The Annals of Dermatological Research (ADR) follows clear and transparent editorial policies to maintain academic integrity, ensure fairness, and build trust with authors, reviewers, readers, and institutions. These policies align with global publishing standards such as COPE, ICMJE, DOAJ, and WAME, providing a framework for ethical and professional scholarly communication.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently by the editorial board without influence from commercial, institutional, or political interests. Articles are evaluated solely on the basis of academic merit, originality, significance, and ethical compliance.

Peer Review Policy

ADR employs a rigorous double-blind peer review system:

Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to ensure impartiality.
Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two subject experts.
Editorial decisions are based on reviewer reports, editor assessment, and ethical compliance.
Review timelines average 2–3 weeks for initial decisions, though complex reviews may take longer.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their work. ADR maintains strict policies to avoid bias and ensure transparency. Examples include:

Financial interests (funding, employment, consultancy).
Personal or professional relationships with organizations or individuals connected to the manuscript.
Intellectual property or patent considerations.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship must comply with ICMJE recommendations. Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation should be listed as authors. Others should be acknowledged appropriately.

Transparency and Accountability

ADR promotes transparency in editorial processes:

Decisions are communicated clearly with feedback from reviewers and editors.
Editorial correspondence is confidential and protected.
Appeals and complaints are handled according to COPE guidelines.

Plagiarism and Misconduct

ADR uses plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions. Cases of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or data manipulation are investigated in accordance with COPE flowcharts. Sanctions may include rejection, retraction, or author bans depending on severity.

Data Sharing and Open Science

Authors are encouraged to make research data available in recognized repositories and to provide data availability statements in their manuscripts. ADR supports open science principles to improve reproducibility and foster collaboration.

Corrections and Retractions

ADR maintains a corrections and retractions policy:

Minor corrections (errata) are issued for typographical errors or small mistakes that do not affect scientific validity.
Retractions are issued in cases of major errors, misconduct, or ethical violations.
All corrections and retractions are clearly linked to the original article and are permanent records.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing clear, evidence-based reasoning. Complaints regarding editorial conduct, reviewer behavior, or ethical issues are addressed by the editorial office following COPE’s procedures.

Ethics in Human and Animal Research

Studies involving humans or animals must comply with ethical standards:

Authors must confirm approval by an institutional ethics committee.
Informed consent is mandatory for studies involving human subjects.
Animal studies must follow recognized welfare and ethical guidelines.

Editorial Board Responsibilities

Members of the editorial board are responsible for:

Maintaining confidentiality of manuscripts.
Providing unbiased reviews when required.
Ensuring transparency in editorial decisions.
Acting as ambassadors for the journal in their respective communities.

FAQs on Editorial Policies

How are reviewers selected?

Reviewers are chosen based on subject expertise, independence, and absence of conflicts of interest.

What if I disagree with a review?

Authors may appeal by contacting the editor-in-chief, who may assign additional reviewers if justified.

Can industry-sponsored studies be published?

Yes, provided all funding sources and potential conflicts are disclosed, and the study follows ethical guidelines.