- For authors
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
- Published by Open Access Pub
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to International Journal of Biochemistry Advances: submission routes, article types, manuscript structure, reporting standards, ethics statements and fees.
Submission routes
Three routes are available, in this order of preference.
- ManuscriptZone · primary routeThe publisher's online submission and review system. Register or sign in, choose International Journal of Biochemistry Advances and upload the manuscript files.
- Simple manuscript submission form · alternative routeA single-page form that opens with International Journal of Biochemistry Advances selected.
- info@openaccesspub.org · assisted routeFor authors who are unable to use either online route. Send the manuscript files with a cover letter to the editorial office.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Article types
IJBA publishes the article types below. Requirements depend on the format: hypotheses, controls, replicates and a Methods and Results structure apply where the design calls for them. The scope of each type is set out in the Aims and Scope.
Original Research
Empirical, computational or theoretical studies that report new biochemical findings, including studies of purified components, cells, organisms and patient-derived material.
- Abstract
- Structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text
- Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions. State the research question and, where applicable, the hypotheses, the controls, the number of independent replicates and the statistical analysis.
- Reporting
- The community standard for the design, for example STRENDA for enzyme-kinetics data or ARRIVE for animal studies.
Review Article
An authoritative, critical survey of a defined area of biochemistry that interprets the literature and identifies open questions.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings. Describe how the literature was selected, and support each claim with cited evidence.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim; figures and schemes adapted from published work need permission or a compatible license.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic synthesis of evidence on a defined biochemical question, with or without meta-analysis. Scoping reviews that use systematic methods are included.
- Abstract
- Structured, with headings adapted to the review.
- Main text
- Introduction; Methods (eligibility criteria, information sources and the full search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment and synthesis); Results with a flow diagram; Discussion. Give the protocol registration, for example in PROSPERO, where applicable.
- Reporting
- PRISMA 2020; PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews.
Methods and Protocols
A new, adapted or validated method for biochemistry, such as an assay, purification scheme, analytical procedure or computational workflow, and protocols for planned studies.
- Abstract
- Structured, with headings adapted to the method.
- Main text
- Rationale; a description of the method with the detail, reagents, code or materials others need to apply it; validation or a worked application, compared with existing approaches where available; limitations. A protocol for a planned study sets out the design, materials, steps, controls, planned replicates and statistical analysis plan; results are not required.
- Reporting
- Name reagents with suppliers and identifiers where available, and give software versions and parameters.
Short Communication
A concise report of a focused or preliminary finding of biochemical importance.
- Abstract
- Brief, structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text
- A condensed Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion centered on the main finding.
- Reporting
- As for Original Research, where applicable.
Technical Note
A brief description of a technique, instrument, reagent or software tool, with evidence of how it performs.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Purpose of the tool or technique; description with enough detail for use; performance data or a worked example; limitations and availability.
- Reporting
- Give the source of any software or reagents and the conditions of use.
Data Note
A description of a dataset of biochemical value, such as kinetic, spectral, structural or omics data, to support its reuse.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Background and rationale; data collection methods; description of the dataset (variables, format, coverage); quality control; data access, with the repository, persistent identifier and license; limitations for reuse. Analyses are limited to those that describe the data.
- Reporting
- Deposit the dataset in a recognized repository before submission, and follow the community standard for the data type where one exists.
Perspective
An evidence-based argument on a current question in biochemistry or on published research.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Letter
A brief response to an article published in IJBA, or a short observation of biochemical relevance.
- Abstract
- None.
- Main text
- Short text without section headings and with a small number of references. A letter about a published article cites it in full, and its authors may be invited to reply.
- Reporting
- Reference the article or evidence discussed.
Length. There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Choosing a type. Where a manuscript sits between types, choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter; the editors confirm the classification. A protocol is classified as Methods and Protocols, and a brief description of a tool as a Technical Note.
Preparing the manuscript
Files, title page, keywords, nomenclature, declarations, cover letter and language apply to all submissions. The abstract, the structure of the main text and the methods reporting follow the guidance for each article type above.
- Files
- The main text as an editable word-processing file (for example, Microsoft Word), with figures, tables that cannot be edited in the text, and supplementary material supplied as separate files.
- Title page
- A concise, informative title; full names, affiliations and ORCID iDs (recommended) of all authors; and the corresponding author's contact details.
- Double-blind review
- For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
- Abstract
- As set for the article type above. Original Research and Short Communication use a structured abstract with the headings Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions; Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Methods and Protocols use a structured abstract with headings adapted to the review or method. Review Article, Technical Note, Data Note and Perspective have a brief unstructured abstract, and a Letter has none.
- Keywords
- A short list of specific, searchable terms.
