Clinical & Molecular Biomedicine
Journal Policy & Regulation
1. About the Journal
Clinical & Molecular BioMedicine (CMB) is an international, open-access journal committed to rigorous scientific standards, ethical publishing, and transparent communication with all stakeholders. The policies below explain in a comprehensive and practical way what is expected from authors, reviewers, and editors at every stage of the publication process.
To ensure the integrity of its scientific record, Clinical & Molecular BioMedicine (CMB) operates under the strict ethical guidelines. As a gold open-access journal, CMB utilizes the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license, which empowers authors to retain copyright while facilitating the immediate, unrestricted sharing of their research. The journal employs a rigorous blind peer-review process to safeguard against bias and ensure technical excellence at every stage. Authors are required to provide formal documentation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee approval for all research involving human or animal subjects, alongside a comprehensive disclosure of any competing interests.
The journal adheres to best-practice guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
All manuscripts are screened for originality via plagiarism-detection software to uphold the journal’s commitment to academic honesty and transparency across the global scientific community.
2. Role and Responsibilities of the Publisher
Guardianship of the Scholarly Record
While the Editorial Board oversees the scientific direction of CMB, the Publisher serves as the institutional backbone and legal guardian of the scholarly record.
The Publisher recognizes that a journal is more than a collection of papers; it is a permanent archive of human knowledge.
- Integrity Maintenance: The Publisher supports the extensive efforts of editors and the voluntary contributions of peer reviewers.
- Investment and Nurturing: Beyond simple distribution, the Publisher invests in the technology and human resources required to ensure best practices are followed across all publications.
- Industry Leadership: By working with other publishers and global associations, the Publisher helps set the gold standards for handling ethical matters, errors, and retractions.
Safeguarding Editorial Independence
A fundamental pillar of CMB is the separation of commercial interests from scientific judgment.
- Revenue Neutrality: The Publisher ensures that potential revenue from advertising, reprints, or other commercial streams has zero impact on editorial decisions.
- Decision Autonomy: Editors-in-Chief and their boards have full autonomy over the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based solely on scientific merit and clinical relevance.
Technical, Procedural, and Legal Support
The Publisher provides the tools and protection necessary for the Editorial Board to perform their duties securely.
- Integrity Tools: Providing access to industry-standard tools like Crossref Similarity Check for every submission.
- Ethics Membership: Facilitating membership in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for all editors.
- Legal Counsel: Providing specialized legal review and counsel when editors face complex disputes, potential litigation, or challenges from third parties.
- Inter-Journal Collaboration: Supporting editors in communications with other journals or publishers to resolve cross-publication ethical concerns.
Researcher Education
The Publisher is committed to the future of the scientific community.
- Ethical Literacy: Providing extensive resources, advice, and education on publishing ethics, with a particular focus on supporting early-career researchers (ECRs).
- Transparency Promotion: Encouraging a culture of transparency through webinars, white papers, and accessible guidelines.
3. Editorial and Peer Review Policy
Scope and Manuscript Requirements
CMB welcomes original research, reviews, case reports, short communications, and methodological papers.
To be considered for publication, manuscripts must meet the following criteria:
- Originality: The work must be original and not currently under consideration by any other journal.
- Ethical Compliance: Authors must provide mandatory documentation of ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for all studies involving human or animal subjects.
- Standards: Submissions must adhere strictly to the journal’s formatting and ethical guidelines.
The Evaluation Process
The journey from submission to publication follows a structured, multi-stage path:
- Editorial Screening: Every manuscript undergoes an initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief or Section Editors.
- Peer Review: Qualifying manuscripts enter a single-blind peer review process and are evaluated by at least two independent experts.
- Editorial Decision: Editors may issue Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject decisions.
Appeals and Complaints
CMB is committed to a fair, transparent, and rigorous editorial process and recognizes that authors may disagree with editorial outcomes or have concerns about review conduct.
Submitting an Appeal
Authors have the right to appeal a formal rejection if they believe the decision was based on a technical error, misunderstanding of the data, or failure to consider specific evidence.
- Requirements: Appeals must be submitted in writing and include a detailed rebuttal letter.
- Evidence-Based: The rebuttal must point-by-point address reviewer and editor comments with scientific support.
- Scope: Appeals based purely on differences of opinion regarding impact or interest level are rarely successful.
The Appeal Review Process
To ensure impartiality, appeals are not handled solely by the original deciding editor.
- Independent Oversight: Each appeal is reviewed by a senior editorial panel or an independent editor not involved in the initial decision.
- Possible outcomes include upholding the original decision, inviting revision, or obtaining additional external reviews.
Formal Complaints and Ethics Investigations
Complaints regarding editorial conduct, conflicts of interest, or suspected research misconduct are treated seriously.
- COPE Compliance: All investigations follow COPE protocols.
