Policy on Appeals and Complaints

Policy on Appeals and Complaints

The Journal of Drug Delivery and Biotherapeutics (JDDB) is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in its editorial processes. This policy outlines the procedures for authors, reviewers, and readers to lodge appeals or complaints and how the journal addresses these issues.

  1. Appeals Policy

Scope of Appeals:
Authors may appeal editorial decisions, including:

  • Rejection of manuscripts.
  • Requests for significant revisions deemed unnecessary by the authors.
  • Decisions regarding ethical concerns, including plagiarism or data misconduct.

Grounds for Appeals:
Appeals must be based on one or more of the following:

  • Perceived procedural errors during the review process.
  • Misunderstandings or oversights in the reviewers’ or editors’ evaluations.
  • Evidence that new data or clarification may impact the editorial decision.

Appeals Process:

  1. Submission of Appeal:
    • Authors must submit a written appeal to editor mail within [e.g., 14 days] of receiving the editorial decision.
    • The appeal should include:
      • Manuscript ID and title.
      • Detailed explanation of the grounds for the appeal.
      • Any additional evidence or clarification supporting the appeal.
  2. Review of Appeal:
    • The Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor will review the appeal.
    • The appeal may involve consultation with the original reviewers, independent reviewers, or the Editorial Board.
  3. Outcome of Appeal:
    • A decision will be communicated to the authors within [e.g., 4 weeks] of receiving the appeal.
    • Possible outcomes include:
      • Upholding the original decision.
      • Reconsidering the manuscript with or without further peer review.
      • Overturning the decision and proceeding with publication.
  4. Final Decision:
    • The decision of the Editor-in-Chief after the appeal review is final and binding.
  1. Complaints Policy

Scope of Complaints:
Complaints may be raised by authors, reviewers, or readers regarding:

  • Editorial misconduct or bias.
  • Errors in published content (e.g., factual inaccuracies, ethical concerns).
  • Mismanagement of manuscripts during submission or review.
  • Unethical behavior by authors, reviewers, or editors.

Complaints Process:

  1. Lodging a Complaint:
    • Complaints should be submitted in writing to editorjddb@sennosbiotech.com with the following details:
      • Complainant’s name and contact information.
      • Description of the complaint, including relevant evidence or documentation.
      • Manuscript ID or title (if applicable).
  2. Acknowledgment of Complaint:
    • The journal will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within [e.g., 5 working days] and initiate an investigation.
  3. Investigation:
    • The investigation is conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor, in consultation with the Editorial Board if necessary.
    • If the complaint involves a conflict of interest with the Editor-in-Chief, the matter will be escalated to a neutral member of the Editorial Board.
  4. Resolution:
    • The journal will aim to resolve the complaint within [e.g., 30 days] of receiving it.
    • The complainant will be informed of the resolution and any corrective actions taken.
  5. Confidentiality:
    • The journal ensures that all complaints are handled confidentially, and complainants are protected from retaliation.
  1. Types of Resolutions

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may:

  • Issue a correction or clarification for published content.
  • Retract an article if ethical violations are confirmed.
  • Apologize to the complainant if procedural errors occurred.
  • Take disciplinary action against individuals involved in misconduct (e.g., reviewers, editors, or authors).
  1. External Escalation

If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, they may escalate the matter to an external body such as:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): For ethical concerns related to publishing.
  • Relevant institutional ethics committees.
  1. Policy Updates

This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with international publishing standards. Updates will be reflected on the journal’s website.