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Informed Consent: Research involving human subjects must be conducted in accordance with the principles of informed consent. Participants must be fully informed of the nature and purpose of the research and must give their voluntary and informed consent to participate.

Protecting Privacy: The privacy and confidentiality of participants must be protected in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Personal information must not be disclosed or used for any purpose other than the research.

Risk Assessment: Research involving human subjects must be subject to a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure that the risks to participants are minimized and that the benefits of the research justify any potential harm.

Ethical Review: All research involving human subjects must undergo ethical review by an appropriate institutional review board or ethics committee. The editorial board of our publication will not consider any research that has not been approved by such a review board or committee.

Reporting Standards: Research involving human subjects must be reported in accordance with established reporting standards, such as the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) or the Declaration of Helsinki, as appropriate.

Guidelines for Research Involving Human Participants

Here are some established guidelines for research involving human participants, along with their respective links:

Helsinki Declaration

Website: https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/

The Helsinki Declaration is a document published by the World Medical Association that provides ethical principles for research involving human subjects. It covers issues such as voluntary consent, fairness, and protection of participants' privacy.

Belmont Report

Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html

The Belmont Report is a publication by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. It outlines the basic ethical principles in research involving human subjects, namely respect for individual autonomy, beneficence, and justice.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines

Website: https://www.ich.org/page/guidelines

GCP guidelines are published by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). They provide international standards for designing, conducting, and reporting clinical trials involving human subjects.

American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Code

Website: https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index

The APA Ethical Code provides guidelines for ethical conduct in psychological research involving human participants. It covers issues such as informed consent, data confidentiality, and protection from harm or loss.

Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement

Website: http://www.consort-statement.org/

The CONSORT statement provides guidelines for reporting the results of clinical trials. It includes issues such as study design, statistical analysis, and transparent reporting of results.

It's important to note that these guidelines represent some common frameworks used in research involving human participants. However, it is crucial to always follow the ethical guidelines and regulations applicable in your country and consult with relevant institutions or bodies that establish specific requirements.

Animal Research Policy

Our journal is committed to promoting high ethical standards and responsible conduct of research involving the use of animals. We recognize the important role of animal research in advancing scientific knowledge and improving human and animal health. To ensure the ethical treatment of animals and the integrity of research findings, we have established the following editorial policy for studies that involve animal experimentation.

Ethical Approval and Compliance

Authors must provide evidence of appropriate ethical approval obtained from an institutional animal care and use committee or a relevant regulatory body. The study should adhere to established ethical guidelines and regulations, such as the principles outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals.pdf). Authors should clearly state the institutional or national guidelines followed and describe the measures taken to minimize animal suffering and distress.

Transparency and Reporting

Authors should provide detailed information about the methods, procedures, and protocols used in the study, including the number and species of animals used, housing conditions, experimental manipulations, and endpoints. The reporting should be transparent and comprehensive to facilitate reproducibility and ensure the scientific rigor of the research. Authors should also include a statement regarding efforts made to minimize the number of animals used and to employ alternative methods when possible.

Animal Welfare and Care

Authors must demonstrate that appropriate measures were taken to ensure the welfare and humane treatment of animals throughout the study. This includes providing suitable housing conditions, access to food and water, veterinary care, and minimizing pain and distress. Authors should describe any anesthesia, analgesia, or euthanasia procedures used and provide justifications for their choices. The well-being of the animals should always be prioritized.

Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement (3Rs)

Authors are encouraged to adhere to the principles of the 3Rs. This involves minimizing the number of animals used, refining experimental procedures to minimize pain and distress, and seeking alternative methods that can replace or reduce the need for animal experimentation. Authors should clearly describe their efforts to implement these principles and discuss the potential impact on improving animal welfare and scientific outcomes.

Compliance with Animal Welfare Regulations

Authors must comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing animal welfare in the jurisdiction where the study was conducted. Compliance should extend to obtaining necessary permits or licenses and following specific requirements for the use of protected or endangered species. Authors should provide details regarding the regulatory framework followed and the steps taken to ensure compliance.

Peer Review and Ethical Considerations

During the peer review process, reviewers and editors will assess the ethical aspects of the animal research, including the justification for the study, adherence to ethical guidelines, and the potential impact on animal welfare. Reviewers may also evaluate whether the research question justifies the use of animals and if the study design and statistical analyses are appropriate.

Publication Ethics

Our journal upholds the highest standards of publication ethics. In cases where ethical concerns are raised regarding animal research published in our journal, we will investigate the matter following established procedures. If ethical misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include retraction of the published article and notification of relevant institutions or authorities.

Informed consent Privacy protection Risk assessment Ethical review Reporting standards Human subjects Welfare rights Public interest Trust Ethical standards Dissemination of research Transparent conduct Ethical quality