Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process

The International Journal of Travel Medicine & Global Health (IJTMGH) accepts manuscripts which report novel findings, those of which could result in impacts on travel medicine and global health. The quality and the topic of the submitted manuscript, besides the priority of the researches field are the least considered criteria in each manuscript before entering the formal review process. Any submissions which contain scientific information necessitates review process to ensure content quality.

Technical editors check the format and style of the submitted manuscript prior to review process to assure its compatibility with IJTMGH’s guidelines for authors. Checking compatibility continue in the entire review process and publication. In cases when the authors have not considered the guidelines, the manuscript will be sent back to the authors for compatibility. Each submitted manuscript will be considered by the editor-in-chief or one of the associate editors in the editorial board. If it meets the minimum criteria to be included in the review process, one of the editors (topic expert) selects at least two external reviewers for a more detailed evaluation process. The selection of reviewers is based on their scientific background and experiences, previous works, authors’ suggestions, and expertise. Reviewers are committed to undertake the confidentiality of materials previous to ePublication. In the review process of the IJTMGH, reviewers stay anonymous, and also authors’ names don't declared to reviewers (double-blind peer-review). Authors could suggest reviewers for their manuscript.

The editor receives the reviewers’ comments and sends them along with a decision letter to the corresponding author. The final in regards to each manuscript will be made by the assigned editor of the manuscript. The process or peer review takes no more than 12 weeks. A decision letter determines the status of a manuscript in five ways:

  1. Acceptance: This process lasts for 6 weeks. Before ePublication, the corresponding author could verify a proof copy of the paper. After ePublication, the paper will be in a cue to be published in one of the upcoming IJTMGH issues.
  2. Acceptance with Minor Revision: Revised manuscripts must be submitted in one month after decision letter. Otherwise, authors need to go through a resubmission process.
  3. Minor Revision:  The authors will be asked to submit a revised copy besides the cover letter showing authors’ rejoinders, and also a marked copy Microsoft Word Document. Revised manuscripts must be submitted in one month after decision letter. Otherwise, authors need to go through a resubmission process.
  4. Major Revision: In this case, a chance is given to authors to reorganize the manuscript to meet the required scientific criteria for another review process. Authors should pay more attention to reviewers’ comments and focus on their highlighted points. Revised manuscripts must be submitted in one month after the decision letter. Otherwise, authors need to go through a resubmission process.
  5. Reject: In most cases, methodological and scientific concerns are the main origins of rejections. The reasons of rejection will be sent to the authors to provide more chance for them for publication in other journals.
  6. Withdraw: In case the manuscript does not meet the scopes of the IJTMGH, it will be withdrawn with suggestion to be sent to another journal.

IJTMGH may invite prominent experts to submit editorials or review papers in special topics, which will only be reviewed by editors. Also commentaries may go through the same route in the review process. In cases which the reviewer is concerned about statistical tests, methodology or techniques applied in research, the editor may request independent internal/external experts to comment before making final decisions.

Finally, we recommend authors to consider research and publication ethics in their manuscript. Reporting any unethical issues during the steps of review may lead to rejection of the work by IJTMGH. Also, the authors should consider that they are in charge of all the materials (scientific and ethical) which are provided in the articles.

All the editors and reviewers of the IJTMGH do their utmost to maintain the quality of the published scientific works to ensure the solid impact of papers on applied biotechnology fields. In the IJTMGH, the review process lasts for a maximum of 12 weeks.