Ethical Oversight Policy

The Yemeni Journal of Life Sciences is committed to ensuring that research published in the journal is conducted and reported according to appropriate ethical standards and internationally recognized principles of responsible research.

The journal considers ethical oversight an essential component of responsible scholarly publishing and follows relevant principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applicable disciplinary and institutional standards.

This policy applies to research involving human participants, animals, identifiable personal information, biological materials, vulnerable populations, and other research activities requiring ethical consideration.

1. General Principles of Ethical Oversight

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research has been conducted in accordance with applicable ethical, legal, institutional, and professional requirements.

The journal may request evidence of ethical approval, informed consent, research registration, or other documentation when appropriate.

Editors may request clarification or supporting documentation when the ethical status of a submitted or published study is unclear.

The absence of appropriate ethical oversight may result in:

• rejection of a manuscript;
• request for additional documentation or clarification;
• referral to an appropriate institutional authority; or
• post-publication corrective action when concerns arise after publication.

2. Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical standards and regulations.

Where required, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate:

• Institutional Review Board (IRB);
• Research Ethics Committee (REC);
• Institutional Ethics Committee; or
• equivalent recognized ethical review body.

The manuscript should clearly state:

1. the name of the approving ethics committee or institution;
2. the approval number or reference, where available;
3. the date of approval, where applicable; and
4. whether informed consent was obtained.

Where formal ethical review was not required, authors should provide an appropriate statement explaining why ethical approval was not required.

The journal may request documentary evidence of ethical approval when necessary.

3. Informed Consent

Where research involves human participants, authors must obtain informed consent in accordance with applicable ethical requirements.

Consent should be obtained before participation in the research unless an appropriately constituted ethics committee has approved a justified exception.

Authors should ensure that participants understand, as appropriate:

• the purpose of the research;
• the procedures involved;
• potential risks and benefits;
• the use of their data or biological samples;
• confidentiality and privacy arrangements; and
• their right to withdraw where applicable.

4. Consent for Publication

Separate consent for publication may be required when an article contains information that could reasonably identify an individual.

This may include:

• clinical case reports;
• case series;
• identifiable photographs;
• medical images;
• videos;
• genetic information;
• detailed personal histories; or
• other potentially identifiable information.

Authors should obtain appropriate written consent for publication where required.

The journal may request confirmation that consent for publication has been obtained.

Identifying information should not be published unless it is necessary for scholarly purposes and appropriate consent has been obtained, or publication is otherwise ethically justified under applicable standards.

5. Privacy and Confidentiality

The journal is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of research participants and other individuals whose information appears in submitted manuscripts.

Authors should remove unnecessary personally identifiable information from manuscripts, tables, figures, supplementary materials, and other published content.

Sensitive personal information should be handled in accordance with applicable ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.

Editors and reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of information contained in submitted manuscripts.

6. Research Involving Vulnerable Populations

Research involving vulnerable populations requires particular ethical consideration.

Examples may include:

• children and minors;
• individuals unable to provide informed consent;
• persons experiencing serious illness;
• prisoners or institutionalized individuals;
• displaced or refugee populations;
• populations affected by humanitarian emergencies;
• economically or socially disadvantaged populations; and
• other groups whose ability to provide free and informed consent may be limited.

Authors must demonstrate that appropriate safeguards were implemented to protect participants from unnecessary risk, exploitation, coercion, or undue influence.

Where applicable, consent should be obtained from legally authorized representatives in accordance with relevant ethical requirements.

The journal may request additional information concerning the protection of vulnerable participants.

7. Research Involving Children and Minors

Research involving children or minors must comply with applicable ethical requirements.

Where appropriate, authors should obtain:

• informed consent from a parent or legal guardian; and
• assent from the child or minor when appropriate to their age, maturity, and circumstances.

The manuscript should clearly describe the ethical approval and consent procedures where applicable.

8. Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must comply with applicable national, institutional, and internationally recognized standards for animal welfare.

Authors should obtain approval from an appropriate:

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC);
• Animal Ethics Committee;
• institutional ethical review body; or
• equivalent recognized authority.

The manuscript should identify the relevant approving body and approval/reference number where available.

Authors should describe appropriate measures taken to:

• minimize animal suffering;
• reduce unnecessary distress;
• use the minimum number of animals necessary;
• use appropriate anesthesia or analgesia where applicable; and
• follow accepted standards for humane care and euthanasia.

Where applicable, authors are encouraged to follow recognized reporting and animal welfare standards such as the ARRIVE guidelines.

9. Clinical Trials and Research Registration

Clinical trials and other research designs for which prospective registration is an accepted or required standard should be registered in an appropriate publicly accessible registry.

Where applicable, authors should provide:

• the name of the registry;
• registration number;
• date of registration; and
• information regarding prospective or retrospective registration.

Authors should transparently report any important deviations from the registered protocol.

The journal may request registration information during editorial assessment or peer review.

10. Research Involving Biological Materials

Research involving human biological materials, including blood, tissues, cells, genetic material, or other biological specimens, must comply with applicable ethical and institutional requirements.

Authors should indicate, where applicable:

• the source of the biological material;
• whether appropriate ethical approval was obtained;
• whether informed consent was obtained;
• how participant confidentiality was protected; and
• whether the use of previously collected materials was covered by appropriate ethical approval.

11. Genetic and Genomic Research

Research involving genetic or genomic information should comply with applicable ethical, privacy, and data-protection requirements.

Authors should take appropriate measures to prevent unnecessary identification of individuals or families.

Where applicable, manuscripts should describe:

• ethical approval;
• consent procedures;
• data protection measures; and
• conditions governing access to or reuse of genetic or genomic data.

12. Field, Environmental, and Biodiversity Research

Research involving field studies, plants, microorganisms, wildlife, protected areas, or biological resources should comply with applicable national and institutional requirements.

Where applicable, authors should obtain:

• research permits;
• collection permits;
• access and benefit-sharing approvals;
• permissions from protected areas or relevant authorities; and
• appropriate institutional ethical or biosafety approvals.

Authors should comply with relevant laws and internationally recognized principles concerning biodiversity conservation and responsible research.

13. Biosafety and Biosecurity

Research involving pathogenic microorganisms, genetically modified organisms, toxins, hazardous biological materials, or other potentially hazardous agents must be conducted according to applicable biosafety and biosecurity requirements.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that appropriate laboratory procedures, containment measures, institutional approvals, and legal requirements have been followed.

The journal may request additional information where research raises significant biosafety or biosecurity concerns.

14. Research Conducted During Emergencies or Humanitarian Crises

Research involving populations affected by war, disasters, epidemics, displacement, humanitarian emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances requires particular attention to participant safety, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and informed consent.

Authors should ensure that participants are not subjected to coercion or undue influence and that research activities do not unnecessarily increase risks to vulnerable individuals or communities.

Where standard ethical procedures have been modified because of emergency circumstances, authors should clearly explain the justification and applicable oversight arrangements.

15. Ethical Review of Submitted Manuscripts

The journal may conduct an ethical assessment during editorial screening, peer review, or after publication.

Editors and reviewers may raise concerns regarding:

• lack of ethical approval;
• inadequate informed consent;
• inappropriate treatment of participants or animals;
• inadequate protection of vulnerable populations;
• inappropriate disclosure of personal information;
• questionable data collection practices;
• research misconduct; or
• other ethical concerns.

When necessary, the journal may request additional documentation or clarification from the authors.

16. Verification of Ethical Approval

An ethical approval statement in a manuscript does not prevent the journal from requesting supporting documentation when appropriate.

The journal may request:

• ethics approval letters;
• approval numbers;
• informed consent documentation or confirmation;
• research registration details;
• relevant permits;
• institutional correspondence; or
• other evidence necessary to assess compliance.

