Authors submitting to the Annals of Dermatological Research (ADR) are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing. These Ethical Standards for Authors align with global best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

All manuscripts must represent original work, free of fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or unethical research practices.

Authorship Responsibility

Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors.
All listed authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.
The corresponding author ensures all contributors meet authorship criteria and provides transparency regarding author contributions.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original and have not been published elsewhere. Proper attribution and citation are mandatory when using the work of others. ADR employs plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Manuscripts should not be submitted simultaneously to more than one journal. Redundant or duplicate publication is considered a serious ethical violation.

Data Integrity

Authors must present accurate and verifiable data.
Fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
Authors must retain raw data and provide access if requested by editors during peer review or post-publication investigations.

Conflicts of Interest

All financial, institutional, or personal relationships that might influence the research must be disclosed. This includes funding sources, affiliations, and consultancies.

Human and Animal Research Ethics

Studies involving human participants must include a statement confirming approval by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
Patient consent is required for case reports or identifiable data, in compliance with GDPR and HIPAA.
Animal studies must conform to internationally accepted ethical standards for humane treatment.

Transparency in Reporting

Authors must follow recognized reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, CARE).
All sources of funding must be disclosed.
Authors should declare the availability of supporting data and materials.

Corrections and Retractions

If authors discover errors in their published work, they must promptly notify the editors. ADR will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as appropriate, in accordance with COPE protocols.

Peer Review Cooperation

Authors must engage constructively with the peer review process by providing timely responses to reviewer comments and revising manuscripts as requested.

Sanctions for Ethical Breaches

Breaches of ethical standards may result in rejection of the manuscript, retraction of published work, notification of authors’ institutions, and restrictions on future submissions.

FAQs

Can I submit a manuscript already published as a preprint?

Yes. ADR allows preprint submissions, provided the preprint is cited in the manuscript.

What if my study lacked ethical approval?

Such manuscripts will not be considered. Ethical approval is mandatory for human and animal studies.

How does ADR verify plagiarism?

ADR uses plagiarism detection software and follows COPE guidelines for addressing cases of suspected plagiarism.