Anonymization, Confidentiality and Informed Consent Policy

The World Journal of Experimental Biosciences is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, confidentiality, and rights of human research participants. Authors are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts submitted to  World Journal of Experimental Biosciences comply with applicable ethical requirements concerning human participants, personal data, anonymization, confidentiality, and informed consent.

The journal follows internationally recognized principles of research ethics and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Anonymization of Participants and Personal Information

Authors must remove or anonymize personally identifiable information from manuscripts and supplementary materials whenever such information is not essential for the scientific purpose of the publication.

Authors should not include names, initials, hospital or medical record numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, exact dates of birth, or other information that could directly identify an individual unless such information is scientifically necessary and the participant has provided appropriate consent for publication.

Where individual-level information is necessary for understanding the research, authors should use the minimum information required and apply appropriate anonymization or pseudonymization measures.

Authors should also consider whether a combination of apparently non-identifying details could allow an individual to be identified indirectly. Particular care should be taken with rare diseases, unusual clinical cases, small study populations, genetic information, and detailed demographic or geographic information.

Removing a participant's name alone does not necessarily constitute adequate anonymization.

2. Confidentiality of Participant Information

Authors, editors, reviewers, and journal staff must protect the confidentiality of personal and sensitive information obtained during research and publication.

Authors must not submit identifiable personal information unless its inclusion is necessary and the appropriate consent has been obtained.

Editors and reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts and associated information as confidential and must not disclose, use, or share confidential information except as necessary for the legitimate editorial and peer-review process.

The journal will take reasonable measures to protect confidential participant information during editorial assessment, peer review, production, and publication.

Confidential information that is not necessary for understanding or evaluating the research should not be published.

3. Informed Consent for Participation in Research

For research involving human participants, authors must obtain informed consent in accordance with applicable ethical standards and the requirements of the relevant research ethics committee or institutional review board.

The manuscript should state whether informed consent was obtained when required and should identify the relevant ethics committee or institutional review board and approval/reference number, where applicable.

Authors should ensure that participants are appropriately informed about the nature and purpose of the research, the procedures involved, potential risks and benefits, the handling of their information, and their rights to participate or withdraw, as applicable to the study.

For studies where informed consent is not required or cannot reasonably be obtained, authors must provide an appropriate ethical justification and describe the basis on which the requirement was waived, where applicable.

The requirements for informed consent may vary according to the type of study, jurisdiction, and applicable ethical regulations. Authors remain responsible for ensuring compliance with the relevant requirements.

4. Consent for Publication of Personal Data and Identifiable Materials

Separate consideration must be given to consent for publication when an article contains identifiable information about an individual.

Authors must obtain appropriate consent for publication when a participant may be identifiable from:

• Photographs or other images.

• Clinical photographs.

• Radiological or diagnostic images.

• Videos or recordings.

• Audio recordings.

• Detailed case descriptions.

• Identifiable quotations.

• Genetic or genomic information.

• Medical or other personal information.

• Combinations of information that could reasonably permit identification.

Consent for publication should be obtained from the participant or an appropriately authorized representative before publication.

Consent for publication is distinct from consent to participate in research. Obtaining consent to participate in a study does not automatically constitute consent to publish identifiable personal information, images, audio, or video materials.

Where applicable, authors should confirm in the manuscript that appropriate consent for publication has been obtained.

5. Images, Audio and Video

Authors must ensure that individuals depicted, recorded, or otherwise identifiable in photographs, videos, audio recordings, or other media have provided appropriate consent for publication where required.

Authors should remove identifying information from images and media whenever it is not scientifically necessary.

Image manipulation must not be used to conceal, alter, or misrepresent information in a manner that could compromise the integrity of the research.

If an individual remains identifiable despite anonymization, appropriate consent for publication must be obtained.

6. Case Reports and Clinical Material

Case reports and manuscripts containing detailed clinical information require particular attention to privacy and consent.

Authors should remove unnecessary identifying information and obtain appropriate consent for publication when an individual may reasonably be identifiable.

For case reports involving photographs, clinical images, or detailed descriptions of an individual, authors should obtain written consent for publication unless an applicable ethical exception has been appropriately established.

7. Children and Participants Unable to Provide Consent

When research involves children or individuals who are unable to provide informed consent, authors must follow applicable ethical and legal requirements concerning consent from a parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative.

Where appropriate, assent from the participant should also be obtained in accordance with applicable ethical requirements.

8. Withdrawal of Consent

Where applicable, participants should be informed about the extent to which they may withdraw consent and any limitations that may apply after publication.

Once an article has been published, withdrawal of consent does not automatically require removal of the article from the scholarly record. Requests concerning removal, correction, or restriction of published information will be assessed according to the circumstances, ethical requirements, legal obligations, and the journal's policies concerning corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.

9. Ethical Review and Consent Statements

Authors must provide the relevant ethical information in the manuscript, including, where applicable:

• the name of the ethics committee or institutional review board;

• ethics approval/reference number;

• the date or relevant details of approval where required;

• the informed consent statement; and

• the consent-for-publication statement when identifiable personal information or materials are included.

The journal (World Journal of Experimental Biosciences) may request additional documentation or evidence of ethical approval or consent when necessary.

10. Exceptions and Waivers

Where informed consent or consent for publication has been waived, the manuscript must clearly state that a waiver was granted and identify the responsible ethics committee, institutional review board, or other authorized body where applicable.

A waiver should not be assumed solely because information has been anonymized. Authors must follow the applicable ethical and institutional requirements.

11. Editorial Handling of Confidential Information

Editors may request additional information concerning ethics approval, participant consent, or consent for publication during the editorial process.

Such information will be handled confidentially and will be used for the purpose of assessing ethical compliance.

If serious concerns arise regarding the protection of participants, the validity of consent, or the ethical conduct of a study, World Journal of Experimental Biosciences may seek clarification from the authors or their institution and may take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies and relevant COPE guidance.

12. Responsibility of Authors

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have complied with the requirements of this policy and that appropriate consent and ethical approvals have been obtained before submission.

Authors must not submit personal or identifiable information for publication without the appropriate authorization and consent.

The World Journal of Experimental Biosciences reserves the right to request evidence of consent or ethical approval and to take appropriate action when ethical requirements have not been satisfied.

Contact

Questions concerning anonymization, confidentiality, informed consent, or consent for publication may be directed to:

Editor-in-Chief
World Journal of Experimental Biosciences
Email: editorinchiefwjebios@uniscipub.com