The Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine (JCCM) is committed to upholding high editorial standards to ensure the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research in cardiology and cardiovascular medicine. Editors play a vital role in maintaining the integrity, transparency, and scientific credibility of the journal.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors of the JCCM are responsible for ensuring the quality, ethics, and fairness of published research. Their key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the peer review process to ensure an unbiased and timely evaluation of manuscripts.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and safeguarding the integrity of the review process.
• Upholding the journal’s ethical standards and addressing any instances of research misconduct.
• Making independent and fair publication decisions based on scientific merit and relevance to cardiovascular medicine.

Peer Review Process

Editors are responsible for managing a robust peer review process to ensure the scientific quality of published research. They must:

• Select appropriate and independent reviewers with expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular medicine.
• Ensure that reviews are conducted objectively and without conflicts of interest.
• Make final editorial decisions based on reviewer feedback, manuscript quality, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Provide authors with constructive feedback to improve the clarity and impact of their research.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose and manage conflicts of interest to maintain editorial integrity. They should:

• Not be involved in decisions regarding manuscripts where they have personal or professional conflicts of interest.
• Refrain from using unpublished data or ideas from submitted manuscripts for their own research.
• Ensure that both reviewers and authors declare any potential conflicts of interest.

Publication Ethics and Misconduct

The JCCM adheres to ethical publishing guidelines to prevent scientific misconduct. Editors are expected to:

• Investigate cases of plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate publication, and unethical research practices.
• Take necessary actions such as rejecting manuscripts, issuing corrections, or retracting articles when misconduct is identified.
• Ensure that the journal follows ethical publishing guidelines set by organizations such as COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Ethics in Cardiovascular Research

For research involving human subjects, clinical trials, or patient data, editors must ensure that:

• Authors provide ethical approval from institutional review boards or ethical committees.
• Studies involving patient data comply with privacy regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA.
• Clinical trials are registered in appropriate databases, and authors disclose potential risks, limitations, and funding sources.
• Research involving experimental treatments follows established medical and ethical guidelines.

Failure to meet ethical standards may result in manuscript rejection.

Manuscript Decision and Communication

Editors are responsible for fair and timely decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection. They must:

• Make decisions based on the manuscript’s scientific rigor, originality, and relevance to cardiology and cardiovascular medicine.
• Clearly communicate acceptance, revision, or rejection decisions to authors along with constructive feedback.
• Ensure that all editorial decisions are impartial and in the best interest of the journal and its readership.

Transparency and Accountability

Editors should uphold transparency in editorial processes and be accountable for the content published in the journal. They must:

• Ensure that the journal’s policies, submission guidelines, and ethical standards are publicly available.
• Address ethical concerns or complaints related to published articles or editorial decisions.
• Promote diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunities in publishing within the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Corrections and Retractions

In cases of post-publication errors or ethical concerns, editors must:

• Facilitate the publication of corrections, errata, or clarifications when necessary.
• Retract articles when serious issues such as data manipulation, plagiarism, or ethical violations are identified.
• Ensure that retractions and corrections are issued transparently with proper justifications.

Editorial Independence

The editorial board of JCCM is committed to maintaining editorial independence by ensuring that:

• Editorial decisions are made free from external influence, including financial, political, or institutional pressures.
• Editorial policies are applied consistently, promoting academic excellence and scientific integrity.
• Authors and reviewers are treated with fairness, professionalism, and respect.

Submission Declaration

By serving as an editor for the JCCM, individuals agree to:

• Adhere to the highest ethical publishing standards and editorial best practices.
• Ensure a fair, unbiased, and transparent peer review process.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold the integrity of scientific publishing in cardiovascular research.

For ethical concerns or clarifications regarding editorial responsibilities, editors are encouraged to contact the journal’s editorial office.