COI typically refers to specific and identifiable situations where objectivity is compromised.
CI is broader and includes any real or perceived factors that might challenge neutrality.
A conflict of interest or competing Interest may arise when you, your employer, or your sponsor have a financial, commercial, legal, or professional relationship with other organizations or the people working with them, which could influence your research. The Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing.
As part of this commitment, we require all authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any conflicts of interest (COI) or competing interests (CI) that may influence their work. This policy ensures that the Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology maintains the integrity and objectivity of the research we publish. The Author must declare the conflict of interest in the cover letter or at the end of the manuscript before references.
Conflict of Interest (COI) and Competing Interest(CI)
A conflict of interest arises when a participant (or an immediate family member, such as a parent, spouse, child, or sibling) has financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence their actions. Financial relationships such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, or paid expert testimony are the most recognizable conflicts of interest. These relationships and funding conditions can bias research, discredit findings, and undermine credibility. However, non-financial conflicts of interest also exist (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)).
To ensure transparency and objectivity, all participants must disclose any potential, perceived, or actual conflicts of interest that may influence or appear to influence their submissions. Declaring conflicts of interest is essential for transparency but does not necessarily preclude participation.
According to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), conflicts of interest occur when authors, reviewers, or editors have interests that are not entirely transparent and may impact their decisions on what to publish. If these interests are not disclosed and are only revealed later, they may lead a reasonable reader to feel misled or deceived.
In situations involving a conflict of interest (COI) or competing interest (CI), authors, reviewers, and editors may need to disclose the following:
Financial Relationships: Funding sources for the study, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or honoraria. Grants, patents, or royalties related to the study.
Personal Relationships: Relationships with individuals or organizations that could influence the research.
Institutional Affiliations: Memberships, positions, or affiliations with organizations that could bias the work.
Intellectual Property: Ownership of patents or copyrights relevant to the research.
Other Potential Influences: Any other factors that could affect the integrity of the research or its interpretation.
Policy for Authors
Authors who wish to publish manuscripts to the Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology must disclose any COI or CI that may influence their work. Authors should include a statement in their manuscript stating whether or not they have any COI or CI to disclose.
Authors with a COI or CI should include a detailed explanation of the relationship and how it may influence their research. The editors will evaluate and consider the COI or CI disclosures during the review process.
When submitting their work, authors must disclose any financial or personal interests that could potentially impact the evaluation and publication of their content. If there are no such interests, authors should declare, “The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.”
However, if a conflict of interest exists, authors must take specific actions.
- Authors must acknowledge all forms of financial support from their contributions.
- Authors must disclose any commercial or financial involvements that may create a perceived conflict of interest related to their contributions. They should discuss with the Editor where this information should be disclosed in the Journal.
- Authors must specify that they have not entered into any agreements with sponsors of the research reported in their contributions that would restrict the publication of both positive and negative results or require prior approval from the sponsor to publish the research.
Policy for Reviewers
Reviewers for the Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology must disclose any COI or CI that may influence their manuscript review. If a reviewer has a COI or CI, they should decline the review or explain the relationship and how it may impact their review.
Common conflicts of interest from a reviewer’s perspective include:
Personal Bias: Close relationships with authors that could affect impartiality.
Competing Research Interests: Involvement in related studies or competitive research.
Financial Ties: Connections to organizations or companies relevant to the manuscript.
Intellectual Conflicts: Strongly held opinions that could bias the review process.
If reviewers are uncertain about potential bias, they should consult the editorial staff for guidance. Additionally, reviewers are strictly forbidden from utilizing any part of the manuscript, including its concepts or methodologies, prior to publication. These safeguards are implemented to ensure the review process remains fair and impartial and upholds its integrity.
Policy for Editors
Editors for the Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology must disclose any COI or CI that may influence their manuscript handling. If an editor has a COI or CI, they should withdraw themselves from the editorial process and ask another editor to handle the manuscript.
Suppose a reviewer or Editor becomes aware of a COI or CI during the review or editorial process. In that case, they should immediately notify the Editor-in-Chief, who will evaluate the situation and take appropriate action.
Common conflicts of interest from an Editor’s perspective include
Financial Interests: Investments or relationships with entities related to the manuscript’s subject.
Personal Relationships: Close professional or personal relationships with authors or institutions.
Institutional Conflicts: Connections to institutions with a vested interest in the publication’s outcome.
Editorial Bias: Involvement in advocacy or activities related to the topic.
Dual Roles: Simultaneously serving as an author and Editor for the same manuscript.
Disclosure of these potential conflicts ensures transparency, promotes trust, and upholds the integrity of the publication process.
Conclusion
The Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology takes COI or CI seriously and expects all individuals involved in the publication process to disclose any relevant relationships. The editors and editorial Board will evaluate the disclosure and take proper action to ensure the integrity and objectivity of the research published.
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