editors must:
· Disclose any COIs that could affect editorial decisions (e.g., prior collaboration with authors).
· Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a COI exists.
· Ensure unbiased peer review, even if a COI is disclosed.
5. Peer Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers must:
· Declare any COIs before accepting a review assignment.
· Recuse themselves if they have:
o Financial ties to the study
o Personal/professional relationships with authors
o Competing research interests
· Maintain confidentiality and avoid using unpublished data for personal gain.
6. Declaration Process
· Where to disclose:
o For journals requiring a formal statement, include under "Declaration of Competing Interests" after the Acknowledgements section.
o If no COI exists, state:
"The author(s)/reviewer(s)/editor(s) declare(s) no competing interests."
· What to disclose:
o All financial relationships with sponsors
o Any affiliations with entities related to the research
7 Consequences of Non-Disclosure
Undisclosed COIs may result in:
o Manuscript rejection or retraction
o Editorial sanctions (e.g., banning submissions)
o Notification to institutional authorities
8. Additional Resources
For further guidance, consult:
· COPE Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest: https://publicationethics.org/competinginterests
· ICMJE Recommendations: https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/author-responsibilities--conflicts-of-interest.html
· CSPI’s Model Policy: https://www.cspinet.org/resource/model-policy-conflict-interest-disclosure
1. Scope & Purpose
This policy applies to all journals published or hosted by Discover STM Publishing Ltd, ensuring alignment with global publishing ethics standards and COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Conflicts of interest (COI) must be transparently disclosed to maintain research integrity and public trust.
2. Definition & Types of Conflicts
A conflict of interest arises when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional relationships could unduly influence their judgment in research, peer review, or editorial decisions. Conflicts may include:
· Financial interests (e.g., funding, stock ownership, consulting fees)
· Institutional affiliations (e.g., employment, advisory roles)
· Personal relationships (e.g., family ties, professional rivalries)
· Intellectual biases (e.g., strong advocacy for/against a theory)
Failure to disclose COIs may lead to manuscript rejection, retraction, or sanctions.
3. Author Responsibilities
Authors must:
· Disclose all funding sources, including industry sponsorships, grants, or commercial ties.
· Declare any financial or non-financial COIs in a cover letter upon submission.
· Avoid restrictive agreements with sponsors that:
Block publication of negative/null results
Require sponsor approval before submission
· Follow journal-specific COI policies (check submission guidelines).
4. Editor & Guest Editor Responsibilities
Editors must:
· Disclose any COIs that could affect editorial decisions (e.g., prior collaboration with authors).
· Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a COI exists.
· Ensure unbiased peer review, even if a COI is disclosed.
5. Peer Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers must:
· Declare any COIs before accepting a review assignment.
· Recuse themselves if they have:
o Financial ties to the study
o Personal/professional relationships with authors
o Competing research interests
· Maintain confidentiality and avoid using unpublished data for personal gain.
6. Declaration Process
· Where to disclose:
o For journals requiring a formal statement, include under "Declaration of Competing Interests" after the Acknowledgements section.
o If no COI exists, state:
"The author(s)/reviewer(s)/editor(s) declare(s) no competing interests."
· What to disclose:
o All financial relationships with sponsors
o Any affiliations with entities related to the research
7 Consequences of Non-Disclosure
Undisclosed COIs may result in:
o Manuscript rejection or retraction
o Editorial sanctions (e.g., banning submissions)
o Notification to institutional authorities
8. Additional Resources
For further guidance, consult:
· COPE Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest: https://publicationethics.org/competinginterests
· ICMJE Recommendations: https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/author-responsibilities--conflicts-of-interest.html
· CSPI’s Model Policy: https://www.cspinet.org/resource/model-policy-conflict-interest-disclosure