📚 Journal Policies
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing through transparent editorial practices, ethical research publication, responsible Open Access publishing, and internationally accepted publication policies.
This page serves as a central guide to the journal's editorial, ethical, publishing, and operational policies. Authors, reviewers, readers, librarians, and institutions are encouraged to review these policies before submitting manuscripts, participating in peer review, or using published content.
The journal's policies are designed to ensure fairness, transparency, research integrity, copyright protection, author rights, and the responsible dissemination of scientific knowledge while providing an efficient publishing experience for researchers worldwide.
🌍 Our Publishing Principles
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences follows internationally recognized principles of scholarly publishing to protect the interests of authors, reviewers, readers, editors, and the wider scientific community.
Our publishing policies are based upon the following principles:
- ⚖️ Ethical and responsible scholarly publishing.
- 👨⚖️ Fair, transparent, and independent editorial decisions.
- 🛡️ Protection of research integrity and originality.
- 📚 High-quality peer-reviewed scientific publication.
- 🌍 Immediate Open Access to published research.
- 📜 Respect for copyright and intellectual property rights.
- 🔗 Permanent Crossref DOI registration for published articles.
- 🤝 Professional communication with authors and reviewers.
- 📈 Promotion of global research visibility and accessibility.
📖 Journal Policy Directory
Detailed information regarding each publishing policy is available through the following dedicated policy pages.
⚖️ Publication Ethics Policy
The Publication Ethics Policy explains the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. It also outlines how the journal handles research misconduct, corrections, retractions, conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, and ethical investigations.
Read Publication Ethics Policy →
🛡️ Plagiarism Policy
The Plagiarism Policy describes the journal's approach to originality, plagiarism screening, similarity assessment, self-plagiarism, AI-assisted writing, citation practices, and editorial action where plagiarism or publication malpractice is suspected.
👨⚖️ Editorial Screening & Peer Review Process
Learn how manuscripts progress from submission through editorial screening, peer review, revision, editorial decision, production, and publication. This policy explains the journal's manuscript evaluation workflow and editorial standards.
Read Editorial Screening Process →
📋 Peer Review Policy & Reviewer Guidelines
This policy explains the peer review model used by GSCBPS, reviewer responsibilities, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, review criteria, and ethical expectations for reviewers participating in the editorial process.
🌍 Open Access Policy
The Open Access Policy explains how published articles are made freely available worldwide, describes author and reader rights, Open Access publishing principles, research accessibility, self-archiving, and long-term preservation.
📜 Copyright & Licensing Policy
This policy explains copyright ownership, author rights, licensing arrangements, reuse permissions, repository deposits, intellectual property protection, and responsible reuse of published research.
Read Copyright & Licensing Policy →
📂 Author Self-Archiving Policy
This Author Self-Archiving Policy explains how authors may archive, share, and distribute different versions of their manuscripts before and after publication. The policy is designed to help authors comply with institutional, funding agency, and research organization requirements while ensuring that readers are directed to the official published article whenever possible.
Read Author Self-Archiving Policy →
👥 Authorship Policy
This Authorship Policy outlines the journal's requirements for determining authorship, identifying corresponding authors, acknowledging contributors, managing authorship changes, and resolving authorship disputes. The policy is intended to promote ethical research practices while ensuring that appropriate credit is given to all eligible contributors.
📊 Data Sharing Policy
This Data Sharing Policy outlines the journal's expectations regarding the availability, management, citation, and responsible sharing of research data associated with manuscripts submitted to GSCBPS. The policy applies to all manuscript types published by the journal unless specific legal, ethical, privacy, or contractual restrictions prevent public disclosure.
🤖 AI Usage Policy
This AI Usage Policy provides guidance for authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members regarding the appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools throughout the research publication process. The policy aims to promote transparency, maintain research integrity, protect confidential information, and preserve confidence in the scientific record.
📄 General Journal Policies
The following operational policies govern the submission, editorial processing, publication, and use of content published in GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS). These policies are intended to ensure transparency, fairness, and consistency throughout the publication process.
