The Journal of Clinical Nephrology (JCN) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in publishing and follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We expect all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to ethical principles to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing.

Editorial Ethics

The editorial team of JCN ensures fair, unbiased, and confidential manuscript handling. Editors must:

• Ensure that decisions are based solely on academic merit, originality, and scientific integrity.
• Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and refrain from using unpublished research for personal gain.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.
• Follow COPE guidelines when handling ethical concerns, including allegations of research misconduct.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to JCN must ensure that their research meets ethical and scientific standards. Authors are expected to:

• Submit original work that has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration in another journal.
• Avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, and image manipulation.
• Disclose all sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest.
• Ensure that research involving human subjects has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent.
• Adhere to ethical guidelines for studies involving animals and obtain necessary approvals.
• Provide accurate citations and acknowledge contributions appropriately.

Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

JCN has a strict policy against research misconduct, including:

• Plagiarism: All submissions are screened for plagiarism using plagiarism detection tools.
• Data Fabrication & Falsification: Any form of manipulation, falsification, or fabrication of data is strictly prohibited.
• Duplicate Submission: Manuscripts submitted to JCN must not be under consideration elsewhere.
• Improper Authorship: All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research.

Manuscripts found in violation of these policies will be rejected, and serious cases may be reported to the authors' institutions.

Peer Review Ethics

The peer review process ensures the credibility and quality of published research. Reviewers must:

• Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback to authors.
• Maintain confidentiality of submitted work and not share or discuss unpublished content.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review manuscripts where a conflict exists.
• Report any ethical concerns, including potential plagiarism or data manipulation.

Handling Ethical Concerns

Any allegations of ethical misconduct in submissions or published articles will be taken seriously. The editorial team will:

• Conduct an initial assessment of the allegation.
• Seek clarification from the authors, reviewers, or institutions involved.
• Follow COPE guidelines for ethical dispute resolution.
• Issue corrections, retractions, or notices of concern when necessary.

Corrections and Retractions

JCN is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. Corrections and retractions will be issued in the following cases:

• Errata: Minor errors that do not affect the overall results or conclusions.
• Corrigenda: Author-requested corrections for substantial errors.
• Retractions: For cases of proven misconduct, data fabrication, or ethical violations.

Retractions will be clearly labeled and accompanied by an explanation for the decision.

Conflicts of Interest

To maintain transparency, all parties involved in the publication process must disclose any conflicts of interest, including:

• Financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, funding agencies, or other institutions.
• Personal or professional connections that may influence judgment.
• Competing research or intellectual property interests.

Ethical Compliance Standards

JCN follows internationally recognized ethical standards, including:

• COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
• ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) authorship and ethical policies.
• Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human subjects.
• ARRIVE Guidelines for research involving animal subjects.

Reporting Ethical Concerns

Anyone who identifies potential ethical issues in manuscripts or published articles is encouraged to report concerns to the editorial office at assistant-jcn@clinnephrologyjournal.com. The journal will investigate all reports confidentially and take appropriate action.