Guidelines for Reviewers

The Journal of Biomedical Insights (JBI) values the essential role of peer reviewers in ensuring the scientific quality, credibility, and ethical integrity of its published content. As a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal, JBI relies on expert reviewers to provide objective, constructive, and timely assessments to support fair editorial decisions.

These guidelines are designed to help reviewers perform their role responsibly and in accordance with best international practices.

  1. Confidentiality
  • All manuscripts provided for review must be treated as confidential material.
  • Sharing, discussing, or distributing the content with others without permission from the editorial office is strictly prohibited.
  • Reviewers should not use any data, findings, or information from the manuscript for personal or academic gain prior to publication.
  1. Timeliness
  • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within 2 to 3 weeks of accepting the invitation.
  • If unable to review due to time constraints or lack of expertise, reviewers should decline promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.
  • Requests for deadline extensions can be accommodated upon notification to the editorial office.
  1. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
  • Reviews should be objective, fair, and constructive, focusing on both strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Avoid personal criticism or inappropriate language.
  • Comments should guide authors on improving scientific rigour, study design, clarity, referencing, and ethical compliance, supported by clear reasoning or relevant citations.
  1. Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers are encouraged to assess manuscripts using the following criteria:

  • Originality: Does the study offer novel insights or valuable contributions?
  • Relevance: Is the topic aligned with JBI’s scope and current biomedical priorities?
  • Scientific Soundness: Are methods appropriate, data valid, and ethical approvals secured?
  • Clarity and Presentation: Is the content well-organised, clearly written, and easy to understand?
  • Ethical Compliance: Are ethical approvals clearly stated? Has informed consent been obtained where necessary?
  • References: Are references current, relevant, and properly formatted?
  • Figures/Tables: Are visuals clear, appropriately labelled, and supportive of the text?
  1. Ethical Concerns and Research Misconduct

Reviewers should alert the editorial office if they detect potential misconduct, such as:

  • Plagiarism
  • Redundant or duplicate publication
  • Data manipulation or fabrication
  • Undeclared conflicts of interest
  • Absence of ethical approval for human or animal studies

All such concerns will be handled confidentially and investigated following COPE recommendations.

  1. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any situations that could affect their objectivity, including:

  • Personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors
  • Recent co-authorship or collaborations (within the past three years)
  • Any vested interest in the study topic

When in doubt, reviewers should consult the editorial office before accepting the assignment.

  1. Recommendation Options

Upon completing the review, reviewers are asked to recommend one of the following outcomes:

  • Accept as is
  • Minor revisions required
  • Major revisions required
  • Reject

Please provide a clear rationale for your recommendation. The final decision will be made by the Editor-in-Chief, based on all reviewers' feedback.

  1. Anonymity

JBI operates under a double-blind peer review system:

  • Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors.
  • Authors' identities remain hidden from reviewers.
  • Reviewers should avoid any comments that could reveal their identity.
  1. Use of AI Tools
  • Reviewers must not use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, or Claude to draft or evaluate their reviews, as these tools cannot guarantee confidentiality or accuracy.
  • Basic language enhancement tools like Grammarly may be used, provided they do not compromise confidentiality or ethical standards.
  1. Reviewer Acknowledgement

JBI appreciates the contributions of its reviewers:

  • Annual acknowledgment of active reviewers will be published.
  • Reviewers may request formal certificates of contribution.
  • Exceptional reviewers may be invited to join the JBI Editorial Board.

Note: To uphold editorial integrity, members of JBI’s Editorial Board are not permitted to publish their own research within this journal. They can only write editorials for journal.