Withdrawal Policy
At Journal of Translational Research, we understand that there may be cases where authors wish to withdraw their manuscript after submission. This Withdrawal Policy outlines the procedures and conditions under which a manuscript can be withdrawn, as well as the responsibilities of both authors and the editorial team in such cases.
1. Conditions for Withdrawal:
· Before Peer Review Begins: Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before the peer review process begins. This can be done without any penalty or further costs. Authors should notify the editorial office as soon as possible if they wish to withdraw their manuscript. Once the withdrawal request is received, the manuscript will be removed from the journal’s system, and no further action will be taken.
· During Peer Review: If the manuscript has entered the peer review process but has not yet been accepted, authors may still request to withdraw their manuscript. The author must submit a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office, clearly stating the reason for withdrawal. Upon receiving the request, the manuscript will be formally withdrawn, and the review process will be halted. The editorial team may provide feedback to the authors regarding their decision.
· After Acceptance: Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, withdrawal is not allowed without significant justification. If authors choose to withdraw the manuscript after acceptance, they may be required to cover any costs incurred during the editorial and review process up until that point (e.g., peer review, editing, production fees). The editorial office will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis, and the author will be required to provide a detailed explanation for the withdrawal.
· Post-Publication: After the manuscript has been published in the journal (either online or in print), withdrawal is not possible. In cases where the author believes there is an issue that requires further action (e.g., ethical concerns, errors in the manuscript), they may request a retraction instead of a withdrawal.
2. Procedure for Manuscript Withdrawal:
1. Written Request: To withdraw a manuscript, the corresponding author must submit a formal written request to the editorial office. The request should include the manuscript title, ID, and the reason for withdrawal. The author should also indicate if there were any conflicts that led to the decision to withdraw.
2. Review of Request: The editorial office will review the withdrawal request and determine whether it is acceptable. If the manuscript is in the peer review process, it will be immediately removed from the system. If the manuscript has already been accepted or is in production, the author may be asked to justify the decision.
3. Confirmation of Withdrawal: Upon approval of the withdrawal request, the manuscript will be removed from the submission system, and the author will be notified that the manuscript has been officially withdrawn. If the manuscript had already been reviewed or accepted, the reason for withdrawal will be noted in the system.
3. Financial Implications:
· No Fees for Withdrawal Before Peer Review: Manuscripts withdrawn before the peer review process begins are generally not subject to any fees.
· Refund Policy: If the manuscript is withdrawn before peer review begins and the author has paid submission or publication fees, the author may be eligible for a refund, subject to the Refund Policy.
· Cost Recovery After Acceptance: If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance but before publication, the author may be required to pay any fees incurred during the submission, review, or production stages. This includes any editing, peer review, or administrative processing fees.
4. Ethical Considerations for Withdrawal:
· Duplicate Submissions: Authors are not permitted to withdraw a manuscript in order to submit it to another journal after the peer review process has started. Manuscripts submitted to Journal of Translational Research must not be under consideration by another journal at the time of submission. Dual submissions are considered unethical.
· Transparency: When withdrawing a manuscript, authors are encouraged to provide a clear and honest explanation for their decision. Transparency in the withdrawal process helps maintain the integrity of the journal and ensures that the editorial process remains fair.
5. Handling Post-Publication Issues:
If an author requests the withdrawal of a manuscript post-publication due to significant issues, such as ethical violations or serious errors, the issue will be handled as a retraction request. The retraction will be clearly indicated in the article and linked to a retraction notice.
6. Appeals Process:
In the event that an author disagrees with the editorial decision regarding a withdrawal request, they may submit a formal appeal. The editorial team will review the appeal and make a final decision based on the justification provided by the author. The editorial team’s decision will be final.
7. Notification to Reviewers:
If a manuscript is withdrawn during or after the peer review process, the reviewers will be informed that the manuscript has been withdrawn. Reviewers who have already completed their assessments will be thanked for their contributions, and their reviews will be kept confidential.
