Human and Animal Research Ethics Policy
ElectroSenses – Journal of Bioelectromagnetics, Environmental & Functional Medicine is committed to ensuring that all research published in the journal complies with internationally recognized ethical standards for research involving human participants, human biological material, personal data, and animals.
This policy applies to all manuscript types reporting original research, including clinical studies, observational research, interventional trials, case series, and experimental studies.
1. Research Involving Human Participants
Research involving human participants must have been conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable national and international regulations.
Manuscripts reporting research involving humans must include:
- A statement confirming approval by an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB), including the name of the approving body and reference number, where applicable.
- A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants, or an explanation of why consent was waived, in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Confirmation that participant privacy and data confidentiality were appropriately protected.
If ethical approval was not required under local regulations, authors must provide a clear justification.
2. Research Involving Human Biological Material and Data
Studies involving human biological samples (e.g. blood, tissue, saliva) or identifiable personal data must comply with applicable ethical and legal requirements, including data protection regulations.
Authors must confirm that:
- Samples and data were collected and used with appropriate consent or ethical approval.
- Data were handled in a manner that protects participant confidentiality and privacy.
3. Clinical Trials and Interventional Studies
Clinical trials and other interventional studies must be conducted in accordance with recognized ethical and scientific standards.
Authors must:
- Register clinical trials in a publicly accessible trial registry (e.g. ClinicalTrials.gov or equivalent) prior to participant enrollment, where required.
- Provide the trial registration number in the manuscript.
- Report study design, endpoints, and outcomes transparently and accurately.
4. Case Reports and Case Series
For case reports and case series, authors must:
- Obtain written informed consent from the individual(s) described, or their legal representatives.
- Ensure that identifying information is removed or anonymized unless explicit consent for publication has been obtained.
5. Research Involving Animals
Research involving animals must be conducted in accordance with internationally accepted standards for animal welfare, including relevant national legislation and institutional guidelines.
Manuscripts reporting animal research must include:
- A statement of approval by an appropriate institutional animal care and use committee or equivalent authority.
- A description of measures taken to minimize animal suffering and reduce the number of animals used.
- Confirmation that experiments were conducted in compliance with the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), where applicable.
6. Environmental and In Vitro Studies
Studies involving environmental measurements, in vitro experiments, or non-living biological material that do not involve human or animal subjects are not subject to ethical approval requirements. Authors should clearly state this in the manuscript where relevant.
7. Editorial Assessment and Compliance
Editors and reviewers assess manuscripts for compliance with this policy as part of the peer review process. Manuscripts that do not meet ethical requirements may be rejected or returned to authors for clarification or revision.
The journal reserves the right to request additional documentation relating to ethical approval or informed consent where necessary.
8. Ethical Concerns and Post-Publication Actions
Concerns regarding ethical compliance in published articles are handled in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and COPE guidelines. Where appropriate, the journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.