Reviewer Guidelines
Start with the Reviewer Guidelines for expectations on scope, ethics, and decision making.
Review Structure Template
A consistent structure helps editors interpret your recommendation and helps authors respond efficiently. Use a short summary followed by major and minor points.
- Summary of the study and its contribution to marrow biology.
- Major issues affecting validity or interpretation.
- Minor issues such as clarity, formatting, or references.
- Confidential comments to the editor when needed.
Review Checklist
- Confirm the manuscript fits JBMB scope and audience.
- Evaluate methodology, statistics, and reproducibility.
- Check ethics approvals and consent statements.
- Assess figure clarity and data integrity.
- Verify that conclusions align with the results.
Statistical and Methods Checks
Reviewers should confirm that methods and statistics are sufficient to support the conclusions. Note unclear reporting or missing controls.
- Verify that sample size and endpoints are described.
- Check that statistical tests match the study design.
- Confirm that results include measures of variability.
Confidentiality and Integrity
All manuscripts are confidential. Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and report suspected misconduct to the editorial office.
Data and Image Review
If figures appear inconsistent or data seems incomplete, note the concern in your review. Editors may request additional materials to clarify integrity questions.
Ethics and Patient Data
Bone marrow studies often involve sensitive clinical data. Ensure that ethics approvals, informed consent, and data anonymization are clearly documented.
- Confirm ethics committee approval statements are included.
- Check that patient identifiers are removed from images or tables.
- Note missing trial registration numbers when required.
Decision Writing Tips
- Separate major issues from minor edits.
- Reference specific sections, tables, or figures.
- Offer actionable recommendations for improvement.
Time Management
If you anticipate delays, notify the editorial office early. Timely reviews support a positive author experience and maintain JBMB publication timelines.
When to Decline a Review
Declining promptly helps the editorial office identify alternate reviewers and keeps decisions on schedule. Decline if you cannot provide an objective, timely review.
- Conflicts of interest or recent collaboration with the authors.
- Insufficient subject expertise for the manuscript topic.
- Inability to meet the requested review timeline.
Communication Support
If you need guidance on review scope or timelines, contact [email protected]. The editorial office can assist with extensions or clarification.
