STEM CELLS Information for Authors
Mission and Focus
STEM CELLS, a peer reviewed journal published monthly, provides a forum for prompt publication of original investigative papers and concise reviews. STEM CELLS is read and written by clinical and basic scientists whose expertise encompasses the rapidly expanding fields of stem and progenitor cell biology.
STEM CELLS welcomes original articles and concise reviews describing basic laboratory investigations of stem cells and the translation of their clinical aspects of characterization and manipulation from the bench to patient care. The Journal covers all aspects of stem cell research including embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue-specific stem cells; stem cell technology: epigenetics, genomics, proteomics, and metabonomics; cancer stem cells; translational and clinical research; and regenerative medicine.
Disclaimer
While the co-publishers, AlphaMed Press and Wiley, and Editorial Board make every effort to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinions, or statements appear in the Journal, they wish to state that the data and opinions in the articles and advertisements herein are the responsibility of the contributor or advertiser concerned. Accordingly, the co-publishers, the Editorial Board, and their respective employees, officers and agents accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any inaccurate or misleading data, opinion, or statement.
Scope
STEM CELLS covers:
Cancer Stem Cells
Cellular origin of cancer stem cells
Genetic constraints, including epigenetic modifications, that influence growth process
The cancer stem cell niche, and cancer stem cells as therapeutic targets
Mathematical models of cancer cell evolution and mechanisms of survival
Embryonic Stem Cells/Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells
Signaling pathways/factors regulating and/or initiating ESC/iPS cells pluripotency and differentiation
Derivation and organization of primitive, early structures with or without tissue specificity
Regenerative Medicine
Potential applications for stem cell-based strategies in pathological conditions
Tissue engineering and characterization of engineered tissues
Medical device and artificial organ development
Stem cell transplantation and technologies that will maintain, improve or restore the function of diseased organs
Gene therapies for inherited diseases
Stem Cell Technology: Epigenetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Metabonomics
Mutagenesis and epigenetic influences
Surveys of gene and/or protein expression with a link to structure or function
Quantitative measurements of the dynamic multiparametric metabolic response of living systems to pathophysiological stimuli or genetic modification
Prediction of the outcome (efficacy or toxicity) of a drug or xenobiotic intervention in an individual based on a mathematical model of preintervention metabolite signatures
Tissue-Specific Stem Cells
Regulation of and pathways that govern stem cell self-renewal and/or differentiation
Cellular interactions and signaling pathways necessary for tissue specificity
Molecules and signaling pathways that modulate homing or mobilization of tissue-specific stem/progenitor cells
Functional properties of tissue-specific and progenitor cells
Improving engraftment for efficient and less costly cellular therapy for adult stem cells
Understanding and avoiding teratoma formation
Translational and Clinical Research
Studies describing new model systems with potential for drug development
Translation into pharmaceutical, clinical or practical findings
Editorial Policies
STEM CELLS Editorial Policies follow the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for guidance on policies and procedures related to publication ethics. The policies for STEM CELLS have been adopted from those three advisory bodies and, where necessary, modified and tailored to meet the specific content, audiences, and aims of STEM CELLS.
Submission of a manuscript is predicated on the explicit understanding that it represents original work not previously published (with the exception of abstracts) and not being considered elsewhere for publication. As part of our commitment to the scientific community to uphold a high standard of publication ethics, STEM CELLS uses CrossCheck powered by iThenticate software to check the originality of manuscripts. For more information on CrossCheck visit their website at http://www.crossref.org/crosscheck/index.html. Additionally, all accepted manuscripts will undergo a final figure review and screening process by the Science Editors before publication.
Further, it is understood that all authors listed on a manuscript have agreed to its submission. Authors submitting a manuscript do so with the understanding that if it is accepted for publication, the copyright, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms and media, shall be assigned exclusively to the copyright holder, AlphaMed Press. It is the corresponding author's responsibility to obtain written permission to reproduce illustrations, tables, etc., from other publications.
Questions related to this policy should be directed to the editors at Editors@stemcells.com.
Conduct Policy
As the first journal devoted to the fast-paced area of stem cells and regenerative medicine, STEM CELLS remains in the top tier of peer-reviewed monthly journals for this discipline. This mission requires ongoing, scrupulous attention to the quality and integrity of the Journal's publications, and irreproachable conduct on the part of its authors, reviewers, and editors. In pursuit of this goal, STEM CELLS has adopted a Conduct Policy that reflects and supports the Journal's unwavering commitment to the quality and integrity of work it publishes.
