The Journal of Stem Cell Therapy and Transplantation (JSCTT) is dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and transplantation science. Editors play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity, transparency, and scientific credibility of the journal.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors of the JSCTT are responsible for ensuring the quality, fairness, and ethical integrity of published research. Their key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the peer review process to ensure fair, unbiased, and timely evaluation of manuscripts.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and safeguarding the integrity of the review process.
• Ensuring adherence to ethical publishing standards and addressing any potential research misconduct.
• Making independent editorial decisions based on scientific merit, clinical relevance, and adherence to journal guidelines.

Peer Review Process

Editors manage a rigorous peer review process to ensure the publication of scientifically accurate and ethically sound research. They must:

• Select expert and independent reviewers with relevant expertise in stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and transplantation.
• Ensure that peer reviews are conducted fairly, objectively, and without conflicts of interest.
• Make final publication decisions based on reviewer feedback, manuscript quality, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Provide authors with constructive feedback to improve the clarity, validity, and impact of their research.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose and manage conflicts of interest to maintain editorial integrity. They should:

• Not handle manuscripts where they have a personal, professional, or financial conflict of interest.
• Refrain from using unpublished data or findings from submitted manuscripts for personal research.
• Ensure that both reviewers and authors disclose any potential conflicts of interest before manuscript evaluation.

Publication Ethics and Misconduct

The JSCTT adheres to ethical publishing practices to prevent scientific misconduct. Editors must:

• Investigate cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, and unethical research practices.
• Take appropriate actions such as rejecting manuscripts, issuing corrections, or retracting articles in cases of confirmed misconduct.
• Ensure that all published work complies with ethical guidelines recommended by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Ethical Considerations in Stem Cell Research

For research involving human stem cells, embryonic stem cells, or transplantation procedures, editors must ensure that:

• Authors provide ethical approval from institutional review boards or relevant ethical committees.
• Research involving human subjects follows informed consent protocols and adheres to international bioethical standards.
• Studies on embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells comply with national and international regulations.
• Any research involving animal models is conducted following ethical treatment and welfare guidelines.

Failure to comply with these ethical standards may result in manuscript rejection.

Manuscript Decision and Communication

Editors should ensure a fair and timely decision-making process regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection. They must:

• Base decisions on the manuscript’s scientific validity, originality, and relevance to stem cell therapy and transplantation.
• Clearly communicate acceptance, revision, or rejection decisions to authors with constructive reviewer feedback.
• Ensure that editorial decisions are transparent, unbiased, and in the best interest of advancing stem cell research.

Transparency and Accountability

Editors must uphold transparency in the editorial process and be accountable for all published content. They must:

• Ensure that the journal’s editorial policies, submission guidelines, and ethical standards are publicly available.
• Address ethical concerns or complaints related to published articles or editorial decisions.
• Promote diversity, inclusivity, and equitable publishing practices in the field of regenerative medicine.

Corrections and Retractions

In cases of significant errors or ethical concerns, editors must:

• Facilitate the publication of corrections, errata, or clarifications when necessary.
• Retract articles in cases of confirmed research misconduct, data manipulation, or ethical violations.
• Ensure that retractions and corrections are issued transparently, with clear justifications for their necessity.

Editorial Independence

The editorial team of JSCTT must maintain editorial independence and ensure that:

• Editorial decisions are not influenced by financial, institutional, or political pressures.
• Editorial policies and scientific standards are consistently applied to maintain credibility and excellence.
• Authors, reviewers, and editorial board members are treated fairly and with professionalism.

Submission Declaration

By serving as an editor for the JSCTT, individuals agree to:

• Adhere to ethical publishing guidelines and best editorial practices.
• Ensure a fair, unbiased, and transparent peer review process.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold the integrity of scientific publishing in stem cell research and transplantation.

For any ethical concerns or clarifications regarding editorial responsibilities, editors are encouraged to contact the journal’s editorial office.