Editorial Policies
Editorial Policy
ACS Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
1. Editorial Independence
The ACS Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology maintains complete editorial independence. All editorial decisions are based exclusively on scientific quality, originality, ethical compliance, relevance to the journal’s scope, and methodological rigor. Financial considerations, publication charges, institutional affiliations, nationality, or personal relationships do not influence acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
2. Peer Review Process
The journal follows a double-blind peer review system to ensure impartial and objective evaluation.
Review Stages:
• Preliminary editorial screening for scope, originality, formatting, and ethical compliance
• Assignment to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers
• Assessment of scientific merit, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field
• Editorial decision: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject
Average review period: 3–6 weeks
3. Editorial Board Responsibilities
The Editorial Board comprises experienced researchers and clinicians who:
• Uphold academic integrity and quality
• Supervise the peer review process
• Advise on journal scope and policy
• Promote ethical research and publishing practices
Editors must declare conflicts of interest and withdraw from decisions when appropriate.
4. Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship is limited to individuals who have:
• Made substantial contributions to study conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis
• Drafted or critically revised the manuscript
• Approved the final version
• Agreed to accountability for all aspects of the work
Guest, honorary, or ghost authorship is strictly prohibited.
5. Ethical Standards
Human Research
Must adhere to:
• Declaration of Helsinki
• Institutional Ethics Committee approval
• Written informed consent
Animal Research
Must comply with:
• CPCSEA or equivalent international animal welfare regulations
Ethical approval information must be clearly stated in the manuscript.
6. Plagiarism and Originality
• All submissions undergo plagiarism screening
• Acceptable similarity threshold: below 15%
• Duplicate submission or redundant publication is prohibited
Violations may result in rejection, retraction, or author sanctions.
7. Data Integrity and Transparency
Authors are required to:
• Present accurate and complete data
• Retain original datasets upon request
• Avoid manipulation, fabrication, or falsification
The journal supports reproducible and transparent research practices.
8. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or review process.
A conflict of interest statement is mandatory for all manuscripts.
9. Access Model (Hybrid Publishing)
The journal operates under a hybrid access model:
Open Access Articles
Authors may opt for open access publication upon payment of applicable APCs. These articles are freely available worldwide.
Subscription-Based Articles
Authors may publish under the traditional access model, where content is available to subscribers and authorized institutions.
Editorial decisions are independent of the chosen access model or payment of APCs.
10. Copyright and Licensing
• Authors retain copyright of their work
• The journal holds the right of first publication
• Open access articles may be shared with proper attribution
• Subscription articles require permission for redistribution
Specific licensing terms will be stated at publication.
11. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
The journal follows COPE guidelines to maintain the scholarly record:
• Corrections for minor errors
• Retractions for unreliable data, plagiarism, or misconduct
• Expressions of concern where investigations are ongoing
12. Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a detailed written request. Complaints regarding peer review or ethics are investigated by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board transparently and fairly.
13. Advertising and Sponsorship
Advertising content must be clearly distinguished from editorial content and must not influence editorial decisions.
14. Compliance with International Publishing Standards
The journal adheres to best practices recommended by:
• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
