Policy Review and Updates

Advances in BioScience maintains a structured governance framework to ensure that all Publishing Ethics and Editorial Policies are developed, implemented, reviewed, and revised in accordance with internationally recognized standards of research integrity and scholarly publishing best practices.

These policies are subject to periodic review and revision to ensure continued alignment with evolving international standards and developments in scholarly communication. This page provides a centralized and transparent record of policy updates, amendments, and revisions.

Alignment with International Standards

The journal’s policies are informed by and aligned with the principles and guidance of recognized international bodies, including:

  • The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
  • The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)

Where applicable, the journal also considers discipline-specific ethical standards and applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.

Policy Review and Update Process

The journal’s Publishing Ethics and Editorial Policies are subject to periodic review to reflect:

  • Developments in international publishing, research integrity, and data transparency standards
  • Updates in peer review models and editorial best practices
  • Emerging ethical considerations, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Changes in regulatory, legal, or compliance requirements affecting research and publication practices

Policy Review Cycle

Publishing Ethics and Editorial Policies are reviewed according to the following framework:

  • Formally reviewed at least annually, or
  • Reviewed on an ad hoc basis in response to emerging ethical guidance, regulatory developments, technological changes (including AI-related considerations), or operational needs

Oversight Authority

Ultimate responsibility for editorial policy governance rests with the Editor-in-Chief and is exercised in accordance with internationally recognized principles of research and publication ethics. Policy development, review, and amendments may be undertaken in consultation with the following parties, as appropriate:

  • The Editorial Board
  • The Publisher
  • Independent subject-matter or ethics advisors

All governance decisions are made independently of commercial, financial, or external influences to safeguard editorial autonomy.

Policy Coverage and Scope

Updates may include, but are not limited to, revisions in the following areas of publishing ethics and editorial policy:

  • Authorship and contributorship criteria
  • Conflict of interest and disclosure requirements
  • Data availability and reproducibility standards
  • Ethical approval and informed consent policies
  • Peer review procedures and transparency practices
  • Corrections, retractions, and post-publication updates
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) use in research and manuscript preparation
  • Allegations of misconduct and investigative procedures

All updates are designed to strengthen accountability, clarity, and fairness in editorial decision-making.

Versioning Convention

Policy versions follow a structured numbering system to ensure clarity and traceability:

  • Major revisions (reflecting substantive policy updates affecting scope, obligations, or standards) increment the primary version number (e.g., Version 1.0 to 2.0)
  • Minor amendments (reflecting clarifications, corrections, or supplementary provisions) increment the secondary version number (e.g., Version 1.0 to 1.1)

Each version is assigned a unique effective date and recorded in the Version History table below.

Version History

Version Effective Date Policy Section(s) Updated Summary of Changes
1.0 01 March 2026 All Publishing Ethics & Editorial Policies Initial consolidated publication of the journal’s standardized publishing ethics and editorial policy governance framework.

Effective Date and Applicability

Unless otherwise stated, policy revisions take effect upon publication on the journal’s official website.

  • Revised policies apply to all new submissions received after the effective date.
  • Ongoing submissions will be governed by the policy version in effect at the time of their original submission, unless ethical or legal considerations require the immediate application of updated provisions.
  • Post-publication matters are handled in accordance with the policy version in force at the time the concern is formally raised.

Previous versions of these policies are archived and available upon request from the Editorial Office. Authors, reviewers, and editors may request access to a prior version that was in effect at the time of their engagement with the journal.

Transparency of Changes

When substantive policy changes are made:

  • The updated policy will be published on the journal website and recorded in the Version History table.
  • The effective date of revision will be clearly indicated.
  • For all substantive policy revisions, a plain-language summary of major amendments will be provided alongside the updated policy.
  • Previously published articles remain governed by the policies in effect at the time of their publication, unless ethical concerns necessitate retrospective review.

Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors

All stakeholders are expected to adhere to the journal’s policies applicable at the time of their submission, review, or editorial handling. Continued submission of manuscripts, participation in peer review, or engagement with the journal constitutes acknowledgment of and agreement to the journal’s applicable publishing policies.

Policy Inquiries

Questions or suggestions regarding publishing ethics or editorial policies may be directed to the Editorial Office at editor@sospublication.co.in. The journal is committed to handling all such concerns with fairness, confidentiality, and transparency. The journal will normally acknowledge formal concerns within five business days and will provide a substantive response within thirty business days.