CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A Conflict of Interest (COI), also referred to as a competing interest, exists when professional judgment concerning research conduct, manuscript evaluation, editorial decision-making, or scientific publication may be influenced, or may reasonably be perceived to be influenced, by secondary interests. Such interests may be financial, personal, professional, academic, institutional, or otherwise relevant to the integrity or impartiality of the publication process.

Financial Interests: Commercial research funding, employment, consultancy, advisory roles, paid expert testimony, speaking honoraria, stock ownership, equity interests, patents, royalties, licensing arrangements, or other financial relationships associated with the research or its potential outcomes.
Non-Financial & Institutional Interests: Personal or professional relationships, academic competition, professional rivalry, institutional affiliations, supervisory relationships, intellectual or ideological commitments, leadership positions, or other circumstances that could reasonably affect independent judgment.

COI Disclosure Requirements for Authors

All authors submitting manuscripts to the Al-Najam Journal of Medical and Life Sciences (ANJMLS) are required to disclose financial and non-financial competing interests that could reasonably influence the conduct, interpretation, reporting, or presentation of their research. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have provided complete and accurate declarations at the time of submission.

Authors must disclose all relevant sources of funding and clearly state the role of each funding body in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and the decision to submit or publish the work.

Where Disclosures Must Appear:

All competing interests must be formally declared within the journal's submission system and included in a dedicated section at the end of the manuscript entitled “Competing Interests”.

If no competing interest exists, authors must explicitly state: “The authors declare that they have no competing interests.”

Confidentiality Restrictions: Where authors are subject to legitimate confidentiality obligations imposed by funders, institutions, or commercial partners, they must disclose the existence and nature of such restrictions to the Editor. Such restrictions must not prevent appropriate scientific transparency, ethical oversight, or verification of the research where reasonably required.

COI Disclosure for Reviewers & Editors

The requirement for transparency applies equally to peer reviewers, handling editors, Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff. Individuals involved in manuscript evaluation must identify and disclose any actual, potential, or perceived competing interest that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, independent judgment.

Reviewer Recusal Requirements:

Reviewers must disclose relevant conflicts and decline an invitation when they:

  • Have recently co-authored, collaborated, supervised, or worked closely with any manuscript author.
  • Belong to the same department, laboratory, unit, or institution in circumstances that could compromise impartiality.
  • Have financial, professional, personal, or intellectual interests that could be affected by the manuscript's outcome.
  • Have another circumstance that prevents a fair, objective, and independent assessment.

Editor Recusal & Reassignment:

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts when they have a personal, professional, institutional, academic, or financial relationship that could influence or reasonably appear to influence the editorial decision.

Editorial Firewall: Conflicted manuscripts shall be reassigned to an independent editor who has no relevant conflict with the authors, institutions, reviewers, or study outcomes.

Publisher Integrity & Special Issues

The publisher of ANJMLS shall maintain an appropriate separation between publishing operations, financial administration, and independent editorial decision-making. Publication fees, waivers, sponsorship arrangements, advertising, or other commercial considerations shall not influence peer review, editorial decisions, or the scientific assessment of manuscripts.

Guest Editors and Special Issues: Guest Editors must disclose all relevant competing interests before undertaking editorial responsibilities. A Guest Editor shall not handle manuscripts where a conflict exists, including submissions from close collaborators, current institutional colleagues, students, supervisors, or individuals with whom the Guest Editor has a significant professional or personal relationship. Conflicted manuscripts shall be reassigned to an independent editor.

Handling Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

If an undisclosed or inadequately disclosed conflict of interest is identified during peer review or after publication, ANJMLS may initiate an appropriate investigation. The journal shall assess the nature, significance, timing, and potential effect of the undisclosed conflict on the research or editorial process and shall take proportionate action in accordance with recognized publication-ethics principles.

ANJMLS Response Measures for Undisclosed COI

Depending on the findings and severity of the matter, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • • Request a formal clarification or corrected competing-interest declaration.
  • • Require reassessment or additional peer review where appropriate.
  • • Publish an appropriate correction, editorial notice, or Expression of Concern.
  • • Consider retraction where a significant undisclosed conflict has materially compromised the validity or integrity of the published work.
  • • Notify the relevant institution, funder, or responsible authority where appropriate and legally permissible.