Ethical Statement on Research Involving Human Samples and Cell Lines

Ethical Statement on Research Involving Human Samples and Cell Lines

At Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal, ethical considerations are paramount in research involving human samples and cell lines. To uphold the highest standards of integrity and respect for human rights, the following principles must be adhered to by all authors submitting work to our journal:

1. Ethical Approval
Research involving human biological samples (e.g., tissues, blood, or bodily fluids) or cell lines must have prior approval from an accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee. Authors must submit evidence of this approval with their manuscript.

2. Informed Consent
It is essential that informed consent is obtained from all sample donors or their legally authorized representatives.

  • For archival or previously collected samples where consent is unavailable, authors must provide justification along with evidence of Ethics Committee approval.

3. Privacy and Confidentiality
All human samples and associated data must be anonymized to protect the identities and privacy of participants. Personal identifiers must not appear in the manuscript or supplementary materials.

4. Use of Cell Lines
Authors must disclose the origin of all cell lines used in the research.

  • Cell lines should be obtained from recognized repositories or properly sourced with ethical permissions.
  • Primary cell lines must be accompanied by details of consent and approvals for their derivation.

5. Adherence to Guidelines
Research must conform to international ethical frameworks such as:

  • The Declaration of Helsinki.
  • The Belmont Report.
  • Applicable local and national regulations.

6. Reporting Requirements
Authors must include:

  • A statement confirming ethical approval and consent in the methods section.
  • Details about the source and authentication of cell lines, including contamination testing where applicable.

7. Accountability
Manuscripts that fail to meet these ethical requirements will not be accepted. If ethical breaches are identified post-publication, the article may be retracted, and relevant authorities notified.

8. Supporting Documentation
Upon request, authors must provide additional documentation, such as IRB approval certificates or consent forms, to verify compliance.