Editorial Policies
JNMB follows rigorous editorial standards to ensure transparent, ethical, and high quality publication. Policies protect authors, reviewers, and readers while maintaining scientific integrity in molecular biology.
Editorial Commitments
Single blind peer review
Conflict of interest checks
Ethics compliance
Data transparency
Plagiarism screening
Corrections and retractions
Peer Review
Single blind review keeps reviewer identities confidential while allowing editors to assess author context. Decisions are based on methodological soundness, novelty, and biological relevance.
Editors may request additional experiments or data checks to support key claims.
We prioritize clear review timelines and provide structured guidance for decision letters.
Authorship And Accountability
All authors must meet contribution criteria and approve the final manuscript. Contributor statements improve transparency and reduce disputes.
JNMB expects authors to take responsibility for data integrity and accuracy of conclusions.
Disputes are handled according to COPE guidelines with institutional involvement when necessary.
Research Ethics
Human, animal, or biosafety related studies require documented approvals. JNMB rejects manuscripts that violate ethical standards or fail to report approvals.
Studies involving gene editing or pathogens must include containment and safety statements.
Authors should disclose any regulatory approvals relevant to clinical samples or genetic material.
Conflicts And Funding
Authors must disclose financial or institutional relationships that could influence results. Funding sources are reported to improve transparency for readers.
Failure to disclose conflicts may result in rejection or post publication corrections.
JNMB expects transparent reporting of sponsor involvement in study design and analysis.
Misconduct And Corrections
Suspected misconduct is investigated following COPE guidance. When necessary, JNMB publishes corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions to maintain integrity.
We maintain clear documentation of investigations and communicate outcomes to authors and readers.
Image manipulation, data fabrication, and plagiarism are grounds for rejection or retraction.
Data And Reproducibility
We encourage data sharing, code transparency, and repository deposition for reproducibility. Exceptions must be justified and documented.
Reproducible workflows increase trust and accelerate translation into biotechnology and clinical applications.
Editors may request raw data when needed to confirm key findings.
Appeals Process
Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a reasoned response and supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by senior editors or independent advisors.
Appeals should focus on scientific interpretation and address reviewer concerns clearly.
Repeated appeals without new evidence may be declined.
Post Publication Updates
JNMB supports post publication discussion, corrections, and updates when necessary. Authors should notify the editorial office of significant errors or new information.
Corrections are linked to the original article to preserve the scholarly record.
Editorial notes may be published to clarify changes or updates.
Reviewer Ethics
Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and declare conflicts of interest. The editorial office monitors review quality and timeliness.
Unethical reviewer behavior may result in removal from the reviewer pool.
Transparency
JNMB communicates policy updates clearly and maintains public documentation of editorial standards.
Authors and readers can request clarification on policy interpretation at any time.
Policy note: Editorial decisions are independent of APC payments. Waiver decisions are handled separately from peer review.
Transparency In Decisions
Editors document decision rationale and provide clear feedback to authors. This supports accountability and helps authors understand required revisions.
Decision letters prioritize critical issues to streamline revision cycles.
Data Integrity
JNMB may request raw data or source files when concerns arise. Authors should retain data and analysis scripts for verification.
Failure to provide data when requested may result in rejection.
Transparency For Readers
JNMB publishes clear policy statements and editorial notes when appropriate. Transparency supports reader trust and strengthens the scholarly record.
Editorial policies are reviewed regularly to align with evolving best practices.
Reviewer Accountability
The editorial office monitors review quality and responsiveness. Persistent issues can result in reviewer removal to maintain standards.
Editors are encouraged to provide feedback to reviewers to improve quality over time.
Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial considerations or APC status. Editors and reviewers focus solely on scientific merit.
This separation protects the integrity of peer review and the journal record.
Policy Enforcement
Policies are applied consistently across submissions to maintain fairness. Exceptions require documented justification and senior editor approval.
Consistent enforcement builds trust among authors and readers.
Policy Contact
For policy clarification, contact [email protected]. We respond quickly to support authors and reviewers.
Policy Scope
Policies apply to all submissions, including special issues and invited content, to maintain consistent standards.