- Procedure: The journal may conduct an internal inquiry and consult institutions or funding bodies where needed.
- Confidentiality: Complaints are handled with appropriate discretion.
4. Duties and Responsibilities of the Editor
Publication Decisions and Autonomy
The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for deciding which submitted articles will be published.
- Core Criteria: Decisions are based on scientific validity and clinical or molecular importance.
- Legal Constraints: Editors must operate within current laws regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
- Collaborative Oversight: Editors may confer with board members or reviewers to reach balanced decisions.
Rigorous Peer Review Management
The Editor ensures that peer review is transparent, unbiased, and timely.
- Independent Evaluation: Research articles must be reviewed by at least two external and independent reviewers.
- Reviewer Selection: Editors select reviewers based on expertise and must avoid fraudulent reviewers.
- Conflict Mitigation: Editors evaluate reviewer conflicts and self-citation suggestions carefully.
Principles of Fair Play and Transparency
CMB editors evaluate manuscripts based on intellectual and scientific content alone.
- Equality: Evaluation occurs without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
- Global Statistics on Peer Review: Editors monitor submission trends to avoid geographic bias.
- Clarity of Expectations: Formal communications are maintained through a standard electronic submission system.
Integrity of Citations and Metrics
Editors are forbidden from manipulating journal metrics.
- No Coerced Citations: Editors shall not require authors to add citations for the purpose of increasing impact factors.
- Scholarly Justification: Citations should be added only for genuine scholarly reasons.
- Personal Gain: Authors must never be required to cite an editor’s or reviewer’s own work unless fundamentally necessary.
Confidentiality and Data Privacy
The Editor is the guardian of manuscript confidentiality throughout the review process.
- Privacy of Submissions: Submitted materials and communications with reviewers remain strictly confidential.
- Identity Protection: Unless an open peer-review model is used, reviewer anonymity must be protected.
- Misconduct Investigations: Limited information may be shared in exceptional ethical investigations.
- Non-Appropriation: Editors must not use unpublished information or ideas for personal advantage.
5. Authorship and Accountability
Policy on Generative AI
Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot take legal or ethical responsibility for the work.
- Disclosure: Any use of AI in writing or data analysis must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section.
- Human Oversight: Human authors remain solely responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the content.
6. Publication Ethics and Research Integrity
Defining Scientific Misconduct
CMB maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward research misconduct.
- Plagiarism
- Data Fabrication and Falsification
- Image and Dataset Manipulation
- Redundant Publication
- Unethical Research Practices
Investigation and Resolution Process
When credible concerns arise, CMB follows a structured investigative protocol.
- Initial Inquiry: The journal may pause peer review or publication for preliminary assessment.
- Collaboration: The journal may work with institutions, funding bodies, or regulators.
- Communication: Authors are given opportunities to provide clarifications or evidence.
Actions and Enforcement
Depending on severity, the Editorial Board may take different actions.
- Clarifications or Corrections
- Rejection
- Expression of Concern
- Retraction
- Notification of Authorities
7. Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure
Responsibilities of Contributors
CMB requires authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose professional, personal, or financial relationships that could be perceived as influencing judgment.
- For Authors: All relevant conflicts and sources of funding must be declared in a dedicated disclosure statement.
- For Reviewers: Reviewers must disclose conflicts before accepting review invitations.
- For Editors: Editors with conflicts must delegate manuscript handling to another board member.
Conflict of Interest for Publisher-Employee Editors
When editorial staff are direct employees of the Publisher, safeguards are required to prevent bias.
- Mandatory Reporting: Employee-editors must disclose all competing interests.
- Publication Restrictions: Employee-editors are generally discouraged from submitting original research to the journal.
- Anti-Corruption: Editorial staff must not use non-public information for personal or financial gain.
Transparency in Funding
CMB maintains a strict policy of financial transparency.
Mandatory Disclosure Requirements
Authors must explicitly disclose all sources of financial support received for the research and preparation of the manuscript.
- Grants
- Institutional Support
- Industry Funding
- Foundations
- Required Details: Full name of funding agency and grant or award number
Role of the Funder
Authors must describe the involvement of the funder in key stages of the scientific process.
- Study Design
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Interpretation of Data
- Manuscript Writing
- Submission Decision
Statement of Independence
If funders had no role, authors should state that explicitly.
Failure to disclose relevant funding sources may result in rejection or post-publication correction.
8. Protection of Human Participants and Animal Welfare
Research Involving Human Participants
For all biomedical research involving human subjects, CMB requires strict adherence to the Declaration of Helsinki.
- Formal Approval: Every study must be approved by an IRB or equivalent ethics committee.
- Informed Consent: Voluntary, informed consent must be obtained from all participants or legal guardians.
