Conflict of Interest Policy
Disclosure and management of interests that could reasonably be perceived to influence scholarly work or editorial decisions.
Authors
Disclose relevant employment, consulting, funding, equity, patents, personal relationships, institutional roles and non-financial interests. If none exist, include a clear no-conflict statement.
Reviewers
Decline or disclose assignments where collaboration, competition, personal relationships, institutional proximity or financial interests could impair independent assessment.
Editors
Editors must recuse themselves when an interest could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, handling of a manuscript. An independent editor should oversee the decision.
Management
A disclosed interest does not automatically prevent publication. The journal determines whether disclosure, recusal or another safeguard is sufficient. Undisclosed material interests may require correction or review.
What should be disclosed
- Financial relationships, grants, sponsorship, consultancy, honoraria, employment or stock ownership.
- Patent applications, licensed intellectual property or commercial products connected to the work.
- Personal, academic, political, religious or institutional relationships that could reasonably appear influential.
- Editorial roles, reviewer relationships or recent collaborations connected to the manuscript.