Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, editors, and Editorial Board members must disclose interests or relationships that may influence—or reasonably appear to influence—their scholarly judgment.

Potential competing interests may include:

• financial interests;
• employment;
• consultancy;
• patents;
• commercial interests;
• research funding;
• institutional relationships;
• personal relationships;
• academic competition; and
• involvement in competing technologies.

Authors must disclose relevant competing interests in their manuscript.

Reviewers must decline assignments where a conflict could compromise independence.

Editors must transfer manuscripts to an independent editor when they have a relevant conflict of interest.

Related Policies:
Peer Review Process | Editorial Process | Publication Ethics