Conflict of interest, human and animal rights, and informed consent

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST/ COMPETING INTERESTS

All authors must reveal conflicts of interest they may have with publication of the manuscript or an institution or sponsor or product that is mentioned in the manuscript.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

  1. Human Rights
  • Ethics Approval: All research involving human participants must receive prior approval from an ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  • Informed Consent: Participants must give voluntary, informed consent, understanding the risks, benefits, and purpose of the research.
  • Protection of Privacy: Researchers must ensure confidentiality and protect the privacy of participants.
  1. Animal Rights
  • Ethics Approval: Research involving animals must be approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or similar body.
  • Humane Treatment: Animals must be treated ethically, minimizing pain and distress, and using alternatives to animal testing whenever possible.
  • Compliance with Guidelines: Research should follow international guidelines like the Animal Welfare Act or the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
  1. Journal Oversight
  • Ethics Statements: Manuscripts must include statements confirming ethics approval for both human and animal studies.
  • Editorial Review: Editors ensure that studies meet ethical standards and may reject papers that lack proper ethical compliance.

INFORMED CONSENT

  • Consent Requirement: Studies involving humans must obtain informed consent and ethics board approval.
  • Disclosure: Researchers must explain the study’s purpose, risks, and confidentiality measures clearly.
  • Documentation: Written consent is required; special safeguards apply for vulnerable populations.
  • Publication Consent: Explicit consent is needed for publishing identifiable information.
  • Journal Oversight: Editors ensure manuscripts include proper ethical and consent documentation.