Overview
WiseLeaf Scientific Ventures is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and transparency. All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing their judgment regarding the research being submitted or reviewed. This policy ensures that potential conflicts of interest are identified, disclosed, and appropriately managed.
Types of Conflicts of Interest
Financial Interests
Employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, and any financial relationships with organizations relevant to the research.
Personal Relationships
Family members, close friends, or personal relationships with individuals or organizations involved in the research or publication process.
Professional Interests
Academic competition, professional advancement, institutional affiliations, or research collaborations that could influence judgment.
Institutional Conflicts
Conflicts arising from institutional financial interests, technology transfer agreements, or administrative positions.
Financial Disclosure Requirements
Mandatory Disclosures
- Employment or leadership positions in organizations relevant to the research
- Board membership or advisory positions with for-profit or non-profit organizations
- Consultancy agreements or speaking fees from relevant organizations
- Stock ownership, options, or other equity interests exceeding $5,000
- Patents or patent applications related to the research topic
- Royalties or licensing fees from intellectual property
- Research funding from commercial entities
- Travel support exceeding $1,000 from commercial entities
Time Frame for Disclosure
- Current financial relationships at time of submission
- Financial relationships within the past 36 months
- Anticipated future financial relationships if already arranged
- Immediate family member relationships (spouse, children, parents)
- Financial interests of institutions employing the authors
Disclosure Examples and Guidelines
| Relationship Type | Examples | Disclosure Required |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | Full-time, part-time, or contractor positions | Always Required |
| Consulting | Paid advisory roles, expert testimony | Always Required |
| Speaking Fees | Honoraria for lectures, presentations | If >$1,000 |
| Stock Ownership | Shares, options, warrants | If >$5,000 |
| Research Funding | Grants, contracts, equipment support | Always Required |
| Travel Support | Conference travel, accommodation | If >$1,000 |
| Board Membership | Board of directors, scientific advisory board | Always Required |
| Patents | Issued patents, pending applications | Always Required |
Disclosure Process and Management
Author Responsibilities
- Complete conflict of interest disclosure forms at time of submission
- Update disclosures if new conflicts arise during review process
- Ensure all co-authors complete individual disclosure forms
- Provide detailed descriptions of financial relationships
- Include disclosure statements in manuscript when required
- Respond promptly to editorial requests for additional information
Editorial Management
- Review all conflict of interest disclosures before peer review
- Assess potential impact of conflicts on study design and interpretation
- Determine appropriate management strategies for identified conflicts
- Ensure reviewer conflicts are identified and managed
- Make final decisions on publication based on scientific merit and conflict assessment
- Require revision or additional disclosures when necessary
Non-Disclosure Consequences
Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, or prohibition from future submissions. Authors are expected to err on the side of disclosure when uncertain.
Institutional Conflict Management
Institutional Responsibilities
- Establish conflict of interest policies and procedures
- Provide training on conflict identification and management
- Review and manage institutional financial interests
- Ensure compliance with federal and regulatory requirements
- Monitor ongoing conflicts and management plans
- Maintain confidential records of conflict disclosures
Management Strategies
- Public disclosure of conflicts in publications and presentations
- Independent review and oversight of research activities
- Modification of research plans to minimize bias potential
- Divestiture of conflicting financial interests
- Disqualification from participation in conflicted activities
- External validation of research results and analysis
Peer Review and Editorial Conflicts
Reviewer Responsibilities
- Decline review invitations when conflicts of interest exist
- Disclose any relationships with authors or competing interests
- Maintain confidentiality of review process and manuscript content
- Avoid using privileged information for personal advantage
- Recuse from review if unable to provide unbiased assessment
- Report suspected misconduct or undisclosed conflicts
Editorial Board Conflicts
- Recuse from handling manuscripts with personal conflicts
- Transfer editorial decisions to uninvolved editors
- Disclose relationships that could influence editorial judgment
- Maintain separation between editorial and commercial activities
- Ensure transparent handling of institutional submissions
- Regular review and update of conflict management policies
Disclosure Form Template
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
Additional Resources
ICMJE Guidelines
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors recommendations for conflict of interest disclosure
View GuidelinesNIH Guidelines
National Institutes of Health financial conflict of interest regulations and guidance
Access ResourcesCOPE Guidelines
Committee on Publication Ethics guidance on handling conflicts of interest in publication
Learn MoreTransparency Framework
Best practices for transparent reporting of financial relationships and potential conflicts
Download GuideQuestions About Conflict of Interest?
Our editorial office is available to assist with questions about conflict disclosure requirements and management strategies.
Contact Editorial Office