Reviewer's Responsibilities
ISSN: 2641-5013 | Publisher: Heighten Sciences Publication Incorporation | Framework: COPE • ICMJE • WAME • DOAJ
1. Purpose
The peer-review process at the International Journal of Clinical Virology (IJCV) relies on expert reviewers who uphold academic integrity and contribute to the enhancement of manuscript quality. Reviewers are entrusted with maintaining confidentiality, fairness, and constructive feedback throughout their evaluation.
2. Ethical Foundation
All reviewers must adhere to globally recognized ethical standards as established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
3. Core Responsibilities
- Provide an objective, balanced, and timely review of assigned manuscripts.
- Evaluate the scientific soundness, originality, and clarity of the research.
- Maintain strict confidentiality throughout and after the review process.
- Disclose any conflicts of interest immediately upon assignment.
- Avoid using unpublished data or ideas for personal research.
4. Confidentiality Obligations
Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not share, copy, or discuss any part of the submission with colleagues or third parties without prior authorization from the editorial office. All related data, figures, and attachments must be deleted after the review is completed.
5. Objectivity and Constructive Criticism
Comments should be specific, respectful, and directed at improving the manuscript. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should cite relevant published work to substantiate their observations and help authors strengthen their analysis.
6. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Reviewers must declare any financial, institutional, or collaborative relationship with the authors or their research. Conflicts that could bias judgment—whether positive or negative—should be reported immediately so that reassignment can occur.
7. Timeliness and Accountability
- Reviewers should respond to review invitations promptly (within 3–5 days).
- Once accepted, reviews should be submitted within the agreed deadline, typically 14–21 days.
- If unable to complete on time, reviewers must inform the editorial team early to avoid delays.
8. Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers should focus on the following aspects while assessing a manuscript:
- Relevance to IJCV’s scope and contribution to virology research.
- Soundness of experimental design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.
- Ethical compliance and integrity in human or animal research.
- Validity of conclusions supported by results.
- Clarity, organization, and quality of figures, tables, and references.
9. Use of AI and Technology Tools
AI tools may assist with language review but must not be used to process or store confidential manuscripts on external servers. Reviewers must ensure that no content is uploaded to public platforms that learn from user input.
10. Handling Suspected Misconduct
If reviewers identify potential issues such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, image manipulation, or data falsification, they should alert the editor confidentially without directly contacting the authors. The editorial office follows COPE flowcharts for investigation.
11. Fairness and Non-Discrimination
Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit. Bias based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs is strictly prohibited.
12. Professional Conduct and Communication
- Maintain professionalism and courteous tone in all reviewer comments.
- Offer actionable feedback instead of general criticism.
- Avoid offensive, dismissive, or speculative remarks.
13. Recognition and Acknowledgment
Reviewers’ contributions are acknowledged annually (subject to consent). Certificates of recognition and potential inclusion in the reviewer acknowledgment list are available upon request.
14. Continuous Learning and Development
IJCV encourages reviewers to participate in COPE webinars, Publons Academy training, and peer-review workshops. Continuous skill enhancement ensures reviewers stay updated on ethical standards and evolving research trends in virology.
15. Misconduct in Peer Review
Any unethical behavior by reviewers, such as appropriating unpublished data, disclosing confidential materials, or submitting fraudulent reviews, will lead to immediate removal from the reviewer list and notification of relevant institutions.
16. Collaboration Between Reviewers and Editors
Reviewers should communicate through the OJS platform. Direct correspondence with authors is not permitted. All queries regarding clarity, methodology, or conflicts should be directed to the handling editor or the Editor-in-Chief.
17. Post-Review Conduct
After submission, reviewers must not share or discuss the manuscript publicly. If they later discover overlooked issues, they may contact the editorial office confidentially to provide an addendum or clarification.
18. Transparency and Accountability
IJCV maintains full transparency by archiving all reviewer reports and editorial decisions within the OJS system. The peer-review record remains confidential but traceable for ethical auditing.
19. Global References and Standards
20. Contact
For Reviewer Support
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.clinvirologyjournal.com/