The Conduct Policy outlines the standards of professional behavior expected of authors, reviewers, and editors, and addresses the Journal's policy for handling potential instances of misconduct.
STEM CELLS is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) www.publicationethics.org.
For any questions or concerns regarding the Conduct Policy, please contact the editorial office for STEM CELLS (EditorialOffice@stemcells.com).
Author Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of submitting authors to ensure that the data and work represented in their manuscript are accurately presented at the time of submission. For all submitted papers, accurate representation includes the submission of only original and unpublished material, proper acknowledgment of all author contributions, properly credited references and resources, and presentation of all relevant data and results in their true, unaltered form. The Journal requires a statement disclosing any financial relationship that is relevant to the work, and that might be perceived as a conflict of interest.
In addition, if manuscript content is based on scientific research, then that research is required not only to meet accepted scientific standards, but also to adhere to any applicable legal and ethical requirements regarding informed consent of human subject and standards for use of experimental animals.
Authorship & Contributions
STEM CELLS adheres to the guidelines on authorship established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) statement on Authorship and Contribution available at http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html.
The corresponding author must have obtained permission from all authors for the submission of each version of the paper and for any change in authorship. Authorship should be limited to those who have contributed substantially to the work. The nature of the contribution of every author should be made clear. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content.
If an article has been substantially written by a contracted writer not named in the byline, this fact needs to be noted in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript. In addition, all other contributors who do not meet sufficient criteria for authorship should also be noted in the Acknowledgments section. Each author’s contribution to the manuscript will be declared during the online submission process.
STEM CELLS conflict of interest policy requires complete transparency between the Journal's editors, the investigator-author(s), and any contracted writer(s). The Journal requires identification of the contracted writer(s) and clarification of their role. As part of this policy, the Journal requires that the Corresponding Author stipulate his/her principal authorship and responsibility for the content of the paper. The policy further requires that any and all correspondence from manuscript submission onward must be conducted exclusively by and between the Corresponding Author and the Journal editors.
Sponsorship
Authorship entails both accountability and independence. A submitted manuscript is the intellectual property of its authors, not the study's sponsor (e.g., a pharmaceutical company or contract research organization). The Journal will not review or publish articles based on studies that are conducted under conditions that allow the sponsor to have sole control of the data or to withhold publication. We encourage investigators to use the revised International Council of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) requirements on publication ethics to guide the negotiation of research contracts. Those contracts should give the researchers a substantial say in trial design, access to the raw data, responsibility for data analysis and interpretation, and the right to publish; these are the hallmarks of scholarly independence and, ultimately, academic freedom. By enforcing adherence to these requirements, we can as editors endeavor to assure our readers that the authors of an article have had a meaningful and truly independent role in the study that bears their names. The authors, therefore, will stand behind the published results, and so can the Journal.
Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure
Upon submission, authors are required to disclose any financial relationships that may present a potential conflict of interest in the communication of nonbiased scientific information. The purpose of the Potential Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form is to fully inform the Journal's editors, reviewers, and readers of the existence of any financial relationships that may be pertinent to the article and thus ensure full transparency of the peer-review and publication processes.
It is the policy of STEM CELLS to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities through the disclosure of financial interests and other relationships. Additionally, STEM CELLS abides by the policy of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) stating that commercial support must be acknowledged and that all persons who affect the content of an educational activity regarding the products or services of a commercial interest must disclose any financial relationships with that commercial interest.
To this end, the corresponding author and all co-authors for each article are required by STEM CELLS to complete a Potential Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form to disclose any financial commitment or obligation occurring within the last 12 months relevant to the subject matter of the article submitted. Additional relationships that might be considered competing interests, such as holding equity or paid consultancy, patent rights, etc., must also be stated. All authors will receive emails with links to the Financial Disclosure forms once the manuscript is processed. The authors will need to log into their account to complete and submit the forms.
All information concerning potential conflicts of interest will be revealed to the peer reviewers and thereafter kept confidential (and on file by the Journal's editorial office). The Editorial Office will work with the corresponding author to formulate a disclosure statement for publication, should the manuscript be accepted. Any potential conflicts of interest found will be reviewed by the Editorial Board with the ad hoc assistance of external reviewers and resolved prior to publication.
