Peer Review Process

JBMB uses a structured peer review process to ensure fairness and quality. Editors select reviewers with subject expertise in hematology, transplantation science, and marrow biology.

• Initial editorial screening for scope, ethics, and completeness.
• Specialist peer review focusing on methodology and results.
• Editorial decisions based on reviewer input and journal standards.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are independent of funding sources, institutional relationships, or APC payments. JBMB maintains a clear separation between business operations and editorial judgment to protect scientific integrity.

Reviewer Confidentiality and Conduct

Reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality and provide objective assessments. Confidentiality protects authors and ensures unbiased evaluation of novel findings.

• Do not share or discuss manuscripts outside the review process.
• Declare conflicts of interest before accepting a review.
• Provide constructive, evidence based feedback.

Ethics and Compliance

Ethical oversight is essential in bone marrow research. JBMB requires clear documentation of ethics approvals, consent procedures, and clinical trial registration where applicable.

• Human studies must include institutional review board approval.
• Animal studies must follow welfare and care guidelines.
• Clinical trials should provide registry identifiers.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of a manuscript. Transparency protects reader trust and supports ethical publishing.

• Authors must disclose financial, institutional, or personal conflicts.
• Reviewers must recuse themselves if conflicts exist.
• Editors manage potential conflicts to preserve neutrality.

Plagiarism and Originality

JBMB screens submissions for originality and text overlap. Plagiarism or redundant publication is not permitted and may result in rejection or retraction.

• Similarity checks are applied during editorial review.
• Duplicate submissions are not accepted.
• Proper citation is required for reused methods or concepts.

Image and Data Integrity

Image manipulation or data fabrication undermines the scientific record. JBMB expects authors to preserve original data and disclose any image adjustments used for clarity.

• Maintain original data files for verification if requested.
• Describe any image processing or normalization methods.
• Avoid selective reporting or omission of relevant data.

Reporting Guidelines

To improve reproducibility, JBMB encourages the use of reporting frameworks appropriate to study design. This helps reviewers assess methodological completeness.

• CONSORT for clinical trials.
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta analyses.
• STROBE for observational studies.
• ARRIVE for animal research.

Preprints and Prior Publication

JBMB considers manuscripts previously posted as preprints, provided authors disclose prior posting and link to the final published version after acceptance. Preprints must not be represented as peer reviewed articles.

Authorship and Contributions

Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research. All authors are responsible for the integrity of the work and must approve the final manuscript.

• Clearly define author roles and contributions when requested.
• Acknowledge contributors who do not meet authorship criteria.
• Changes in authorship require documented agreement.

Open Access and Licensing

Accepted articles are published under open access licensing to promote visibility and reuse with proper attribution. Licensing details are provided at acceptance and displayed on the final article.

Editorial Communication

JBMB prioritizes clear communication throughout the review process. Authors are notified of decisions with actionable feedback and guidance for revisions or resubmission.

• Decision letters include reviewer comments and editor summaries.
• Authors may request clarification when guidance is unclear.

Corrections and Retractions

JBMB supports corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions when needed to maintain the scholarly record. Updates are linked to the original article to preserve citation integrity.

• Corrections are issued for factual errors that affect interpretation.
• Expressions of concern may be posted during investigations.
• Retractions are reserved for significant integrity or ethics issues.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing a clear rationale and supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by senior editors to ensure fairness and adherence to policy.

• Appeals should address specific reviewer or editorial concerns.
• New data or clarifications should be clearly documented.
• Complaints are handled confidentially and reviewed promptly.

Contact

For questions about editorial policy, contact [email protected].