Editorial PoliciesInternational Journal of Cell
IJC is committed to rigorous editorial standards that protect research integrity and encourage reproducible, ethically responsible cell biology research.
Editorial Standards
The journal evaluates manuscripts based on scientific rigor, methodological transparency, and contribution to cellular science. We welcome interdisciplinary research across cell signaling, structural cell biology, cell metabolism, and analytical cell biology.
All submissions undergo editorial screening for scope, ethics, and reporting quality before peer review. Our policies align with international best practices for publication ethics.
Authors are expected to provide clear descriptions of datasets, experimental pipelines, and validation methods to support reproducibility.
Policy Priorities
- Rigorous peer review
- Transparent data and methods
- Ethical sample handling
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Plagiarism screening
- Corrections and retractions
Peer Review Process
Initial Screening
Editors assess scope fit, data integrity, and ethics compliance before review.
Expert Reviewers
Specialists evaluate methodology, statistical validity, and cellular significance.
Decision Transparency
Authors receive structured feedback and clear decision rationale.
Revision Expectations
Revisions must address reviewer comments and include a response letter.
Timely Decisions
We aim for prompt decisions while maintaining rigorous review standards.
Independence
Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, not funding or affiliations.
Methods Transparency and Validation
Manuscripts must report experimental design and validation procedures in sufficient detail. Describe controls, replicates, and assay conditions clearly to support reproducibility.
For computational analyses, report preprocessing steps, software versions, and parameter settings. Provide validation metrics and discuss limitations that affect interpretation.
We encourage authors to share protocols and reference standards to help readers replicate cellular findings.
Reporting Essentials
- Controls and replicates
- Assay conditions and buffers
- Validation metrics and thresholds
- Data preprocessing details
- Software versions and parameters
- Limitations and sources of bias
Research Integrity and Ethics
Cell Biology research often involves human samples, animal models, or sensitive data. Authors must address ethical considerations in study design and reporting.
Provide ethics committee approvals and informed consent statements when required.
Document sample handling, storage conditions, and any quality control procedures.
Report financial relationships, data ownership, and potential conflicts.
All submissions are screened for plagiarism and duplicate publication.
Authorship and Contributions
Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to study design, data analysis, or interpretation. Provide a contributor statement that clarifies roles such as experimental design, data curation, and writing.
Disclose funding sources and any commercial relationships that could influence the research. Ghostwriting and guest authorship are not permitted.
Data, Code, and Reproducibility
Authors should provide data availability statements and, when possible, share datasets and code in trusted repositories. If data cannot be shared due to legal or privacy restrictions, describe controlled access procedures.
Algorithms, preprocessing steps, and evaluation metrics should be described in sufficient detail to allow replication. Provide version information for software libraries and platforms.
When computational environments are complex, provide workflow specifications or configuration details so others can reproduce results.
Preprints, Prior Publication, and Licensing
Preprints are permitted when disclosed at submission. Authors should provide preprint links and ensure that manuscripts are not under review elsewhere.
Reuse of third party data or proprietary datasets must be supported by appropriate permissions. Include licensing details in the manuscript and data availability statement.
Plagiarism screening is conducted on all submissions. Manuscripts with significant overlap or duplicate publication will be rejected.
Editorial Independence and Appeals
Editors and reviewers must evaluate manuscripts without bias related to author affiliation, geography, or funding source. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed promptly.
Authors may appeal decisions by providing a clear rationale and evidence based response. Appeals are reviewed by senior editors to ensure fairness and consistency.
Document all decisions clearly.
Corrections and Updates
If errors are identified after publication, the journal will issue corrections or retractions in accordance with editorial policy. Authors should notify the editorial office promptly if issues are discovered.
Post publication updates are linked to the original article to maintain transparency and trust in the scientific record. Readers may report concerns to the editorial office for investigation.
Substantive updates are clearly labeled to preserve formal citation integrity.
Publish with Confidence
Review our editorial policies and submit research that meets the highest standards of cellular integrity.
Author Guidelines Contact the Editorial OfficeEmail: [email protected] | Response within 24 business hours | Editorial policy support available
