The Critical Reviews in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CRBLS) journal is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the publication of scientific research. This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, and reviewers involved in the publishing process to ensure the integrity and credibility of all published content.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that the work submitted to CRBLS is original, and that all sources are properly cited. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts submitted for publication must not have been previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere.

• Data Integrity: Authors must ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data presented in their manuscripts. Any form of data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation will lead to immediate rejection of the manuscript.

• Authorship: Authorship should be based on significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All individuals who meet the authorship criteria should be listed as authors, and all co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could influence the manuscript’s interpretation or presentation. These disclosures should be made at the time of submission.

• Ethical Approval for Research: For research involving human participants or animals, authors must ensure that proper ethical approvals have been obtained. The study should be conducted in accordance with established ethical guidelines, and appropriate permissions should be obtained from institutional review boards (IRB) or ethics committees. Informed consent from participants must be documented.

• Informed Consent: Authors must ensure that informed consent has been obtained from participants involved in the study. This consent should be documented and provided to the editorial team upon request.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscripts they review as confidential documents. They must not share or discuss the contents of the manuscript with anyone outside the review process, nor should they use any knowledge gained from reviewing for personal advantage.

• Objectivity and Impartiality: Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, based solely on their scientific merit and relevance to the field. Personal bias, professional rivalry, or conflicts of interest should not influence the review process.

• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their ability to provide an unbiased review. If a reviewer feels that they cannot provide an impartial review due to a conflict, they should recuse themselves from evaluating the manuscript.

• Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews within the specified time frame. If they are unable to meet the deadline, they should notify the editorial team promptly, so that alternative reviewers can be identified.

• Ethical Concerns: If reviewers identify any ethical issues, such as plagiarism, data falsification, or unethical research practices, they must notify the editorial team immediately.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

• Fairness and Transparency: Editors must ensure that manuscripts are handled fairly and impartially, and that decisions are made based solely on the quality and scientific merit of the work. Editors must ensure that no biases, such as the authors' institutional affiliation or nationality, influence the decision-making process.

• Confidentiality: Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential. They must not share or disclose any information about the manuscript or its content outside of the editorial and review process.

• Handling Conflicts of Interest: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence their impartiality. If an editor has a conflict of interest with a manuscript under consideration, they must recuse themselves from making any decisions regarding that manuscript.

• Ethical Oversight: Editors are responsible for investigating any allegations of ethical violations, including plagiarism, research misconduct, or authorship disputes. They must take appropriate actions to address any ethical concerns, including rejecting manuscripts or retracting published articles if necessary.

• Publication Decisions: Editors make final decisions about whether a manuscript will be accepted, revised, or rejected for publication. These decisions should be based on the feedback from reviewers, the manuscript’s scientific quality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and adherence to ethical standards.

4. Handling of Allegations of Misconduct:

• Investigation of Misconduct: If an allegation of misconduct arises (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research practices), the editor will conduct a thorough investigation. The author(s) will be given an opportunity to respond to any allegations made against them.

• Retraction and Correction: If a published article is found to contain serious ethical issues or errors, the editor may issue a correction, retraction, or clarification, depending on the nature and severity of the issue. Retractions will be clearly marked and accompanied by a statement explaining the reason for the retraction.

5. Copyright and Licensing:

• Copyright Ownership: Authors retain copyright of their work after publication in CRBLS, but by submitting a manuscript, authors grant the journal a license to publish and distribute the article. Authors agree to the licensing terms provided by the journal, which may include open access and Creative Commons licenses.

• Open Access Policy: CRBLS operates on an open access model, where all articles are freely available to the global research community. Authors may be required to pay publication fees to cover the costs of open access publishing.

6. Ethical Guidelines for Research with Human and Animal Subjects:

• Ethical Approval: Authors submitting manuscripts that involve human participants or animal subjects must provide a statement confirming that ethical approval has been obtained from a relevant ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB). The manuscript must also include a statement about informed consent, if applicable.

• Animal Welfare: Research involving animals must comply with ethical guidelines for animal care and use, and authors must ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout the study.

7. Ethical Guidelines for Data and Source Transparency:

• Data Sharing: Authors are encouraged to share their data in publicly accessible repositories to enhance transparency and reproducibility. If data cannot be shared, authors should provide a clear explanation in the manuscript.

• Source Attribution: All sources used in the manuscript must be properly cited. Authors must ensure that appropriate attribution is given to others’ ideas, methods, and data, in line with academic and ethical standards.

8. Journal's Commitment to Ethical Publishing:

CRBLS is committed to ensuring that all articles published in the journal meet the highest ethical standards.The editorial team is dedicated to promoting the responsible conduct of research and maintaining the trust of the scientific community.