- Privacy and Confidentiality: Non-essential identifiers must be removed, and specific consent to publish identifiable material is mandatory.
Animal Welfare and Research
CMB advocates humane treatment of animals and expects authors to follow the 3Rs principles.
- Ethical Oversight: Approval from an IACUC or similar ethics board.
- Methodological Transparency: Housing conditions, welfare measures, and pain minimization must be described.
- Standard Guidelines: Authors are encouraged to follow ARRIVE.
Hazards and Use of Human or Animal Subjects
Authors must identify unusual hazards related to chemicals, procedures, or equipment and provide enough detail for risk assessment.
- For human studies: Confirm compliance with laws, ethics approval, informed consent, and privacy protection.
- For animal studies: Confirm compliance with national and international regulations, ARRIVE, and institutional approval.
9. Clinical Trials and Regulated Clinical Research
Regulatory Standards and Registration
All clinical trials submitted to CMB must comply with Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) standards.
- Prospective Registration: Trials must be registered in a recognized public registry before enrolling the first participant.
- Documentation: Trial registration number and registration date must appear in the abstract and methods section.
- Protocol Consistency: Deviations from the registered protocol must be explicitly justified.
Transparent Reporting Guidelines
CMB requires use of established reporting frameworks to ensure clarity and reproducibility.
- CONSORT
- STARD
- PRISMA
- SPIRIT
Critical Elements of Trial Reporting
Manuscripts detailing clinical trials must provide comprehensive descriptions of key methodological features.
- Randomization & Blinding
- Outcome Measures
- Statistical Analysis Plan
10. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA Compliance)
Core Reporting Requirements
Authors submitting systematic reviews or meta-analyses must provide a structured and transparent account of their methodology.
- Search Strategy
- Eligibility Criteria
- Study Selection
- Risk-of-Bias Assessment
- Synthesis Methods
Mandatory Documentation
To assist editors and reviewers, the following must be included:
- PRISMA Flow Diagram
- PRISMA Checklist
Impact on Reproducibility
By following standardized protocols, authors improve transparency, reproducibility, and the reliability of evidence synthesis.
Authors are strongly encouraged to register review protocols in registries such as PROSPERO.
11. Availability of Materials, Methods, and Data
Reproducibility of Materials and Methods
To ensure reproducibility, authors must provide:
- Unique Resources: Access to key materials such as cell lines, plasmids, antibodies, or reagents.
- Methodological Detail: Comprehensive descriptions of protocols, software versions, parameters, and code.
- Restrictions: Material Transfer Agreements or legal limitations must be disclosed.
Data Availability Statement
All original research articles must include a mandatory Data Availability Statement.
- Publicly Available: Name of repository and DOI or accession number.
- Available on Request: Conditions for sharing and contact point.
- Restricted Access: Ethical, legal, or contractual reasons for restriction.
Editorial Oversight and Open Science
Authors are encouraged to share code, workflows, and protocols alongside data.
The inability to share essential data or materials may influence editorial decisions.
12. Copyright, Licensing and Archiving Policy
Copyright and Open Access Licensing
CMB operates under a model that prioritizes author rights and broad dissemination.
- Author Ownership: Authors retain copyright to their work.
- Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License
- Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
- Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use.
- Requirement: Appropriate credit must be given to authors and the journal.
Digital Archiving and Long-Term Preservation
CMB employs a robust, multi-layered archiving strategy to preserve the scholarly record.
- Secure Infrastructure: High-availability, cloud-based archiving.
- Version Control: Preservation of the Version of Record alongside corrections or retractions.
- Permanent Accessibility: Persistent identifiers and exploration of preservation partnerships such as CLOCKSS or Portico.
13. Plagiarism, Text Recycling, and Image Manipulation
Plagiarism Detection and Text Recycling
Every manuscript is processed through plagiarism-detection software.
- Substantial Plagiarism: Uncredited copying typically leads to rejection or retraction.
- Text Recycling (Self-Plagiarism): Previously published text must be appropriately cited and minimized.
- Minor Overlap: Editors may allow revision when similarity is limited and unintentional.
Integrity of Figures and Data
The integrity of visual data is as important as textual content.
- Acceptable Adjustments: Global brightness, contrast, or color balance adjustments that do not alter meaning.
- Prohibited Actions: Enhancing, obscuring, moving, removing, or introducing specific features.
- Original Data Access: Authors may be asked to provide raw or uncropped source files.
Consequences of Misconduct
When evidence of plagiarism or manipulation is confirmed, CMB follows COPE guidance.
- Investigation
- Institutional Notification
- Retractions or Expressions of Concern
14. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools
Prohibited Uses of AI
To prevent corruption of scientific data, the following are strictly forbidden:
- Data Fabrication
- Reference Manipulation
- Peer Review Subversion
15. Prior, Duplicate, and Overlapping Publications
Duplicate and Redundant Publication
CMB enforces policies against redundant or salami-sliced publications.
