Research Ethics and Ethical Oversight

General Research Ethics

Authors must conduct and report research in accordance with applicable laws, institutional requirements, and relevant ethical standards. Ethical oversight must be appropriate to the nature of the research and the participants, materials, and procedures involved.

Research Involving Human Participants

For research involving human participants, identifiable human data, or human biological material, the manuscript must state the name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board, the approval or reference number where applicable, and how informed consent was obtained. Authors must also protect participant privacy and confidentiality.

Animal Research

For research involving animals, authors must identify the approving ethics committee or relevant oversight body and confirm compliance with applicable animal welfare requirements.

Ethics Approval and Editorial Assessment

If formal ethics approval was not required, authors must explain why, with reference to applicable institutional requirements or regulations.

Editors may request supporting documentation and may decline a submission, request clarification, or refer the matter to an appropriate institution when ethical oversight is unclear or inadequate.