Preprints Policy

Overview:
The International Journal of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (IJPLS) acknowledges the growing importance of preprints in the scientific community. Preprints allow authors to share their research findings with the scientific community before undergoing formal peer review, facilitating rapid dissemination, engagement, and feedback.
This policy outlines the journal’s position on preprints and provides guidelines for authors considering submitting their work to IJPLS after posting a preprint.
1. Definition of a Preprint
A preprint is a complete version of an article that has not yet undergone formal peer review. It is typically uploaded to a preprint server, which is an open-access platform for sharing manuscripts before formal publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
2. Preprints and Submission to IJPLS

  • Preprint Submission is Permitted: Authors who have posted their manuscript as a preprint are welcome to submit it to IJPLS for formal peer review and potential publication. Submission of a preprint does not preclude the manuscript from being considered by the journal.
  • Clear Citation of Preprints: Authors must clearly cite the preprint if it has been uploaded to a preprint server. The preprint DOI and link must be included in the manuscript’s reference section or acknowledged in the cover letter at the time of submission.

Example citation:
Author(s). (Year). Title of preprint. Preprint Server Name. DOI: [Preprint DOI]
3. Peer Review and Publication

  • Full Peer Review: Preprints submitted to IJPLS will undergo the journal's standard peer review process. Submitting a preprint does not guarantee acceptance in IJPLS.
  • Revision of Preprint: If the manuscript undergoes major revisions or updates as a result of the peer review process, authors must update the preprint version with the revised manuscript or provide a clear explanation of the differences between the preprint and the final version published in IJPLS.

4. Embargo on Preprints

  • No Embargo Period Required: Authors are not required to place an embargo on their preprints before submitting them to IJPLS. Authors can share their research findings via preprints at any stage, even if they are under consideration by the journal.

5. Preprint Servers

  • Authors are encouraged to post their preprints on recognized, reputable preprint servers relevant to their field (e.g., bioRxiv, medRxiv, ChemRxiv, etc.). However, IJPLS does not endorse any specific preprint server.
  • The server should ensure open access and allow for proper citation and metadata.

6. Data Sharing and Open Science

  • Authors who submit preprints to IJPLS should adhere to the journal's Data Availability Policy, which encourages the sharing of raw data, methodologies, and any relevant supplementary material alongside the preprint.
  • Open Science practices, including providing access to code, data sets, and protocols, are highly encouraged to ensure transparency and reproducibility of results.

7. Subsequent Publication

  • If a preprint has been posted, and the manuscript is later accepted and published in IJPLS, the preprint will remain available. The publication in IJPLS will be clearly distinguished from the preprint version by including the final peer-reviewed DOI and citation.
  • The final published article in IJPLS will supersede the preprint as the definitive version of record.

8. Ethical Considerations

  • Plagiarism and Ethical Violations: Authors must ensure that the preprint adheres to the same ethical standards as a journal submission. Any preprints involving plagiarism, data manipulation, or other ethical violations will not be considered for publication in IJPLS.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any conflicts of interest related to their preprints during the submission process to IJPLS, as they would for a regular manuscript submission.

9. Withdrawal of Preprints

  • Authors may choose to withdraw their preprint from the preprint server at any time before or after submission to IJPLS. If a preprint is withdrawn, authors should notify the journal, and the journal’s editorial team will review the situation.
  • If a manuscript that was previously posted as a preprint is accepted by IJPLS, authors should update the preprint entry with a reference to the journal publication, along with a note stating the paper was peer-reviewed and published in IJPLS.

10. Feedback and Engagement with Preprints

  • Engagement with the Community: Authors are encouraged to engage with feedback and comments from the community on their preprints. The peer review process at IJPLS may be informed by any feedback received via the preprint platform.

11. Preprints and Copyright

  • No Impact on Copyright: Posting a preprint does not affect the copyright transfer process. Authors retain copyright of their preprint, and upon acceptance of their manuscript by IJPLS, they will be required to transfer copyright to the journal according to the journal’s standard policies.

12. Preprint Policy Review

  • The preprints policy may be reviewed and updated periodically in response to changes in scientific publishing practices and community needs. Any updates will be communicated to authors via the journal’s website and submission guidelines.

For further inquiries regarding our preprints policy, please contact the editorial office at: [editor@ijpls.com].