The journal will handle such documentation confidentially and only use it for appropriate editorial and ethical assessment.

17. Concerns About Ethical Conduct After Publication

Ethical concerns may be raised after an article has been published.

When credible concerns arise, the journal will assess the matter and may:

• contact the authors;
• request supporting documentation;
• consult independent experts;
• contact the relevant institution or ethics committee;
• seek appropriate external advice; or
• take corrective action.

Where necessary, the journal may publish a Correction, Expression of Concern, Retraction, or other appropriate editorial notice in accordance with its Retraction & Correction Policy.

18. Institutional and Regulatory Cooperation

The journal recognizes that institutions, ethics committees, regulatory authorities, and research organizations may have responsibilities that extend beyond the journal's role.

Where serious ethical or research integrity concerns arise, the journal may refer the matter to the appropriate institution or competent authority.

The journal may cooperate with such authorities where appropriate and necessary to protect research participants and the integrity of the scholarly record.

19. Ethical Business and Marketing Practices

The Yemeni Journal of Life Sciences is committed to maintaining ethical and transparent publishing practices.

The journal does not permit commercial, financial, or promotional considerations to influence editorial decisions.

The journal does not accept advertising or commercial arrangements that compromise editorial independence.

All publishing-related information, including access, licensing, publication charges, and editorial policies, should be presented transparently to authors and readers.

20. Editorial Independence

Ethical oversight and editorial decisions are conducted independently of commercial or financial interests.

Editorial decisions are based on:

• scholarly quality;
• originality;
• methodological soundness;
• ethical compliance;
• relevance to the journal's scope; and
• other stated editorial criteria.

The nationality, institutional affiliation, geographic location, political views, religion, or other unrelated characteristics of authors should not influence editorial decisions.

This is consistent with the broader transparency principles used by DOAJ and its publishing-ethics partners.

21. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research:

• complies with applicable ethical standards;
• has received required ethical approval;
• includes appropriate consent procedures;
• protects participant confidentiality;
• complies with applicable laws and institutional requirements; and
• accurately reports ethical approvals and consent arrangements.

Submitting a manuscript to the journal constitutes an expectation that the authors have complied with relevant ethical requirements.

22. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers should remain alert to potential ethical concerns in submitted manuscripts.

They should:

• maintain confidentiality;
• declare relevant conflicts of interest;
• avoid inappropriate use of confidential information;
• raise credible ethical concerns with the responsible editor; and
• avoid making unsupported allegations of misconduct.

Editors may request additional information or documentation where ethical concerns arise.

COPE recommends that journals have processes for identifying and addressing ethical concerns and for documenting these procedures.

23. Ethical Oversight Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for ensuring that ethical oversight procedures are implemented within the journal.

The Editor-in-Chief may delegate the assessment of specific ethical matters to an appropriate editor or qualified member of the editorial team.

Individuals involved in a matter should not make decisions concerning their own conduct or cases in which they have a significant conflict of interest.

Where appropriate, the journal may seek independent advice.

24. No Waiver of Ethical Requirements

Publication in the Yemeni Journal of Life Sciences does not waive any applicable institutional, national, or international ethical requirements.

Authors remain responsible for compliance with the ethical and regulatory requirements applicable to their research.

The journal may decline to publish research when ethical requirements have not been adequately satisfied.

25. Related Policies and Guidelines

This policy should be read together with the journal's:

• Publication Ethics
• Research Misconduct Policy
• Complaints & Appeals Policy
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Peer Review Policy
• Reviewer Guidelines
• Authorship & Contributorship Policy
• Retraction & Correction Policy
• Data Sharing & Reproducibility Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright & Licensing Policy

For relevant ethical guidance, the journal may refer to resources provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized professional and disciplinary organizations. COPE specifically recommends that journals publish clear ethical-oversight guidance and link to relevant resources.