📝 Terms & Conditions
By submitting a manuscript to GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS), the corresponding author confirms that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the submission and agree to comply with the journal's editorial and publication policies.
By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge that:
- ✅ The manuscript is original and has not been published elsewhere unless clearly disclosed.
- ✅ The work is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
- ✅ All listed authors have made appropriate scholarly contributions.
- ✅ All authors approve the submitted and final versions of the manuscript.
- ✅ Necessary institutional, ethical, funding, or regulatory approvals have been obtained where applicable.
- ✅ The manuscript complies with the journal's Publication Ethics and Plagiarism Policies.
- ✅ All data, images, tables, and third-party material have been used lawfully with appropriate permission where required.
- ✅ Authors accept responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.
- ✅ Editorial decisions are made independently based on scientific quality, originality, ethical compliance, and peer-review recommendations.
Submission of a manuscript indicates acceptance of the journal's editorial policies, publication procedures, copyright requirements, licensing conditions, and Article Processing Charges applicable after acceptance.
🔒 Privacy Policy
GSCBPS respects the privacy of authors, reviewers, editors, and website users. Personal information collected during manuscript submission or editorial communication is used solely for legitimate journal operations and is handled responsibly.
Information that may be collected includes:
- 👤 Author and reviewer names.
- 📧 Email addresses.
- 🏛️ Institutional affiliations.
- 📱 Professional contact information.
- 📄 Manuscript and publication details.
- 🔬 ORCID iD and other scholarly identifiers where provided.
This information is used only for purposes such as:
- 📥 Manuscript processing.
- 👨⚖️ Editorial and peer-review management.
- 📧 Communication with authors and reviewers.
- 📚 Publication and indexing of accepted articles.
- 📊 Improving editorial services and journal operations.
GSCBPS does not sell or intentionally disclose personal information to unrelated third parties. Information may only be shared where necessary for publication, indexing, DOI registration, legal compliance, or other legitimate publishing activities.
⚠️ Disclaimer
The scientific opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and data presented in published articles are solely those of the respective authors.
Neither GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, GSC Online Press, the Editorial Board, reviewers, nor editors accept responsibility for:
- 📄 Errors or omissions contained within published articles.
- 📊 Interpretation or application of published findings.
- 💊 Clinical, scientific, technical, or professional decisions made using published information.
- 🌐 Content available through external websites linked from the journal.
- ⚙️ Temporary interruptions or technical issues affecting website availability.
Readers are encouraged to independently evaluate published information before applying it in research, education, clinical practice, or professional decision-making.
💳 Cancellation & Refund Policy
Authors are encouraged to review all journal policies before submitting manuscripts or making any publication-related payments.
The journal's refund policy is based upon the editorial services provided during manuscript processing.
- ✅ Manuscripts may be withdrawn before acceptance by notifying the Editorial Office.
- ✅ Article Processing Charges (APC) become applicable only after acceptance.
- ✅ Editorial work begins immediately after manuscript submission.
- ✅ Once publication processing has substantially progressed, refunds may not be available because editorial, production, DOI registration, and publication services have already been provided.
- ✅ Requests relating to corrections or post-publication changes will be handled according to the journal's correction policies.
Questions regarding payments or refunds should be directed to the Editorial Office before making payment.
📦 Shipping Policy
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a fully digital Open Access journal.
The journal does not produce or distribute printed copies of articles as part of the standard publication process.
All accepted manuscripts are published electronically on the official journal website and are immediately accessible worldwide.
Digital services provided by the journal include:
- 🌍 Online publication.
- 🔗 Crossref DOI registration.
- 📄 Downloadable article PDF.
- 📚 Permanent online archive.
- 📜 Digital publication certificate where applicable.
🔄 Policy Updates and Amendments
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) may revise, update, or expand its journal policies periodically to reflect changes in scholarly publishing standards, legal requirements, publication ethics, digital technologies, editorial procedures, and Open Access practices.
Updated policies become effective when published on the official journal website unless a different effective date is clearly stated. Authors, reviewers, editors, and readers are encouraged to review the relevant policies regularly, particularly before manuscript submission, peer review, payment, or reuse of published content.
