Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal for Research in Molecular Immunology (IJRMI) is committed to maintaining high standards of integrity, transparency, and responsibility in scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical practices, particularly those outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the principles recommended by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

All individuals involved in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to follow these ethical standards. Manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a double-blind peer review process to support fair and objective evaluation.

The journal provides open access to published content under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, allowing users to share and use published work in accordance with the terms of the license.

Publisher Responsibilities

IJRMI and its publisher, Green Publication, are responsible for maintaining the quality and integrity of the publication process. This includes:

  • Keeping submitted manuscripts and related information confidential
  • Providing appropriate support for technical issues related to the journal system
  • Maintaining appropriate records of submissions and publications
  • Publishing articles after necessary editorial checks, proofreading, and author approval where applicable
  • Ensuring that published articles are clearly formatted and professionally presented
  • Addressing complaints, ethical concerns, and allegations of misconduct in accordance with recognized publication ethics standards

The publisher also ensures that editorial decisions remain independent and are not influenced by commercial interests.

Author Responsibilities

Authors play an important role in maintaining the credibility and integrity of published research. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

  • The work is original and has not been published elsewhere
  • The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal simultaneously
  • All sources and references have been properly acknowledged
  • All listed authors have made meaningful contributions to the work
  • Any actual or potential conflicts of interest have been disclosed

The journal does not accept plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated results, or other forms of research misconduct. Manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection tools.

Research Integrity

Authors are expected to report their research findings honestly and accurately. Data must not be fabricated, falsified, selectively manipulated, or presented in a misleading manner. Where applicable, authors should provide appropriate information regarding research ethics approval, informed consent, and other relevant ethical requirements.

Authorship and Contributions

Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All authors should approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.

Changes in authorship after submission should be supported by a clear justification and approval from all affected authors. Authorship changes after acceptance may be considered only in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the editorial team.

Errors and Corrections

If an author identifies a significant error or inaccuracy in a published article, the author should inform the journal as soon as possible. The journal will assess the issue and, where appropriate, publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction in accordance with the seriousness of the issue.

Handling Misconduct

When ethical concerns or allegations of research or publication misconduct arise, the journal will assess the matter in accordance with recognized publication ethics practices and relevant COPE guidance. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, actions may include rejection of the manuscript, correction of the published article, expression of concern, or retraction.

Editor Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring that the editorial and peer review processes are fair, consistent, and unbiased. Their responsibilities include:

  • Evaluating submissions based on academic merit, originality, relevance, and scientific quality
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of manuscripts and reviewer information
  • Avoiding and appropriately managing conflicts of interest
  • Taking reasonable action when ethical concerns are reported
  • Issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary

Editors may submit their own work to the journal only when the manuscript is handled independently and without editorial influence from the submitting editor. Editors must disclose actual or potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships could affect impartiality.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers contribute to maintaining the quality and integrity of published research. They are expected to:

  • Provide honest, constructive, objective, and timely feedback
  • Evaluate manuscripts without personal or professional bias
  • Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and review materials
  • Inform the editor of any actual or potential conflict of interest
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited
  • Report suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or other ethical concerns to the editor

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional benefit or communicate directly with authors about the manuscript. Reviewers with significant conflicts of interest should decline the review invitation.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research, peer review, or editorial decision-making process.

If no conflict exists, authors should state:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

The editorial office will assess disclosed conflicts and take appropriate measures to support an impartial and transparent publication process.

Corrections and Retractions

When significant issues are identified after publication, the journal may take one of the following actions:

  • Correction: For errors that can be corrected without invalidating the overall findings of the article
  • Expression of Concern: When substantial concerns exist but the available evidence does not yet support a retraction
  • Retraction: In cases involving serious ethical violations, unreliable findings, or other circumstances that substantially affect the validity of the published work

Retracted articles will remain part of the published record where appropriate but will be clearly marked as retracted to maintain transparency.

For more information regarding COPE Core Practices.

Contact for Ethical Issues

Concerns related to publication ethics, research misconduct, or complaints may be reported to the journal through the official contact details provided on the IJRMI website.