Publishing Policies

Publishing Policies

These policies set out the publishing framework for NIH Journals. They apply alongside the requirements published by each journal. Where a journal's own author guidelines, editorial policies, licence terms or submission instructions provide more specific direction, the journal-specific requirement takes precedence.

Editorial Responsibility

Editorial decisions are made by the editors of the relevant journal on the basis of scholarly merit, relevance to the journal's scope, clarity of reporting and adherence to ethical and publishing requirements. Editorial assessment should be conducted fairly and without discrimination based on an author's personal characteristics, institutional affiliation or country of origin.

Peer Review

NIH Journals uses peer review to support a fair, informed and constructive editorial process. The peer-review model, reviewer selection process and decision workflow are stated by each journal in its own policies. Authors, reviewers and editors are expected to protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and to disclose any competing interests that could influence their judgement.

Research Integrity and Ethics

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of submitted work. Research involving people, animals, personal data or biological materials must have been conducted in accordance with applicable ethical, legal and institutional requirements. Where approval or consent was required, authors should state the approving body, reference number and consent process in the manuscript.

Manuscripts must not contain fabricated, falsified or plagiarised material. Submissions should not duplicate work already published or under consideration elsewhere, except where the relevant journal expressly permits this and the prior dissemination is transparently declared.

Authorship and Contributions

Authors should be listed only when they have made a meaningful scholarly contribution to the work and accept responsibility for its content. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all eligible contributors are appropriately acknowledged, that all authors have approved the submitted version and that changes to authorship are documented and agreed by the parties concerned.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors, reviewers and editors must disclose financial, professional or personal relationships that could reasonably be perceived to influence the work or its assessment. Sources of funding and the role of funders in the research, analysis, reporting and publication process should be stated clearly.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality and integrity of material submitted to NIH Journals. Any use of artificial intelligence tools that materially assisted the preparation, analysis or presentation of a manuscript should be disclosed in accordance with the relevant journal's instructions. Such tools cannot be listed as authors because authorship requires accountability that a tool cannot assume.

Data, Reporting and Transparency

Authors should report methods, results and limitations clearly enough for readers to assess the work. Where appropriate and lawful, authors are encouraged to make supporting data, protocols, software or other materials available, or to explain why access cannot be provided. Any data-sharing statement must protect privacy, confidentiality and intellectual-property obligations.

Copyright, Licensing and Open Access

Copyright, licence and reuse terms are stated by the relevant journal at the point of publication. Authors should review those terms before submission. NIH Journals supports open access to published scholarship while respecting applicable copyright, privacy and intellectual-property requirements.

Corrections, Retractions and Expressions of Concern

When a published article requires amendment, the relevant journal may publish a correction, retraction, expression of concern or other notice appropriate to the circumstances. Decisions will consider the reliability of the published record, the evidence available and the need to communicate material concerns transparently to readers.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors and reviewers may raise concerns about editorial process, publication ethics or a decision through the contact details published by the relevant journal. Concerns should be stated clearly and supported by relevant information. The journal will review the matter through an appropriate editorial or institutional process.

Policy Review

NIH Journals may revise these policies to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, legislation and organisational requirements. The current version published on this website is the applicable version.