- Nomenclature and units
- Use SI units and standard biochemical nomenclature. Give enzymes with their EC numbers, genes and proteins in the accepted notation for the organism, and chemical compounds with names or identifiers that allow them to be found.
- Materials and methods
- For manuscripts that report laboratory, computational or data work (Original Research, Short Communication, Methods and Protocols, Technical Note and Data Note): describe materials, strains, cell lines, reagents and instruments with sources, and give protocols in enough detail for replication. Report the number of independent replicates, the statistical methods and the software with its version where the design involves them; a protocol for a planned study gives the planned replicates and analysis plan instead. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis reports the review methods set out above. Review Article, Perspective and Letter do not need a Methods section.
- Declarations
- Author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and consent where applicable, data availability and any use of AI tools.
- Cover letter
- States the article type and the biochemical contribution of the work, confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and notes any preprint and any request for double-blind review.
- Language
- Clear English, with abbreviations defined at first use.
Reporting guidelines
Report the study following the guideline or community standard that matches its design and upload the completed checklist as a supplementary file where one exists. Guidelines are available from the EQUATOR Network.
| Study design | Guideline or standard |
|---|---|
| Enzyme-kinetics and enzyme-assay data | STRENDA |
| Quantitative PCR experiments | MIQE |
| Macromolecular structures | wwPDB validation report for the deposited structure |
| Animal research | ARRIVE 2.0 |
| Randomized trials | CONSORT |
| Observational studies | STROBE |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Diagnostic accuracy studies | STARD |
| Prediction models | TRIPOD |
References, tables and figures
- Reference style
- Numbered in order of first citation. List the first five authors, then et al., and give a stable URL where one exists. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
- Tables
- Numbered consecutively, each with a descriptive title; abbreviations and symbols explained in a footnote.
- Figures
- High resolution (at least 300 dpi) in TIFF, EPS, PNG or high-quality JPEG, with a caption for each figure and text that remains legible after reduction. Gels and blots are shown uncropped or with clearly marked cropping, and original images are available on request.
- Chemical structures and schemes
- Drawn as vector graphics where possible, with atoms, charges and stereochemistry clearly shown.
- Supplementary files
- Numbered (for example, Supplementary Table S1), cited in the text and listed with short titles at the end of the manuscript. They are published as supplied, so they must be final.
- Reused material
- Written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt published figures, tables or text, unless the material is already available under a license that permits reuse; the source is cited in the legend.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, et al. (Year) Title of the article. Journal Name. Volume(Issue):pages.
- Book
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
- Dataset or structure
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the dataset. Version. Repository Name. Accession number
- Preprint
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the preprint. Preprint Server Name [Preprint]. URL
Ethics and declarations
Each manuscript includes the statements below that apply to it. The full policies are set out in the Editorial Policies.
Human participants and samples
The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval reference number, and confirmation of informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable. This includes patient-derived samples.
Clinical trials
Interventional clinical trials must be registered in an accepted public trial registry at or before the first participant provides consent for enrollment. The registry name, registration number, and registration date must be reported in the manuscript.
Animal research
Approval from the institutional animal care and use committee or animal ethics committee with its reference number, compliance with animal-welfare regulations and the 3Rs, and reporting in line with the ARRIVE guidelines.
Conflicts of interest and funding
All financial and non-financial interests of every author, each source of funding and the role of the funder.
Data availability
Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. It explains where the data can be found or the conditions for access.
Use of AI tools
Any use of AI tools in writing, analysis or figure preparation, with the tool named and its use described. AI tools are not listed as authors.
Peer review and decisions
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening, including a similarity check with Crossref Similarity Check. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review.
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. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
Revised manuscripts are accompanied by a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. After acceptance, authors check the proofs, and the article is published open access under CC BY 4.0.
Fees
USD 1,200 article processing charge for every article type.
The article processing charge is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy.
No charge is made at submission. Fee-relief inquiries are considered case by case; contact the editorial office before or at submission. Full details are on the Article Processing Charges page.
Final checklist
A fuller checklist and the submission routes are on the Submit Manuscript page.
- The central contribution of the manuscript is biochemical, and it uses one of the article types above.
- The title page, abstract, keywords and main text follow the guidance for the article type.
- For double-blind review, the reviewer manuscript is anonymized and identifying information is in the title-page file.
- Ethics approval, informed consent or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, and trial registration are reported where applicable.
- The completed reporting checklist is attached where applicable.
- Declarations cover contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability and AI use.
- Figures, tables and supplementary files are cited in the text, and permissions are in place for reused material.
- A cover letter accompanies the submission, which is made through one route only.
Author inquiries
Questions about preparing or submitting a manuscript can be sent to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org.