Ethics and Malpractice

Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Laboratory Animal Science (JLAS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing research misconduct. All manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scientific merit. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines and adheres to the principles recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research Ethics Policies

Research Involving Animals

  • The journal strictly follows ethical standards for studies involving animals.
  • All research must comply with applicable regulations and institutional guidelines related to animal welfare.
  • Authors must confirm that experiments involving animals were approved by the appropriate Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) or relevant authority.
  • Researchers must ensure that all procedures minimize pain, suffering, and distress to animals.

Conflict of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work.
  • All sources of research funding must be clearly acknowledged.
  • Editors and reviewers must also declare any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties of Editors

  • The editorial team makes publication decisions based solely on the scientific quality and relevance of the manuscript.
  • Editors must ensure confidentiality throughout the peer-review process.
  • Editors should avoid conflicts of interest and treat all submissions fairly and without bias.
  • Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the academic record.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions through objective evaluation of manuscripts.
  • Reviewers must maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.
  • Any potential conflict of interest should be disclosed to the editor.

Duties of Authors

  • Authors must ensure that their research is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • All data presented in the manuscript must be accurate and authentic.
  • Proper acknowledgement of sources and contributions must be provided.
  • If significant errors are discovered after publication, authors must inform the journal promptly.

Publication Responsibility

  • The journal takes all necessary measures to prevent publication misconduct.
  • If evidence of misconduct is identified, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  • The journal maintains transparency and integrity in the publication process.
  • All articles are digitally archived and preserved to ensure long-term accessibility.

Corrections and Retractions

  • Errors in published articles will be corrected through Errata (publisher errors) or Corrigenda (author errors).
  • Articles may be retracted if serious scientific errors or research misconduct are identified.
  • Retraction decisions will follow the recommendations of the COPE Retraction Guidelines.
  • Authors will be informed and consulted before any retraction or expression of concern is issued.

Peer Review Policy

Manuscript Submission

Authors submit manuscripts through the journal’s online submission system, ensuring compliance with the journal's formatting and ethical requirements.

Initial Screening

The editorial team conducts an initial assessment to determine whether the manuscript fits the scope of the journal and meets basic quality standards.

Peer Review

  • Manuscripts are evaluated through a double-blind peer review process.
  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers evaluate originality, methodology, ethical compliance, clarity, and scientific contribution.

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer recommendations, the editor may decide to accept, request revisions, or reject the manuscript. Authors receive detailed feedback to improve their work.

Post-Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, and final approval before publication to ensure high quality and accuracy.

By adhering to these ethical standards, the Journal of Laboratory Animal Science ensures integrity, transparency, and reliability in scientific publishing.