PEER VIEW POLICY
PANACEA
ISSN (P): --------, (E): ------
PEER REVIEW POLICY
Medical Research Journal of RLKU Medical and Dental College
Introduction
PANACEA, the medical research journal of RLKU Medical and Dental College, is committed to publishing high-quality, original research that contributes to the advancement of medical and dental sciences. To ensure the integrity and validity of the research published in our journal, we adhere to a rigorous peer-review process. This policy outlines the guidelines for submissions, article types, and general requirements for review.
Submissions
PANACEA welcomes submissions from researchers, academicians, and clinicians from around the world. All manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors are required to submit their manuscripts online through our website, where they will be peer-reviewed by at least two experts in the relevant field. We accept submissions in the following categories:
Original Research Articles: Reports of original research in all areas of medical and dental sciences, including basic sciences, clinical sciences, and public health.
Review Articles: Comprehensive reviews of topics of current interest in medical and dental sciences, written by experts in the field.
Case Reports: Interesting and unusual cases that contribute to the understanding of medical and dental sciences.
Letters to the Editor: Brief communications that comment on previously published articles or provide new insights into medical and dental sciences.
Article Types for Submission
PANACEA publishes the following types of articles:
Original Research Articles: 3000-5000 words, including abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.
Review Articles: 3000-5000 words, including abstract, introduction, body, and conclusion.
Case Reports: 1000-2000 words, including abstract, introduction, case presentation, discussion, and conclusion.
Letters to the Editor: 500-1000 words, including introduction, body, and conclusion.
General Requirements for Review
All manuscripts submitted to PANACEA will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, which involves the following steps:
Initial Review: The Editor-in-Chief will review the manuscript to ensure that it meets the journal's scope and submission guidelines.
Peer Review: The manuscript will be reviewed by at least two experts in the relevant field, who will assess the manuscript's originality, validity, and relevance to the field.
Reviewers' Comments: Reviewers will provide detailed comments on the manuscript, including suggestions for improvement.
Revision and Resubmission: Authors will be required to revise and resubmit their manuscript based on the reviewers' comments.
Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief will make a final decision on the manuscript, based on the reviewers' comments and the revised manuscript.
Peer-Review Process
The peer-review process at PANACEA is double-blinded, meaning that the identities of the authors and reviewers are kept confidential. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the relevant field, and they are required to declare any conflicts of interest. Reviewers will assess the manuscript based on the following criteria:
Originality: Does the manuscript present new and original research?
Validity: Are the research methods and results valid and reliable?
Relevance: Is the research relevant to the field of medical and dental sciences?
Clarity: Is the manuscript well-written and easy to understand?
Ethics: Does the manuscript comply with ethical standards and guidelines?
Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest
Reviewers are required to maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and not share it with anyone. They are also required to declare any conflicts of interest, including financial or personal relationships that may influence their review. Authors are also required to declare any conflicts of interest, including funding sources and financial relationships.
Timeline
The peer-review process at PANACEA typically takes 4-6 weeks, but may vary depending on the complexity of the manuscript and the availability of reviewers. Authors can expect to receive an initial decision on their manuscript within 2-3 weeks, and a final decision within 6-8 weeks.
Conclusion
PANACEA is committed to publishing high-quality research that contributes to the advancement of medical and dental sciences. Our peer-review policy is designed to ensure the integrity and validity of the research published in our journal, and we invite researchers, academicians, and clinicians to submit their manuscripts for consideration. By following our peer-review policy, we aim to maintain the highest standards of excellence in medical and dental research.
Author Guidelines
Authors are required to follow the guidelines outlined below:
Manuscript Preparation: Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word or LaTeX, and should include the following elements:
Title page: title, authors, affiliations, and contact information
Abstract: 150-250 words, summarizing the main findings of the manuscript
Introduction: background, literature review, and research questions
Methods: research design, methods, and procedures
Results: presentation of findings, including tables, figures, and graphs
Discussion: interpretation of results, implications, and limitations
Conclusion: summary of main findings and recommendations
Submission: Manuscripts should be submitted online through our website, where they will be peer-reviewed by at least two experts in the relevant field.
