Conflict of Interest Policy

The MISJ – International Journal of Medical Research and Allied Sciences (MISJ-IJMRAAS) requires all authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research, peer review, or publication process. Transparency is essential to maintain the integrity, credibility, and impartiality of scientific publishing.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest (COI)

A conflict of interest exists when financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships could influence, or appear to influence, the objectivity, integrity, or interpretation of research and editorial decisions.

Examples may include:

• Financial support, grants, consultancy fees, stock ownership, or honoraria
• Personal or professional relationships with authors, institutions, or organizations
• Academic competition or intellectual bias
• Patents, copyrights, or proprietary interests related to the submitted work

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors must:

• disclose all potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission,
• provide a Conflict of Interest Statement within the manuscript,
• ensure that disclosed relationships do not compromise the scientific integrity of the study.

If no conflicts exist, authors should state:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must:

• disclose any actual or potential conflicts before accepting a review assignment,
• decline review invitations where impartial evaluation cannot be ensured,
• maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and unpublished data,
• avoid using unpublished information for personal or professional advantage.

4. Editor Responsibilities

Editors must:

• ensure fair and unbiased editorial decisions,
• recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist,
• maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer review process,
• base publication decisions solely on scientific merit, originality, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal scope.

5. Management of Conflicts

All disclosed conflicts of interest are evaluated during the editorial and peer review process.

Where appropriate, relevant disclosures may be published alongside the article to ensure transparency.

The journal reserves the right to reject manuscripts or take appropriate editorial action if undisclosed conflicts compromise the integrity or credibility of the research.

Conclusion

MISJ-IJMRAAS is committed to maintaining transparency, objectivity, and ethical standards throughout the publication process. Proper disclosure of conflicts of interest helps preserve trust among authors, reviewers, editors, and readers within the scientific community.