The Annals of Dermatological Research (ADR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing and professional integrity. This Ethics and Malpractice Statement outlines the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher in ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in scholarly communication. ADR adheres to guidelines provided by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), WAME, and DOAJ.

Ethical publishing practices are fundamental to ADR’s mission of advancing dermatological science responsibly and with integrity.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must present original, accurate, and complete accounts of research.
Plagiarism, duplicate publication, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
All sources of funding, financial support, and potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
Human and animal studies must comply with ethical standards and institutional approval requirements.
Informed consent must be obtained for case reports, patient images, or identifiable data.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors make independent decisions based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit and relevance.
Confidentiality of submissions is maintained at all stages.
Editors ensure that reviews are fair, unbiased, and timely.
Conflicts of interest are avoided, and editorial decisions are free from external influences.
Editors follow COPE flowcharts in handling suspected cases of misconduct.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.
Confidentiality of manuscripts is strictly maintained.
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
Reviewers should identify ethical issues, plagiarism, or data inconsistencies and report them to the editor.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher ensures that ADR’s policies align with international ethical standards.
Publisher supports editorial independence without commercial interference.
In cases of proven misconduct, the publisher facilitates corrections, retractions, or other necessary actions.
The publisher ensures content is preserved in trusted repositories and archiving systems.

Research Integrity

ADR is committed to safeguarding research integrity by:

Screening submissions with plagiarism detection software.
Enforcing strict guidelines against image manipulation and falsified data.
Rejecting manuscripts that do not comply with ethical guidelines.
Encouraging transparency through data sharing and reproducibility practices.

Misconduct Handling

Allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and investigated promptly. Actions may include:

Requesting clarifications or corrections from authors.
Notifying affiliated institutions in serious cases.
Issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.
Banning authors from future submissions in extreme cases.

Corrections and Retractions

ADR publishes corrections, retractions, or updates as necessary to maintain the scholarly record. Retractions clearly indicate reasons and remain permanently accessible to ensure transparency.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest. These may include financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence judgment.

Transparency and Accountability

ADR ensures that all aspects of the editorial process are transparent. Policies, submission guidelines, and ethical statements are publicly available. Appeals and complaints are handled with fairness, following COPE procedures.

FAQs

What happens if plagiarism is detected?

Plagiarized manuscripts are rejected immediately. If detected post-publication, retraction will be issued.

Are industry-funded studies accepted?

Yes, provided funding is transparently disclosed and editorial independence is preserved.

How does ADR ensure fairness in peer review?

ADR uses a double-blind peer review system and assigns reviewers based on subject expertise and independence.