Authorship: Authors are responsible for ensuring that all contributors to the manuscript are included as authors, and that all authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest: Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest, including funding sources and financial relationships.
Plagiarism: Authors are required to ensure that their manuscript is original and does not contain any plagiarized material.
Reviewer Guidelines
Reviewers are required to follow the guidelines outlined below:
Confidentiality: Reviewers are required to maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and not share it with anyone.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest, including financial or personal relationships that may influence their review.
Timeliness: Reviewers are required to submit their reviews within the specified timeframe, typically 2-3 weeks.
Constructive Feedback: Reviewers are required to provide constructive feedback that is helpful to the authors, including suggestions for improvement.
Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers will assess the manuscript based on the criteria outlined in the peer-review policy, including originality, validity, relevance, clarity, and ethics.
By following our peer-review policy and guidelines, we aim to ensure the highest standards of excellence in medical and dental research, and to publish high-quality research that contributes to the advancement of medical and dental sciences.
DOUBLE BLIND PEER REVIEW POLICY
Objectives of Double Blind Peer Review
The primary objectives of our DBPR process are:
To maintain the quality and validity of research: By subjecting manuscripts to rigorous peer review, we ensure that only high-quality research that contributes significantly to the field is published.
To provide constructive feedback: Our DBPR process allows authors to receive detailed, constructive feedback from reviewers, helping them improve their work and prepare it for publication.
To prevent bias and conflict of interest: By anonymizing both authors and reviewers, we minimize the potential for bias and conflict of interest, allowing manuscripts to be evaluated solely on their scientific merit.
The Double Blind Peer Review Process
The following steps outline our DBPR process:
Initial Screening: The Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors conduct an initial review of all submitted manuscripts to assess their relevance, originality, and overall quality.
Reviewer Selection: Suitable reviewers are selected based on their expertise and experience in the relevant field. Reviewers are asked to declare any potential conflicts of interest and are required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Manuscript Anonymization: Manuscripts are anonymized to remove any identifying information, including author names, affiliations, and contact details.
Reviewer Evaluation: Reviewers evaluate the anonymized manuscript based on the following criteria:
Originality and significance of the research
• Methodological soundness and validity
• Clarity and coherence of the writing
• Relevance and impact of the findings
• Adherence to journal guidelines and formatting requirements
Review Report: Reviewers provide a detailed report, including recommendations for acceptance, revision, or rejection.
Editorial Decision: The Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors make a decision based on the reviewer reports, which may include:
• Acceptance without revisions
• Acceptance with minor revisions
• Acceptance with major revisions
• Rejection with an invitation to resubmit
• Rejection without an invitation to resubmit
Author Notification: Authors are notified of the editorial decision and receive the anonymized reviewer reports.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to:
• Maintain confidentiality: Reviewers must not disclose any information about the manuscript or the review process to anyone.
• Avoid conflicts of interest: Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.
• Provide constructive feedback: Reviewers must provide detailed, constructive feedback that is respectful and professional.
• Meet deadlines: Reviewers must submit their reports within the allocated timeframe.
Authors’ Responsibilities
Authors are expected to:
• Ensure manuscript anonymity: Authors must remove any identifying information from their manuscript.
• Respond to reviewer comments: Authors must address all reviewer comments and concerns in their revised manuscript.
• Maintain the integrity of the review process: Authors must not attempt to contact reviewers or influence the review process in any way.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
PANACEA is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of all manuscripts and review reports. We adhere to the highest standards of data protection and ensure that all personal data is handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Conclusion
The Double Blind Peer Review policy of PANACEA, the research journal of RLKU Medical & Dental College, is designed to ensure the highest standards of academic integrity, quality, and excellence in the dissemination of research findings. By following this policy, we aim to provide a fair, transparent, and constructive review process that benefits authors, reviewers, and the scientific community as a whole.
Principal Contact; panacea@rlkumc.edu.pk
