Authorship Policy

Authorship Policy

The Journal of Drug Delivery and Biotherapeutics (JDDB) is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness in the attribution of authorship. This policy defines the criteria for authorship and outlines the responsibilities of authors to maintain the integrity of the publication process.

  1. Authorship Criteria

To qualify as an author, individuals must meet the following criteria, based on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines:

  1. Substantial Contributions:
    • Made significant contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
  2. Drafting or Revising the Work:
    • Participated in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
  3. Approval of the Final Version:
    • Approved the final version of the manuscript to be submitted for publication.
  4. Accountability:
    • Agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Individuals who do not meet all four criteria should not be listed as authors but may be acknowledged for their contributions (see Acknowledgments below).

  1. Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author is responsible for:

  • Coordinating communication between the journal and co-authors.
  • Ensuring all co-authors meet the authorship criteria.
  • Submitting the manuscript and ensuring compliance with journal policies.
  • Responding to reviewer comments and ensuring timely submission of revisions.
  1. Changes to Authorship

Any changes to the list of authors (e.g., addition, removal, or reordering) after manuscript submission must:

  1. Be agreed upon by all co-authors.
  2. Be explained in writing to the editorial office.
  3. Be approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

The journal reserves the right to reject requests for changes if insufficient justification is provided.

  1. Acknowledgment of Non-Author Contributions

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the manuscript. Examples include:

  • Technical assistance.
  • Writing or editorial support.
  • Financial or material support.

The acknowledgment section should explicitly describe their contributions.

  1. Authorship Disputes
  • In cases of disputes regarding authorship (e.g., inclusion/exclusion of an author, order of authorship), the journal encourages resolution among the parties involved.
  • If a resolution cannot be reached, the journal may refer the case to the authors’ institutions or other appropriate bodies.
  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must:

  1. Ensure the work is original and has not been published elsewhere or is under consideration at another journal.
  2. Disclose any conflicts of interest (see the journal’s Conflict of Interest Policy).
  3. Properly cite all sources and obtain permission for any copyrighted material used.
  4. Adhere to ethical standards for research, including obtaining approval from institutional review boards (IRBs) and informed consent from participants, if applicable.
  1. Group Authorship

For manuscripts with group authorship (e.g., multi-center trials or consortium-based studies):

  • The group name may appear as the author, with specific members listed in the acknowledgment section or as contributors.
  • A guarantor for the group must be identified to take responsibility for the manuscript.
  1. Misconduct Related to Authorship

The journal takes allegations of authorship misconduct seriously, including:

  • Ghost authorship: Excluding individuals who meet authorship criteria.
  • Gift or honorary authorship: Including individuals who do not meet authorship criteria.
  • Misrepresentation of contributions.

Cases of misconduct may result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript and notification to the authors' institutions.

  1. Policy Updates

This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with international guidelines and best practices. Updates will be reflected on the journal’s website.