Withdrawal Policy

1. Introduction

Trends in Biosciences Research understands that situations may arise where an author needs to withdraw their manuscript from consideration. This Withdrawal Policy outlines the process, conditions, and potential consequences involved in withdrawing a manuscript at various stages of the publication process.

2. Conditions for Manuscript Withdrawal

Authors may request to withdraw their manuscript under the following circumstances:

  • Before Peer Review: Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before it is sent for peer review without any penalties.

  • During Peer Review: Authors may withdraw their manuscript during the peer review process. However, authors are required to provide a valid reason for the withdrawal, and an administrative fee may be charged to cover any processing costs incurred up to that point.

  • After Peer Review but Before Final Decision: If the manuscript has completed the peer review process but a final decision has not yet been made, authors may still withdraw the manuscript. No refund of any article processing charges (APC) will be provided in this case.

  • Post-Acceptance Withdrawal: Once a manuscript is accepted for publication and the APC is paid, withdrawal will be considered on a case-by-case basis. No refund of the APC will be provided, and the manuscript will be removed from the publication process.

  • Post-Publication: Once an article is published online or in print, it cannot be withdrawn. In cases of ethical violations or major issues, retraction procedures will apply, not withdrawal.

3. Withdrawal Request Procedure

To withdraw a manuscript, the corresponding author must submit a formal written request to the editorial office at [insert contact email]. The request should include:

  • The title of the manuscript
  • The submission ID or reference number
  • A clear reason for withdrawal
  • Any supporting documentation, if applicable

The editorial team will acknowledge the withdrawal request within 5 business days and process it accordingly. If the manuscript is already under review, the withdrawal will be communicated to the reviewers.

4. Consequences of Manuscript Withdrawal

  • Before Peer Review: The manuscript will be removed from consideration without any further action. Authors will not incur any further costs or penalties, and the manuscript will not be processed further.

  • During Peer Review: The manuscript will be removed from the review process, and any reviews in progress will be canceled. The authors may incur a nominal administrative fee to cover the costs of the review stage already completed.

  • After Peer Review but Before Final Decision: The manuscript will be withdrawn from consideration, but no refund of the APC will be issued. The editorial process will be halted, and the manuscript will no longer be evaluated for publication.

  • Post-Acceptance Withdrawal: If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance and payment of the APC, no refund will be issued, and the manuscript will be removed from the publication schedule.

  • Post-Publication: Once an article is published, it cannot be withdrawn. In cases of serious ethical violations, retraction procedures will be followed, which will be noted publicly.

5. Refunds for Withdrawn Manuscripts

Refunds will be provided only under specific conditions:

  • Before Peer Review: If the manuscript is withdrawn before it is sent for peer review, the full APC will be refunded (subject to any administrative charges).

  • During Peer Review: If the manuscript is withdrawn during the review process, a partial refund may be issued depending on the stage at which the manuscript is withdrawn. A small administrative fee may be deducted to cover costs incurred during the peer review process.

  • After Acceptance: No refunds will be provided if the manuscript is withdrawn after it has been accepted for publication.

  • Post-Publication: No refunds will be issued once the article has been published, regardless of the reason for withdrawal.

6. Ethical Considerations for Withdrawal

In cases where an author requests withdrawal due to ethical concerns, such as:

  • Plagiarism or improper citation practices
  • Data falsification or fabrication
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

The editorial team will investigate the issue and take the necessary steps to maintain the integrity of the journal. In such cases, the manuscript may be retracted rather than withdrawn, and a retraction notice will be issued. Retractions will be published to ensure transparency and maintain the credibility of the journal.

7. Institutional and Ethical Oversight

If ethical concerns arise during the withdrawal process (e.g., plagiarism or misconduct), Trends in Biosciences Research may contact the author’s institution for further investigation. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines set by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) and will follow their procedures to address any violations.

8. Policy Review

This Withdrawal Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains consistent with best practices in academic publishing. Any updates or changes to this policy will be communicated to authors, reviewers, and editors promptly.