Privacy Statement

At Journal of Translational Research, we are committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal data. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information in compliance with relevant data protection laws. We strive to maintain transparency and ensure the security of all information provided to us by authors, reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders.

1. Information We Collect:

We collect personal information necessary for the submission, review, publication, and administration of manuscripts. The types of personal data we may collect include:

  • Author Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, phone number, ORCID ID (if applicable), and any additional information provided during manuscript submission, such as biography and co-author details.
  • Reviewer Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and areas of expertise, along with any feedback provided during the peer review process.
  • Editor Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and other professional details relevant to the editorial process.
  • Usage Data: Information about how users interact with our website, including IP addresses, browser types, page views, and other analytical data to improve the website’s functionality and user experience.

2. How We Use Your Information:

We use the personal information collected for the following purposes:

  • For Authors: To process and evaluate manuscript submissions, communicate with authors regarding the status of their submission, and manage the publication of accepted articles.
  • For Reviewers: To invite reviewers to assess submitted manuscripts, manage reviewer assignments, and provide feedback to authors based on reviewer comments.
  • For Editors: To manage the editorial process, communicate with authors and reviewers, and make editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection.
  • For Website Usage: To analyze and improve website performance, troubleshoot technical issues, and enhance the user experience.
  • For Communication: To notify authors, reviewers, and editors about important updates, manuscript decisions, journal-related events, and new issues.

3. Sharing of Personal Information:

We do not share your personal information with third parties, except in the following circumstances:

  • Peer Review Process: When a manuscript is submitted for review, we share author information (name, manuscript title, abstract) with invited reviewers to facilitate the peer review process. Reviewers’ identities remain confidential, and they are prohibited from sharing the manuscript content with others.
  • Service Providers: We may share your personal information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in the operation of the journal (e.g., hosting services, manuscript tracking systems). These providers are obligated to protect your personal information and use it only for the purpose of performing their services.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your personal information if required by law or legal processes, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or government request, or to protect our legal rights.

4. Data Security:

We employ appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and strict access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

5. Data Retention:

We retain personal data for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including managing the manuscript submission, review, and publication processes. Once the data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize the data in accordance with applicable laws.

6. Your Rights Regarding Personal Data:

Depending on applicable data protection laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Access: You can request access to the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Correct: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Right to Erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain conditions (e.g., if we no longer need it for the purposes for which it was collected).
  • Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent to process your data, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

We may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze website usage, and improve our services. Cookies are small text files placed on your device. You can set your browser to reject cookies, although doing so may limit some website functionalities.

8. Third-Party Websites:

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before submitting personal information to them.

9. Updates to This Privacy Statement:

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We recommend that you periodically review this page to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal information.