Human and Animal Rights
The Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (AJPSci) is committed to ensuring that all research involving human participants, animals, or data derived from them complies with the highest ethical standards. All studies submitted for publication must adhere to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and be approved by a relevant Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB).
For research involving human subjects, authors must ensure that their work complies with internationally accepted ethical guidelines, including the Declaration of Helsinki. It is mandatory for authors to obtain prior ethical approval from a recognized ethics committee, and the name of the committee, along with the approval reference number, must be clearly stated in the manuscript. Authors must also include a statement confirming that all procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with institutional and national ethical standards, as well as relevant legislation.
If any study has received an exemption from ethical approval, this must be explicitly mentioned in the manuscript, along with a valid justification. Editors may request supporting documentation to verify such claims. If an author fails to provide adequate ethical documentation when requested, the manuscript may be rejected on ethical grounds. In cases where serious ethical concerns are identified, the editor has the authority to reject the manuscript immediately and, if necessary, contact the relevant ethics committee for clarification.
For animal research, authors must confirm that all procedures involving animals complied with institutional, national, and international guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. The manuscript must include a statement declaring that ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate animal ethics committee. If approval was not required, a clear justification must be provided.
If ethical approval has not been obtained, or if the study fails to comply with applicable ethical standards, the manuscript will not proceed to peer review and will be rejected.
In cases where new procedures, tools, or methodologies are introduced in human or animal studies, authors must include a clear justification for their use. This should explain the advantages of the new methods over existing ones and detail how the new tools were validated. If these procedures are not already approved for clinical or experimental use at the author’s institution, prior approval from the ethics committee and informed consent from participants (where applicable) must be obtained and stated in the manuscript. These tools must also comply with institutional and legal requirements governing human or animal research.
AJPSci takes ethical compliance seriously and reserves the right to reject or retract any manuscript found to be in violation of these guidelines. The journal encourages authors to maintain the highest level of transparency and responsibility in conducting and reporting research involving human and animal subjects.
Informed Consent
The Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (AJPSci) requires that all research involving human participants complies with international ethical standards and includes appropriate informed consent and ethical approval. This policy is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, ICMJE guidelines, and applicable national and institutional regulations.
For all studies involving human participants, it is mandatory for authors to obtain written informed consent from each participant. In the case of minors (under 16 years of age), consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. The manuscript must clearly state that informed consent was obtained and that the study received prior approval from an Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB). The name of the approving body and the reference or approval number must be included in the manuscript prior to peer review. If the study received an exemption from ethical approval, this must also be disclosed along with the name of the body that granted the exemption and a valid justification.
Authors must avoid including identifiable information (such as names, photographs, or videos) that could compromise patient privacy. If such information is essential for publication, authors must obtain explicit, written consent for publication from the patient or their legal representative, explaining the nature and purpose of the disclosure. If patient data are fully anonymized and do not reveal identity, informed consent for publication is generally not required.
In cases where the participant has passed away, authors are required to obtain consent for publication from the next of kin or legal representative. This is necessary to respect the dignity and privacy of the deceased individual and their family.
It is the responsibility of the author to maintain records of all approvals, consents, and ethical documents, and to provide them to the editor upon request. Failure to provide appropriate ethical documentation, including informed consent or ethics committee approval, will result in automatic rejection of the manuscript and withdrawal from the peer review process. Editors may also contact the ethics committee for verification if necessary.
For studies involving human organ or tissue transplantation, authors must include a clear statement in the manuscript confirming that all organs and tissues were obtained legally, with appropriate consent, and only from institutions authorized to supply them. The manuscript must confirm that no organs or tissues were procured through unethical or illegal means.
Following submission, the editor will assess the manuscript for compliance with human subject protection standards, including both ethical and legal aspects. If the study fails to meet AJPSci’s ethical criteria related to informed consent, patient confidentiality, or institutional approval, the editor reserves the right to reject the manuscript or request additional clarification and documentation from the authors or the ethics committee.
AJPSci takes these standards seriously in order to protect the rights, dignity, and privacy of individuals involved in research, and to maintain the trust and integrity of the scientific record.