Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy

Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy

The Journal of Drug Delivery and Biotherapeutics (JDDB) is committed to ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record. This policy outlines the journal's approach to handling withdrawal, retraction, and correction of published content in cases of errors, ethical concerns, or other issues.

  1. Article Withdrawal
  • Before Publication:
  • Authors may request withdrawal of their manuscript before publication. A formal written request must be submitted to the editorial office, stating the reason for withdrawal.
  • The editorial team reserves the right to approve or deny the request, particularly if the withdrawal is due to ethical violations.
  • After Acceptance but Before Publication:
    • Articles may be withdrawn by the editorial team if issues such as ethical concerns, authorship disputes, or violations of submission guidelines are identified during the pre-publication process.
    • Withdrawn articles will be documented in the journal's records but will not appear in any published issue.
  1. Article Retraction

Articles may be retracted after publication if significant ethical or scientific issues are identified, including but not limited to:

  • Plagiarism.
  • Fabrication or falsification of data.
  • Duplicate publication.
  • Unethical research practices (e.g., lack of informed consent or ethical approval).
  • Serious errors that invalidate the findings.

Retraction Process:

  1. The editorial team conducts an investigation, consulting with the authors, reviewers, and relevant stakeholders.
  2. A retraction notice is published in the journal, clearly stating:
    • The reason for the retraction.
    • The party initiating the retraction (e.g., authors, editors, or third parties).
    • A reference to the original article.
  3. The original article is marked as “Retracted” in all online versions, and a link to the retraction notice is provided.
  4. The retracted article remains accessible in the interest of transparency but is clearly labeled as retracted.
  1. Article Corrections

Corrections are issued for errors in published articles that do not affect the overall validity of the research findings. These may include:

  • Minor errors in data or text (e.g., typographical errors, formatting issues).
  • Authorship corrections (e.g., name misspellings or updates to affiliations).
  • Clarifications of previously unclear information.

Correction Process:

  1. Authors or readers should notify the editorial office of errors requiring correction.
  2. The editorial team reviews the request and determines if a correction is necessary.
  3. A correction notice is published in the journal, linked to the original article, detailing the changes made.
  1. Expression of Concern

In cases where an investigation into an article is ongoing and a resolution has not yet been reached, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern.

  • This notice informs readers of potential issues with the article.
  • If the investigation confirms misconduct or significant errors, the article will be retracted or corrected as appropriate.
  1. Appeals

Authors may appeal decisions related to withdrawal, retraction, or correction by submitting a formal written request to the editorial office. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with independent experts when necessary. The journal’s decision following the appeal is final.

  1. Transparency and Accountability

All retraction, correction, and withdrawal notices are:

  • Published in the journal and linked to the original article.
  • Clearly labeled and accessible to readers.
  • Written to maintain transparency without defaming the authors.
  1. Policy Updates

This policy is reviewed periodically to align with evolving best practices in scholarly publishing and ethics.