Additional Menu |
---|
Editorial Team |
Aim and Scope of the journal |
Peer Review |
Ethics Statement |
Submission Checklist |
Author Guidelines
Submission Guidelines
Authors are kindly urged to adhere to the following submission guidelines for IJOCP:
-
Signed Cover Letter: Please submit a cover letter adhering to the specified format. Your signature is required for validation- Format
-
Anonymized Manuscript: Ensure your manuscript is anonymized to maintain a double-blind review process. Remove any author-identifying information from the document.
-
Copyright Licensing Form: Format
Authors are encouraged to thoroughly review these documents. In case of any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Manuscripts lacking either the cover letter or copyright licensing form will not be considered for review.
Definition of Authorship
We define authorship as per COPE guidelines. The minimum requirements for authorship, common to all definitions, are:
- Substantial contribution to the work
- Accountability for the work that was done and its presentation in a publication
By submitting your manuscript to this journal, you affirm that both you and the other authors linked to the manuscript adhere to the criteria for authorship.
Conflicts of Interest Statement
A conflict of interest arises in a manuscript when the author is associated with activities that might unduly influence their judgment, regardless of whether this influence occurs. Financial connections with industry, such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, grants, or expert testimony, either personally or through immediate family, are typically regarded as significant competing interests. Should such conflicts exist, authors are required to disclose them during manuscript submission.
Statement on the Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scientific Writing
The utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, is allowed solely for the enhancement of language and not for deriving insights and/or commentary. This usage must be thoroughly documented in the methods section. It is imperative that AI is not credited or listed as an author.
Ethical Guidelines
All studies involving human and animal subjects must address ethical considerations:
-
Human Subjects:
- When reporting research on human subjects, authors must specify whether the procedures align with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional or regional) and comply with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964, as revised in 2013.
- Ethical clearance, obtained in writing from a formally constituted Institutional Ethics Committee, is mandatory for all research studies.
- The cover letter should explicitly state the name of the ethics committee clearing the study, along with the date and number in the cover letter.
-
Animal Subjects:
- When describing animal experiments, authors should specify adherence to institutional and national standards for the ethical care and use of laboratory animals.
- We endorse the NACLAR guidelines, emphasizing humane and responsible treatment of animals for scientific purposes and offering practical advice. This includes:
- Replacement: If a research question can be addressed without using animals, authors should opt for methodologies like cell studies or computer modeling, thus avoiding animal use. When possible, consider using morally "lower" species in place of "higher" ones.
- Reduction: Employ a smaller number of animals when feasible to answer research questions.
- Refinement: Continuously refine research methods, techniques, concepts, and tools to minimize the necessity for animals in research and mitigate potential harms.
Authors may be asked to provide more detailed information and justify the ethical and moral aspects of the research. Editors may request contact details of the research ethics committee for further inquiry. IJOCP editors may consult with editorial colleagues, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), or Ethical advisors to assess the ethical aspects of an article and retain the right to reject a manuscript on ethical grounds, irrespective of institutional ethics committee approval. In addition to manuscript rejection, the journal reserves the right to communicate ethical concerns to the head of the author's institution or the medical council to prevent unethical practices and safeguard patients.
Consent of Human Research Subjects
In the case of identifiable photographs and/or medical data of research subjects, particularly minors and deceased individuals, informed consent should be obtained from the subject themselves, legal guardians, or next of kin respectively. Please visit the journal website for the consent form. The identity of the patient in clinical photographs should be masked by suitable methods and any sensitive medical data should be anonymized. Format can be accessed here
Funding Sources
Authors must disclose all financial and material support received for the research, providing details such as grant number and funding agency.
Type of Article and Manuscript Format
Submitted manuscripts can be original research, case reports, or review articles. For guidelines on the type of articles please see here
Recommended format for manuscripts can be accessed here
Enhancing Contemporary Pathology Impact: Key Considerations for IJOCP Submissions
Given the extensive reach of IJOCP, it is recommended that authors thoroughly address the following questions to ensure their research resonates with a diverse audience, including pathology professionals, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers. Having clear takeaways from the research will improve its relevance and citeability. Authors are requested to address and summarize each of these in the Discussion/Conclusion section:
-
Research Question/Hypothesis: What is the central research question or hypothesis of your study, and how does your research address it?
-
Existing Work and Methodology: What existing work has been done on this topic, and how has it informed your hypothesis and research methodology?
-
Novel Contributions: What are the new aspects of your research? How does your study add to the current discourse on this topic?
-
Relevance to Contemporary Pathology: How is your research relevant to the pathology community, specifically healthcare professionals, clinical practitioners, and policymakers?
-
Future Research Directions: What could be potential future research topics and areas stemming from your study?
By addressing these key points, authors can significantly enhance the impact and clarity of their research, making it more valuable to the contemporary pathology community and beyond.
Publication Process and Criteria for Acceptance
A manuscript will be reviewed for possible publication with the understanding that it is being submitted exclusively to IJOCP and has not been published, simultaneously submitted, or accepted for publication elsewhere. The journal requires that authors authorize one among them (the corresponding author) to communicate with the journal regarding all matters related to the manuscript. All received manuscripts are duly acknowledged.
Upon submission, editors initially review all manuscripts for suitability for formal review. Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage if they lack originality, have serious scientific or technical flaws, fail to convey a significant message, lack relevance to contemporary pathology, or do not conform to the journal's guidelines. The initial screening decision will typically be communicated within one week of submission completion.
We are dedicated to upholding elevated editorial standards and maintaining the integrity of our journal. Our commitment to quality is reflected in our rigorous peer review process, which typically takes 4-5 weeks. Here is an overview of the evaluation process your manuscript will undergo post-submission:
-
Submitting the Manuscript: We encourage you to submit the manuscript through the OJS platform as it maintains transparency and visibility of the publication process. If you are unable to submit on OJS, you can email us your manuscripts at editor.ijocp@gmail.com.
-
Relevance to the Aim and Scope: If your article aligns with the journal's scope, it will proceed; otherwise, the editor may suggest incorporating a relevant lens or may reject your article.
-
Rejection Reasons:
- Out-of-scope submissions
- Lack of novelty in research subject
- Insufficient inclusion of necessary elements, such as research methods
- Evidence of research misconduct
-
10% Plagiarism (we use paid Similarity Check/iThenticate services and will check each manuscript)
- Inability to provide necessary ethical clearances and consent from research subjects
-
Peer Review Process: Upon the editor's approval, a double-blind peer review will be initiated, involving subject matter experts. Following the review, your manuscript will be returned with comments.
-
Author Addresses Comments: Implement necessary revisions based on peer review comments and resubmit the revised manuscript to the editor.
-
Intimation of Acceptance: If the editor is satisfied, you will be informed of your manuscript's acceptance, along with details about the publication timeline. Manuscript handling charges will be required, and an acceptance letter will be issued.
-
Pre-Release: Before publication, you will receive a pre-release version of your article. Please review it thoroughly and communicate any essential changes to us.