According to The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, it is crucial for authors to avoid any agreements with study sponsors, whether for-profit or non-profit, that restrict their access to the complete dataset, interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data, or impede their independence in preparing and publishing manuscripts.
To ensure transparency and integrity, all authors are required to disclose any relationships or interests that could potentially influence or bias their work. These conflicts of interest may include financial interests (such as employment, consultancies, ownership of stocks or shares, honoraria, grants or funding, paid expert testimonies, and patent-licensing arrangements) as well as non-financial interests (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, and personal beliefs).
The corresponding author is responsible for including a summary statement in the manuscript, specifically in a separate section titled “Conflicts of Interest,” which should appear just before the reference list. This statement should encompass all the disclosed potential conflicts of interest in a concise format.
Here are examples of conflict of interest disclosures:
Conflicts of Interest: Author A has received research grants from Company A. Author B has received a speaker honorarium from Company X and holds stocks in Company Y. Author C has served as a consultant and expert witness for Company Z. Author D is the inventor of Patent X.
In cases where no conflicts of interest exist, the authors should state:
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
By adhering to these guidelines, Azerbaijan Pharmaceutical and Pharmacotherapy Journal (APPJ) aims to promote transparency and uphold the highest standards of research integrity.
