Canon Journal of Medicine: Developing Editorial Policies and Recommence of Publication

Document Type : Editorial

Authors

1 Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Neurosurgery, Firoozgar Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Canon Journal of Medicine (CJM) is open access, peer-review, online journal published quarterly in general medicine and medical science. After a one-year pause in publication, from December 2021, Canon Journal of Medicine will recommence publication of scientific articles with a new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) and Editorial Board.
Since a high standard of ethical consideration and transparent publication is essential for medical journalism, we have made considerable changes to the editorial policies. Changes were made aligning the CJM policies with the international committee of medical journal editors (ICMJE) recommendations. Here are some critical approaches we have taken: (1) Publication of peer-review content along with the article. (2) Four reviewers for each manuscript (3) Clear guidelines. (4) Contract for Editors. (5) Permissions and Ethical Consideration Forms. (6) Social Responsibilities.

Keywords


Canon Journal of Medicine (CJM) is an open access, peer-review, online journal published quarterly in general medicine and medical science. After a one-year pause in publication, from December 2021, Canon Journal of Medicine will recommence publication of scientific articles with a new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) and Editorial Board. 
Since a high standard of ethical consideration and transparent publication is essential for medical journalism, we have made considerable changes to the editorial policies. Changes were made aligning the CJM policies with the international committee of medical journal editors (ICMJE) recommendations. Here are some critical approaches we have taken.
1. Publication of peer-review content along with the article
From now on, CJM will publish review contents and comments of peer-reviewed articles. However, some reviews may need English editing before publication, but the main content will remain intact. The editors and reviewers should define their conflict of interest statement, which will be published.
2. Four reviewers for each manuscript
Four reviewers will review a submitted manuscript, two reviewers with a specialty in the field, a reviewer for ethical considerations, and a reviewer for the research methodology. However, the EIC or associate editor will make the final decision.
3. Clear guideline
Clear guidelines for the author, reviewer, and editor are available on the CJM website. The guideline will clarify and ease the peer-review process, both for author and reviewer. 
4. Contract for Editors
A yearly contract will be made between the editor and the owner, Arka Education and Clinical Research Consultants Co., to clarify the editor’s role and responsibilities. Nevertheless, no financial facilities or fee for service have been considered for the contribution of editors. 
5. Permissions and Ethical Consideration Forms
Where needed, there is a permission and an ethical consideration form to explain the role and responsibilities of authors and reviewers. Authors and reviewers should fill in the signed form before the peer-review process is commenced.
6. Social Responsibilities
CJM will also focus on making apprehensible content for the general population. Each published research will have an abstract for a non-expert audience. Bringing research to people will improve not only their knowledge but also their trust in science. Discussion with authors within podcasts will also be part of CJM plan to play its role as a reliable source of information.
Because of delivering principled and high-quality research to the audience, CJM is committed to recommendations of ICMJE and the committee on publication ethics (COPE) and will align its policies and activities to achieve transparent ethical journalism.
The Image used in the cover of this issue is created by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This highly magnified, digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image highlights the particle envelope of a single, spherical shaped, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) virion, through the process of immunolabeling, the envelope proteins, using rabbit HCoV-EMC/2012 primary antibody, and goat anti-rabbit 10nm gold particles.

  1. International. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals [Internet]. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Available from: http://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf