- For editors
- ISSN 2576-2818 (online)
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Editors Guidelines
This page sets out the responsibilities of the editors and Editorial Board members of the Journal of Fertility Biomarkers. It applies the journal's Editorial Policies and the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Editorial responsibilities
- Evaluate manuscripts for fit with the Aims and Scope, originality and methodological soundness, including the validity of the measurements, independent of the authors' identity, affiliation or nationality.
- Select reviewers with relevant expertise and without conflicts of interest with the authors.
- Reach decisions fairly and explain them to authors. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
- Act on concerns about misconduct, ethics or integrity according to COPE guidance, and refer them to the editorial office.
- Encourage submissions within the journal's scope, without any expectation of preferential handling for them.
Handling a manuscript
Screening
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review.
Reviewers
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request. Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts.
Assessment
Check that ethics approval, consent or a documented decision on consent, animal ethics approval, specimen and assay details, data availability and reporting-guideline items are present where applicable.
Decision
Weigh the reviews and the manuscript itself. Reviewer recommendations inform the decision and do not replace editorial judgment.
Revision
Check that revisions address the reviewers' points, and seek further review when the changes are substantial.
Independence, confidentiality and AI
Conflicts of interest
Editors do not handle manuscripts from their own institution, collaborators or competitors, manuscripts that evaluate an assay or product in which they have a commercial interest, or manuscripts on which they have any other conflict. Such manuscripts are reassigned.
Confidentiality
Manuscripts, reviews and reviewer identities are confidential. When double-blind review is requested, editors must ensure that author-identifying information is not shared with reviewers.
Independence from payment
Decisions and the order of review do not depend on the article processing charge, on any fee-relief inquiry, or on an editor's relationship with the authors.
Use of AI
Reviewers must obtain journal permission before using AI to assist with a review. Any permitted use must be disclosed, and confidential manuscript content must not be uploaded where confidentiality cannot be assured. Editors follow the same rule when handling manuscripts.
Joining the Editorial Board
Researchers with a record of publications in reproductive biology, reproductive medicine, andrology, animal reproduction and related fields are invited to write to the editorial office with a curriculum vitae, ORCID iD, and a short statement of their expertise. Applications are reviewed by the editorial office. Board members are listed on the Editorial Board page. Editorial decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.
Board service is based on expertise and is not linked to payment. To handle a manuscript in a particular subject area, members use the process above.