- Simultaneous Submission: Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere.
- The Salami Rule: Authors should not fragment a single study into multiple papers without distinct scientific milestones.
16. Permissions
Reuse of Figures and Data
If authors reuse elements from prior work, transparency is mandatory.
- Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining formal permission to reuse figures or tables.
- Citing Sources: Reused elements must be clearly labeled.
- Cross-Referencing: Primary studies must be prominently cited when relevant.
Responsibility for Secured Permissions
Authors are responsible for obtaining and documenting permission to reproduce, reuse, or adapt copyrighted content.
- Visual Data
- Tabular Data
- Textual Content
- Exception: Compatible open-access licenses such as CC BY may not require separate permission if attribution is correct.
Documentation and Submission
At submission, authors must confirm that necessary permissions have been secured.
- Verification
- Attribution
- Record Keeping
17. Manuscript Withdrawal, Submission Cancellation, and Retraction
The Withdrawal Process
Withdrawal after submission is treated seriously because it consumes editorial and reviewer time.
- Consent: Requests must be signed or confirmed by all co-authors.
- Justification: Clear and valid reasons must be provided.
- Internal Tracking: Frequent or last-minute withdrawals without sound justification may be flagged.
Withdrawal After Acceptance
Once a manuscript has been accepted, withdrawal is permitted only under exceptional circumstances.
- Discovery of fundamental scientific flaws
- Proof of ethical misconduct or lack of proper consent
- Legal or copyright issues that cannot be resolved through an Erratum
Types of Post-Publication Amendments
Depending on severity, the journal may issue one of the following notices:
- Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum)
- Expression of Concern
- Retraction
The Retraction Process
Retractions are not taken lightly and follow a formal protocol.
- Clear Justification
- Non-Defamatory Tone
- Preserving the Record
Why We Preserve Retracted Content
Maintaining the historical record is a core principle of scientific transparency.
- Future Researchers do not inadvertently rely on compromised data.
- The Scientific Community can understand the reasons for failure.
- Citations remain traceable.
18. Proofs, Production, and Access to Final Published Versions
The Proofing Stage
Once accepted, manuscripts undergo professional typesetting and authors receive digital proofs for final review.
- Permissible Changes: Typographical, layout, or minor clerical corrections.
- Restricted Changes: Substantive alterations generally are not permitted.
- Deadlines: Corrected proofs are usually expected within 48–72 hours.
Production and Final Publication
After proofs are finalized, the article moves into final production.
- DOI Assignment
- Metadata Optimization
- The Version of Record is published on the CMB website
Access and Dissemination
As a gold open-access journal, CMB provides immediate and unrestricted access to the final Version of Record.
- Downloadable Content
- Sharing and Promotion under the CC BY 4.0 license
- Impact Tracking through the stable DOI link
Vigilance over the Published Record
The Editor-in-Chief of CMB, together with the publisher’s research integrity team, is responsible for actively protecting the integrity of the published scientific record.
Upon receiving credible reports or suspicions of misconduct, the editor must promptly investigate and coordinate appropriate remedial actions such as corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, or other notices.
19. Acknowledgements, Non-Author Contributions, and Support
Disclosing Tool-Based Support
Authors must use the Acknowledgements section to disclose specialized digital tools where relevant.
- Generative AI
- Proprietary Software
Funding and Institutional Support
Accurate reporting of financial support is a critical requirement.
- Funding Agencies
- Grant Numbers
- Institutional Support
- Role of the Funder
20. Advertising, Sponsorship, and Commercial Influence Policy
CMB does not accept advertisements, which helps maintain a clear separation between editorial content and commercial interests.
This policy reduces potential pressure or perceived bias and reinforces the journal’s commitment to independent, science-driven decision-making.
By avoiding advertising revenue, the journal prioritizes scientific merit and ethical standards over commercial considerations.
21. Journal Updates and Policy Evolution
Revision of Regulations
CMB reserves the right to periodically update and refine these policies.
- Evolving Ethical Standards
- Technological Developments
- Community Expectations
Transparency and Documentation
CMB is committed to clear communication regarding any changes to its operating procedures.
- Public Access
- Version History
- Notification
Authors are encouraged to review the policies at the time of submission to ensure compliance with the most current version.
22. Disclaimer
Medical and Clinical Caution
CMB is a scientific forum and not a source of direct medical advice.
- Professional Judgment: Clinical recommendations and treatment decisions must be made by qualified healthcare practitioners.
- Contextual Application: Practitioners must consider the circumstances of each patient.
- Compliance: Medical decisions should align with local regulations and evidence-based standards.
- Risk: Neither the Journal nor the Publisher is liable for injury or damage arising from use of published methods, products, or ideas.