Competing Interest
Competing interests, or conflicts of interest, arise when an author's affiliations or interests could potentially influence research outcomes or their interpretation. Authors should transparently disclose financial, non-financial, and intellectual relationships that may impact the study. These disclosures contribute to research credibility and reader evaluation.
Financial ties
Employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, or funding from for-profit entities.
Non-Financial ties
Political affiliations, academic competition, personal beliefs, or professional collaborations.
Intellectual & Legal
IP rights affected by publication or advisory roles for government agencies related to the research.
Management & Disclosure
For Authors
Declare all interests at submission via the online form. Describe the specific role of funders in the study design and publication process.
For Editors & Reviewers
Must recuse themselves if a conflict exists. Editors delegate responsibility to qualified peers to ensure unbiased handling.
Discovery of Undeclared Conflicts
Undisclosed interests identified after publication trigger an investigation following COPE procedures.
Actions
- • Correction
- • Expression of Concern
- • Retraction
Consequences
- • Rejection
- • Institution Notification
- • Temporary Suspension
Policy Appeals
Authors may appeal conflict-related editorial decisions by submitting supporting evidence for independent reconsideration.
Every published article includes a mandatory "Competing Interests" statement, even if no conflicts are declared. All records are stored securely in compliance with data protection laws.