Editors and Reviewers
Editors and reviewers are required to disclose financial interests or relationships and answer the same questions as authors. Reviewers are asked to disclose financial information when accepting a review assignment.
Defining a Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest exists when individuals have both a financial relationship with a commercial interest and the opportunity to affect the content of an article about the product or services of that commercial interest. Nothing in this policy statement should be regarded as creating a presumption of impropriety in the existence of financial relationships. Rather, it is the purpose of this policy to inform the peer reviewers, and subsequently the readers, of the existence of financial relationships pertinent to the article in the interest of full transparency in the peer review and publication processes.
Criteria for Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
A commercial interest is defined as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients (not including providers of clinical services). Relationships with governmental agencies (e.g., the NIH), do not have to be disclosed. In addition, honoraria (or fee-for-service) or consulting funds from a Continuing Medical Education CME provider do not need to be disclosed. In addition to personal disclosure, you must disclose any financial relationships your spouse or life partner has with applicable commercial interests.
Authors who identify contracted writers should disclose the funding source. Contracted medical/science writers are also required to submit a Potential Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form.
Misconduct
Instances involving potential author misconduct can relate to either submitted or published manuscripts. The Journal's author misconduct policy does not apply to "honest" mistakes of judgment or interpretation, which may be resolved through subsequent publication of an erratum.
Examples of potential author misconduct may include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances:
Falsifying, manipulating, or omitting data or results, images, or any other materials, processes, or content, such that the research record is not faithfully presented and preserved.
Fabricating data or results
Plagiarizing or otherwise not appropriately crediting the work of others or oneself (includes ideas, processes, words, results, etc.)
Misappropriating the data or results of others and representing them as one's own
Submitting or publishing the same, or essentially unchanged, material in more than one publication
Using published images, charts, tables, etc. without first obtaining appropriate permissions
Removing or failing to include or properly credit a contributing author or writer, including a paid professional writer.
Inappropriately assigning author status to a "guest" author or "ghostwriter" whose contributions do not meet the authorship criteria as defined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE; www.ICMJE.com); such contributions should be noted instead in the "Acknowledgments" section in the manuscript.
Failing to appropriately disclose any potential conflicts of interest
Failing to abide by applicable legal and ethical standards regarding the treatment of research subjects
Potential Author Misconduct Notification and Investigation
Notification of Potential Misconduct/Response to Notifying Party
When a potential breach of conduct is brought to the Journal's attention, the Journal will contact the notifying party to acknowledge receipt of the notification. Unless the notifying party has been personally affected by the alleged misconduct, correspondence with that individual will end with the acknowledgment that notification of the concern has been received.
Potential author misconduct may also be discovered by the Journal's staff, editors and/or reviewers, in which case the same investigative process applies.
Misconduct Notification and Investigation
Following a receipt of notification of potential author misconduct, the Journal will initiate a preliminary investigation in order to determine whether a formal investigation is warranted. In this phase of the investigation, published and submitted manuscripts, manuscript reviews, and editorial decisions will be evaluated as appropriate. Input will be sought from all individuals affected by the alleged misconduct. If the evidence found is substantial enough to warrant further investigation, the Journal will notify the corresponding author of the manuscript in question and request a full explanation. Should the corresponding author not respond (or not respond in a timely manner) or provide an inadequate or otherwise unsatisfactory response, the Journal will contact the corresponding author's institution and/or co-authors.
If the potential misconduct involves a work published elsewhere, the Journal may also contact that publication. Should the potential misconduct involve specific scientific research, the Journal may also contact the institution where the research was conducted in order to further investigate the accuracy, authenticity, and legitimacy of the published data and results. Lastly, the Journal may also request the assistance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity.
During the investigative process, the Journal will follow the guidelines and requirements outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the ICMJE to identify any misconduct and fairly gauge its severity. These references are available online at http://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts and at http://www.icmje.org.
Sanctions
Potential instances of author misconduct will be investigated and considered on a case-by-case basis. Should misconduct be established or admitted, the Journal will proceed with sanctions as deemed commensurate with the severity of the misconduct committed. All decisions regarding sanctions or notices of misconduct will be reviewed by the senior editorial board of STEM CELLS to seek their advice and agreement with the planned action.
Sanctions are applied at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief, the senior editorial board, and the publisher and may vary based on the severity of the misconduct and whether the manuscript in question was submitted or published.
