The Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences (JPMS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific publishing through a fair, transparent, and ethical editorial process. Editors play a vital role in safeguarding the quality, integrity, and credibility of the journal by ensuring that every manuscript is evaluated objectively and in accordance with international publishing standards. This guide has been developed to provide Editors with clear responsibilities, editorial procedures, ethical principles, and best practices to support consistent and professional decision-making throughout the publication process.
Role of the Editor
Editors are responsible for maintaining the scientific quality, integrity, fairness, and transparency of the editorial process. Every manuscript must be evaluated solely on its academic merit without discrimination based on nationality, gender, race, religion, or institutional affiliation.
Editors should:
- Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process.
- Ensure impartial editorial decisions.
- Select qualified reviewers.
- Protect the integrity of scientific publishing.
- Handle ethical concerns professionally.
- Ensure timely processing of manuscripts.
Editorial Responsibilities
Editors are expected to:
- Conduct an initial editorial assessment.
- Verify that the manuscript falls within the journal's scope.
- Ensure compliance with journal policies.
- Assign appropriate reviewers.
- Evaluate reviewer reports objectively.
- Make fair editorial decisions.
- Communicate professionally with authors and reviewers.
- Monitor publication timelines.
- Maintain complete editorial records.
Initial Editorial Screening
Before peer review, editors should verify:
Scope
- Manuscript fits the aims and scope of JPMS.
Completeness
The submission should include:
- Title Page
- Manuscript
- Figures
- Tables
- Supplementary Files (if applicable)
Author Information
Verify:
- Complete author names
- Institutional affiliations
- Email addresses
- ORCID IDs (recommended)
- Corresponding author information
Ethical Documents
Where applicable:
- Ethical Approval
- Patient Consent
- Conflict of Interest Form
- Copyright Form
- Funding Statement
- Author Contribution Statement
Technical Quality Check
Editors should confirm:
- Acceptable English language quality.
- Clear scientific writing.
- Proper manuscript structure.
- Appropriate keywords.
- Adequate abstract.
- High-quality figures.
- Proper table formatting.
- Correct reference formatting.
- DOI or direct links wherever available.
Plagiarism Screening
Every submission should undergo plagiarism screening before peer review.
Editors should ensure:
- No plagiarism.
- No duplicate publication.
- No image manipulation.
- No data fabrication.
- No data falsification.
High similarity reports should be evaluated carefully before proceeding.
Peer Review Process
Editors should:
- Select independent experts.
- Avoid conflicts of interest.
- Invite at least two reviewers.
- Monitor reviewer deadlines.
- Request additional reviewers if necessary.
- Maintain reviewer confidentiality.
Reviewers should possess:
- Relevant subject expertise.
- Appropriate publication record.
- No institutional conflict.
- No recent collaboration with the authors.
Editorial Decisions
Editorial decisions may include:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject
- Reject and Resubmit
Editors should base decisions on:
- Scientific quality
- Originality
- Clinical significance
- Methodological rigor
- Reviewer recommendations
- Ethical compliance
Handling Revised Manuscripts
Editors should verify that:
- All reviewer comments have been addressed.
- A response letter has been submitted.
- Changes are highlighted where requested.
- Scientific concerns are adequately resolved.
Additional peer review may be initiated when required.
Publication Ethics
Editors must strictly follow COPE recommendations.
Possible misconduct includes:
- Plagiarism
- Duplicate submission
- Duplicate publication
- Image manipulation
- Data fabrication
- Data falsification
- Citation manipulation
- Authorship disputes
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest
Appropriate investigations should be conducted before making editorial decisions.
Conflict of Interest
Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts when:
- They are authors.
- They belong to the same institution.
- Personal relationships exist.
- Financial interests may influence decisions.
Such manuscripts should be assigned to another independent editor.
