Publication Ethics Statement

The Annals of Dermatological Research (ADR) is fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This statement is based on internationally accepted guidelines, including those from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

ADR promotes transparency, fairness, and accountability in all stages of the publication process, safeguarding trust in dermatological research.

Principles of Ethical Publishing

ADR adheres to the following core principles:

  • Integrity: Research findings must be reported honestly and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.
  • Originality: Submissions must be original and free from plagiarism or duplicate publication.
  • Transparency: All funding sources, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals must be clearly disclosed.
  • Fairness: Editorial and peer review decisions are made independently and impartially.
  • Accountability: Authors, editors, and reviewers share responsibility for ensuring ethical publishing practices.

Authors’ Responsibilities

  • Submit original work that has not been published elsewhere.
  • Cite and acknowledge all sources used in the research.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.
  • Ensure ethical treatment of human and animal subjects with institutional approval.
  • Cooperate with editors in responding to revision requests or concerns about integrity.

Editors’ Responsibilities

  • Evaluate submissions objectively, regardless of authors’ nationality, gender, or affiliation.
  • Maintain confidentiality of all manuscripts under review.
  • Make decisions based solely on scientific merit and ethical standards.
  • Address allegations of misconduct in accordance with COPE procedures.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

  • Provide unbiased, constructive, and timely evaluations.
  • Respect confidentiality of the review process.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest to the editor.
  • Identify potential ethical concerns such as plagiarism, data falsification, or duplicate submission.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

  • Support editorial independence and ensure policies align with international ethics standards.
  • Provide resources for long-term archiving and indexing of published content.
  • Respond promptly to allegations of misconduct or ethical violations.
  • Ensure that retractions, corrections, or updates are published transparently when necessary.

Misconduct and Ethical Breaches

ADR follows COPE flowcharts in investigating allegations of misconduct. Depending on the severity, actions may include:

  • Requesting explanations or revisions from authors.
  • Issuing corrections, errata, or retractions.
  • Banning authors for repeated or severe violations.
  • Notifying affiliated institutions in cases of serious misconduct.

Corrections and Retractions

ADR publishes corrections for minor errors and retractions for significant ethical breaches or invalid results. All updates are permanently linked to the original article to ensure transparency in the scholarly record.

Conflicts of Interest

All stakeholders in the publishing process (authors, reviewers, editors) must disclose any conflicts of interest that could bias their decisions or judgment. ADR ensures that such conflicts are managed appropriately.

FAQs

What if plagiarism is detected after publication?

ADR will issue a retraction or correction, following COPE guidelines.

Can authors appeal editorial decisions?

Yes. Authors may appeal with evidence, and appeals are reviewed independently.

How does ADR ensure ethical peer review?

ADR uses a double-blind peer review process, monitors reviewer performance, and follows COPE standards for reviewer conduct.