Conflicts of interest (CI) – these are the factors that negatively affect the objectivity, or can be perceived as interference in the process of peer review, editorial decision-making, publishing and presentation of the manuscript.
A conflict of interest may arise in relation to individuals or organizations, and is divided into the following categories (but not be limited to these):
Personal CI:
- Personal relationships (eg, friends, family members, current or previous managers, opponents) with persons involved in the supply or reviewing manuscripts (authors, reviewers, editors, or members of the editorial board);
- Personal beliefs (political, religious, ideological, etc.) related to the topic of the manuscript, may interfere with the objective process of the publication (in the stage of submission, review, editorial decision-making or publication).
Professional CI:
- The reviewer or editor is the author's colleague, who participated or observed the conduct of the study.
- Membership in organizations that lobby the interests of the author.
Financial CI:
- Research grants from various funding organizations: governmental, non-governmental, research or charitable institutions.
- Patent applications (actual or expected), including the application of institutions to which the author refers, and from which he can make a profit;
- Fees, gifts and favors of any kind.
PROCEDURE:
- All persons involved in the manuscript, including authors, editors, reviewers and readers who comment on or evaluate the material, should report any conflict of interest.
- If, in the opinion of the editors, there are circumstances which may affect the impartial review of the material, the editors do not appeal to this reviewer.
- Editorial Board reserves a right not to publish a manuscript, if the conflict of interests declaredby author puts objectivity and authenticity of research estimation under a threat.
- If the editorial board will reveal a conflict of interest that has not been declared upon submission - a manuscript may be rejected. If undeclared conflict of interest is discovered after publication, if necessary, the article can be corrected or removed.