Confidentiality
Editors must never disclose:
- Reviewer identities
- Editorial discussions
- Unpublished manuscript content
- Author information
- Editorial decisions before official communication
Communication with Authors
Editors should:
- Respond professionally.
- Be respectful and unbiased.
- Clearly explain editorial decisions.
- Provide reviewer comments.
- Avoid unnecessary delays.
Production Check
Before final acceptance, editors should verify:
- Final manuscript formatting.
- Author affiliations.
- ORCID IDs.
- Tables and figures.
- References.
- DOI links.
- Copyright information.
- Ethical statements.
- Funding statements.
- Conflict of Interest declaration.
- Author contribution statement.
Post-Acceptance Responsibilities
Editors should ensure:
- Copyediting.
- Proofreading.
- Typesetting.
- Galley proof approval.
- DOI assignment.
- XML generation.
- Online publication.
- Metadata accuracy.
- Indexing preparation.
Editorial Decision Principles
Editors should always make decisions based on:
- Scientific merit
- Research quality
- Clinical relevance
- Ethical standards
- Reviewer recommendations
- Journal scope
Editorial decisions must never be influenced by financial considerations, institutional affiliations, nationality, gender, religion, or personal relationships.
Editorial Code of Conduct
Every JPMS Editor shall:
- Maintain scientific integrity.
- Follow COPE guidelines.
- Follow ICMJE recommendations.
- Protect reviewer confidentiality.
- Treat authors fairly.
- Avoid conflicts of interest.
- Promote ethical publishing.
- Ensure transparency.
- Maintain editorial independence.
- Uphold the reputation of the Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences.
Editorial Workflow
- Manuscript Submission
- Technical Screening
- Editorial Assessment
- Plagiarism Screening
- Reviewer Assignment
- Peer Review
- Editorial Decision
- Author Revision
- Final Evaluation
- Acceptance
- Copyediting
- Proofreading
- Typesetting
- XML Preparation
- Online Publication
- Indexing & Archiving
Benefits of Being a JPMS Editor
Serving as an Editor for the Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences (JPMS) is a prestigious academic responsibility that provides opportunities for professional growth, networking, and recognition within the global scientific community.
Editors may enjoy the following benefits:
- Official appointment as a JPMS Editor.
- Recognition on the journal website (where applicable).
- Editorial certificate acknowledging service.
- Opportunities to collaborate with international researchers and reviewers.
- Priority consideration for editorial activities, conferences, and journal initiatives.
- Enhanced academic profile through active editorial contributions.
Publication Discount for Editors
As a token of appreciation for active editorial service, JPMS offers a 50% discount on the Article Processing Charge (APC) for an Editor's own manuscript, subject to the following conditions:
- The Editor must be actively involved in the journal's editorial activities.
- The Editor must complete the review of at least five (5) manuscripts per month with satisfactory quality and within the assigned deadlines.
- The Editor must be the Corresponding Author of the submitted manuscript.
- The manuscript must have no more than three (3) authors in total.
- The discount is applicable only to the Editor's own original submission and cannot be transferred to another author or manuscript.
- Editors are not permitted to obtain the discount by adding their name to another person's manuscript solely for publication benefits. Any such practice will be considered unethical and may result in the immediate withdrawal of the discount and, where appropriate, suspension or termination of the editorial appointment.
- All manuscripts submitted by Editors are subject to the same editorial standards, plagiarism screening, and independent peer-review process as all other submissions. Editorial status does not guarantee acceptance for publication.
- JPMS reserves the right to verify eligibility for the discount and to modify or withdraw this benefit if the above conditions are not fulfilled.
Note: The purpose of this benefit is to recognize and encourage genuine editorial contributions to the journal. It is intended solely for Editors who actively support the peer-review process and uphold the highest standards of publication ethics.
Editorial Mission
The Editorial Board of the Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of scientific publishing by ensuring that every manuscript is handled with fairness, transparency, integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism while promoting excellence in medical research and evidence-based healthcare worldwide.
