Conflict of Interest Policy

The International Journal of Fundamental Research and Development is committed to transparency and integrity in scholarly publishing. A conflict of interest exists when personal, financial, professional, or other relationships could influence, or be reasonably perceived to influence, the objectivity of research, peer review, or editorial decisions.

Obligations of Authors

Authors must disclose any potential conflict of interest that could affect the research or its interpretation. This includes financial relationships such as funding, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or paid expert testimony, as well as non-financial relationships such as personal or professional connections that may influence the work.

If no conflict of interest exists, authors should include a clear statement confirming this in the manuscript. All disclosures must be made at the time of submission. Failure to declare a relevant conflict may result in rejection of the manuscript or, if discovered after publication, appropriate corrective action.

Obligations of Reviewers

Reviewers must declare any potential conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment. This includes personal, professional, financial, or academic relationships with the authors or the subject matter of the manuscript that could affect the impartiality of the review.

If a conflict exists, the reviewer should decline the invitation so that the manuscript can be reassigned to another expert. Reviewers must not use information obtained during the review process for personal advantage.

Obligations of Editors

Editors and members of the editorial team must declare any potential conflict of interest related to a manuscript under consideration. When a conflict exists, the editor will withdraw from handling the manuscript and assign it to another qualified editor.

Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly quality of the work, the outcome of peer review, and the relevance of the manuscript to the aims and scope of the journal.

Handling of Undisclosed Conflicts

If an undeclared conflict of interest comes to light after submission or publication, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Depending on the circumstances, the journal may reject the manuscript, issue a correction, publish an expression of concern, or retract the article.

The International Journal of Fundamental Research and Development expects all parties involved in the publication process to act with honesty and transparency so that the integrity of the scholarly record is maintained.