Publication Ethics Policy

The Journal of Pulmonology and Respiratory Research (JPRR) adheres to strict ethical standards to ensure the credibility, reliability, and integrity of published research. This Publication Ethics Policy provides detailed guidelines for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers, based on the COPE, ICMJE, and WAME principles.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial or institutional interests. Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of scientific merit, relevance, and ethical standards, without discrimination.

Author Responsibilities

  • Submit only original research and avoid plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of data.
  • Ensure all listed authors meet authorship criteria and approve the final version.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.
  • Provide ethical approval statements for studies involving human or animal subjects.
  • Cooperate in post-publication corrections or retractions when necessary.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Conduct reviews objectively, confidentially, and within the agreed timeline.
  • Identify ethical issues, plagiarism, or data manipulation.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting review assignments.
  • Provide constructive feedback to improve manuscript quality.

Editorial Responsibilities

  • Ensure fair and timely peer review processes.
  • Maintain confidentiality of submissions and reviewer identities.
  • Address allegations of misconduct transparently and in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  • Issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as appropriate.

Research Ethics

All studies must comply with international ethical standards:

  • Human studies: Require informed consent and institutional ethics committee approval, consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki.
  • Animal studies: Must follow institutional and international guidelines for humane treatment and welfare.

Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors must present accurate data and retain primary datasets for verification. Manipulation, selective reporting, or withholding data is unethical and may lead to retraction.

Conflicts of Interest

All stakeholders must disclose financial or personal interests that could bias research, review, or editorial decision-making. Transparency ensures accountability and trust.

Publication Misconduct

JPRR considers the following practices unethical:

  • Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism).
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Fabrication or falsification of data.
  • Undeclared conflicts of interest.
  • Guest, gift, or ghost authorship.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Allegations are investigated thoroughly and fairly. Possible actions include:

  • Requesting clarifications or corrections from authors.
  • Rejecting or retracting manuscripts if misconduct is confirmed.
  • Notifying institutions or funding bodies where serious misconduct is established.
All investigations follow COPE’s flowcharts for suspected ethical breaches.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

  • Corrections: Issued for minor errors not affecting conclusions.
  • Retractions: Issued for major ethical breaches or invalid results.
  • Expressions of Concern: Published when investigations are ongoing or inconclusive.

Publisher’s Commitment

JPRR’s publisher ensures adherence to ethical publishing practices, invests in plagiarism detection, and supports editors in handling ethical challenges.

FAQs

What happens if duplicate publication is discovered?

The manuscript will be rejected or retracted, and authors may be sanctioned from submitting for a period.

How are ethical approvals verified?

Authors must provide ethics committee approval numbers. Editors may request supporting documentation.

Are whistleblowers protected?

Yes. Allegations of misconduct are treated confidentially, and whistleblowers are protected against retaliation.

Conclusion

The Journal of Pulmonology and Respiratory Research (JPRR) upholds rigorous ethical standards to ensure credibility and trust in academic publishing. By aligning with COPE, ICMJE, and WAME, JPRR promotes integrity and transparency in all its publications.