Appropriate sanctions for author misconduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Publication of an erratum or Statement of Concern by the Journal Editors
Rejection of the manuscript or retraction of the publication in which the misconduct was committed
A letter of notice of sanctions to the author(s)
A letter of notice to the author's institution and/or the institution where the study was conducted
Prohibition of further submissions to or publications in the Journal by the offending author for a period of time to be determined by the Editor-in-Chief
Once the decision on sanctions has been determined, the Journal will notify the author.
Editors and Reviewers
Editors and reviewers are also required to abide by the Conduct Policy and therefore should be familiar with the Journal's policy regarding conflicts of interest and should be prepared to recuse themselves from any situation that would potentially place them in violation of that policy.
In addition to knowing when to recuse themselves from a review, editors and reviewers should also keep in mind that all information submitted for review purposes is confidential in nature and should be treated as such.
Recusal of Editors and Reviewers
In order to provide authors with a fair and unbiased review process, Editors (Senior and Associate Editors and Lead Reviewers), and reviewers are required to recuse themselves from the review of a manuscript when faced with a potential conflict of interest. Examples of situations that would require recusal on behalf of an editor or reviewer include but are not limited to:
An editor or reviewer is the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, or other family member of an author on the manuscript in review.
An editor or reviewer is involved in research collaboration with an author on the manuscript in review.
An editor or reviewer is under the employ of, or otherwise works at, the same institution as an author on the manuscript in review.
An editor or reviewer has a strong intellectual bias either for or against the position taken by the author.
An editor or reviewer has a financial interest in an agent or device relevant to the study, or has a financial relationship with a commercial sponsor of the study in question.
In addition to self-recusal, editors and reviewers are also required to recuse themselves from the review of a manuscript when requested to do so by the Editor-in-Chief.
Questions regarding the recusal policy may be directed to Editors@stemcells.com.
Misconduct of Editorial Board Members
STEM CELLS holds its Editorial Board members, as ambassadors of the Journal, to the same high standards of ethical conduct as are expected for authors. Editorial Board members who act as reviewers must honor the confidentiality of all information in the reviewer packet.
If an Editorial Board member is the subject of an accusation of misconduct as an author, reviewer, or Editorial Board member, the accusation will be referred to the Journal's executive office and Editor-in-Chief for review and appropriate action.
Ethical Guidelines
Internal Review Board Guidelines for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects
A goal of STEM CELLS is to ensure that all articles reflect work that is morally acceptable. Authors must abide by the rules of a formally constituted research ethics committee, and/or their Institutional Review Board (IRB), and the tenets of the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical aspects of any submitted work that involves human participants, including research, audit, and sometimes debate, should be appraised. Policy on these issues has been developed with the help and advice of the Senior Leadership Ethics Committee and its key elements are explained here.
To facilitate an ethics appraisal, every research article submitted to STEM CELLS is required to include a statement that the authors obtained ethics approval (or a statement that it was not required), including the name of the ethics committee or Institutional Review Board, the number/ID of the approvals, and a statement that participants gave informed consent before taking part. This applies to all types of articles, including trials involving active interventions, non-intervention studies, and audits.
All trials involving an active intervention, either treatment or diagnostic, must be accompanied by a statement of approval by the local IRB or similar ethics committee, and a statement guaranteeing that all patients gave written informed consent.
Non-intervention studies should include a statement verifying that the study has been approved, or determined exempt, by an independent ethics committee, that informed consent has been obtained even if documentation of informed consent has been waived, and that the information contained is kept confidential and all identifiers have been removed prior to submission for publication.
We believe that studies referred to as audits also need consideration of an ethics committee. The distinction between "research," which investigates what should be done, and "audit," which investigates whether it is being done, may be unclear. However, the assumption that audit or analysis of previously collected data is not subject to ethical analysis cannot be justified.
Investigators are invited to explain in detail how the ethics of their study were justified. We also welcome the submission of any informational sheets that were provided to participants. If such detail does not easily fit into the manuscript, this information should be provided in the cover letter or uploaded as a supplemental file when submitting the article. This detailed information may not be published, but we may make it available to peer reviewers and editorial committees. Peer reviewers are asked to consider and comment on the ethics of submitted work.
Authors must also disclose funding sources for clinical trials, including patient-funded trials.
……
更多详情:
https://stemcellsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/15494918/about/information-for-authors