Peer Review Policy

The International Journal of Pharmaceutical Creativity and Innovation (IJPCI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing through a rigorous, transparent, fair, and ethical peer review process. The journal employs peer review to ensure the quality, originality, scientific validity, and relevance of all published research in pharmaceutical sciences and related disciplines.

Review Model

IJPCI follows a Double-Blind Peer Review system, in which:

  • The identities of authors are concealed from reviewers.
  • The identities of reviewers are concealed from authors.

This review model helps eliminate potential bias and promotes objective, independent, and impartial evaluation of submitted manuscripts.

Initial Editorial Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial assessment by the Editorial Office and Editor-in-Chief to evaluate:

  • Relevance to the journal's aims and scope
  • Compliance with submission guidelines
  • Completeness of required documents and declarations
  • Ethical compliance and research integrity standards
  • Plagiarism screening results
  • Scientific quality and methodological soundness

Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be rejected without external peer review.

Reviewer Selection

Manuscripts that successfully pass the editorial screening are assigned to:

  • At least two independent expert reviewers
  • Reviewers possessing relevant subject-matter expertise in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, pharmacology, drug discovery, biotechnology, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical technology, healthcare innovation, or related fields

Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, publication record, research experience, and professional expertise.

All reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.

Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and novelty of the research
  • Scientific significance and contribution to pharmaceutical sciences
  • Relevance to the journal's scope
  • Quality of research design and methodology
  • Accuracy and validity of data analysis
  • Ethical compliance and regulatory considerations
  • Clarity, organization, and presentation of the manuscript
  • Quality and interpretation of results
  • Practical, clinical, industrial, or academic significance
  • Adequacy of references and literature review
  • Overall scientific merit and publication suitability

Editorial Decisions

Based on reviewer recommendations and editorial evaluation, one of the following decisions may be issued:

  • Accept
  • Accept with Minor Revisions
  • Major Revisions Required
  • Revise and Resubmit
  • Reject

Authors receiving revision requests must submit:

  • A revised manuscript
  • A detailed point-by-point response to reviewer comments

Additional rounds of peer review may be conducted when necessary.

The final publication decision rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief.

Ethical Standards in Peer Review

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process
  • Provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based feedback
  • Avoid personal criticism of authors
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Refrain from using unpublished information for personal or professional advantage
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe

Editors ensure that all editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of scientific merit and scholarly quality without discrimination based on nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion, institutional affiliation, age, or political beliefs.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts, supplementary files, reviewer reports, and correspondence are treated as confidential documents.

Reviewers and editors must not:

  • Share manuscript content with unauthorized individuals
  • Use unpublished information for personal benefit
  • Discuss manuscripts outside the editorial process

Confidentiality obligations continue even after the review process has been completed.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit a formal appeal accompanied by a detailed explanation and supporting evidence.

The appeal will be reviewed independently by the editorial team, and additional expert opinions may be sought when appropriate.

The decision reached after the appeal review process shall be considered final.

Publication Ethics and Integrity

IJPCI adheres to internationally recognized publication ethics principles and best practices. The journal is committed to promoting:

  • Fairness and transparency in peer review
  • Academic integrity and research ethics
  • Prevention of plagiarism and scientific misconduct
  • Responsible authorship and data reporting
  • High standards of scholarly communication

Any allegations of misconduct, ethical concerns, or irregularities identified during peer review or after publication will be investigated in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines. Appropriate actions, including corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, may be taken when necessary.