Where a policy change affects an active manuscript, the Editorial Office may communicate the relevant information directly to the corresponding author.
📅 Policy Effective Date
The general journal policies on this page are effective from 01 January 2026 and remain applicable until revised or replaced by an updated version.
The journal reserves the right to modify these policies when necessary to maintain transparency, ethical publishing standards, regulatory compliance, and efficient journal operations.
👨🔬 Author Responsibility Before Submission
Before submitting a manuscript, authors are expected to review the journal's current policies and ensure that their work complies with all applicable editorial, ethical, formatting, authorship, copyright, licensing, and payment requirements.
Authors should confirm that:
- ✅ The manuscript falls within the journal's Aims & Scope.
- ✅ The work is original and not under consideration elsewhere.
- ✅ All authors have approved the submission.
- ✅ Required ethical approvals and informed consent have been obtained.
- ✅ All conflicts of interest and funding sources have been disclosed.
- ✅ Third-party material is used lawfully.
- ✅ The manuscript follows the Author Guidelines.
- ✅ The Article Processing Charges have been reviewed before publication.
- ✅ The journal's Copyright & Licensing Policy has been understood.
🛡️ Editorial Independence and Fairness
Editorial decisions are made independently and are based solely on scientific merit, originality, methodological quality, ethical compliance, relevance to the journal, and the recommendations arising from peer review.
The journal's publication charges, payment status, nationality, institutional affiliation, geographic location, or financial circumstances do not influence editorial decisions.
📧 Questions About Journal Policies
Authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, and other users may contact the Editorial Office if they require clarification regarding any journal policy, submission requirement, publication charge, copyright condition, or editorial procedure.
Editorial Office
📧 Email: editor-gscbps@gsconlinepress.com
For manuscript-related enquiries, please include the manuscript identification number where available.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Journal Policies
1. What is the purpose of the Journal Policies page?
This page provides a central overview of the editorial, ethical, legal, financial, privacy, refund, and operational policies followed by GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS). For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page.
2. Are the journal's policies applicable to all authors?
Yes. All authors, reviewers, editors, contributors, and website users are expected to comply with the applicable policies published on the journal website. For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page.
3. Can journal policies change over time?
Yes. Journal policies may be revised to reflect updated publishing standards, legal requirements, technologies, ethical guidance, or operational procedures. For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page.
4. Does manuscript submission mean that authors accept the journal policies?
Yes. Submission of a manuscript indicates that the authors have reviewed and agreed to comply with the journal's current editorial and publication policies. For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page.
5. Does payment influence manuscript acceptance?
No. Editorial decisions are based on scientific quality, originality, relevance, ethical compliance, and peer-review recommendations. Article Processing Charges apply only after acceptance. For complete details, visit the 💳 Article Processing Charges page.
6. Is author information kept private?
Personal information is used only for legitimate journal operations, publication, indexing, communication, DOI registration, and legal compliance where required. For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page..
7. Can an author withdraw a manuscript?
Authors may request manuscript withdrawal before publication by contacting the Editorial Office. Withdrawal and refund conditions depend on the stage of editorial and production processing. For complete details, visit the 📚 Journal Policies page..
8. Does GSCBPS ship printed copies of published articles?
No. GSCBPS is a fully digital Open Access journal, and all accepted articles are published electronically on the official journal website. For complete details, visit the 🌐 Open Access Policy page.
9. Where can I find the detailed Publication Ethics Policy?
The complete policy covering research integrity, misconduct, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, corrections, and retractions is available on the dedicated Publication Ethics Policy page. For complete details, visit the ⚖️ Publication Ethics Policy page.
10. How can I ask a question about a journal policy?
Contact the GSCBPS Editorial Office at editor-gscbps@gsconlinepress.com and include the relevant manuscript or article details where applicable. For complete details, visit the 📞 Contact Us page.
11. What is the Author Self-Archiving Policy of GSCBPS?
The Author Self-Archiving Policy explains where and how authors may archive eligible versions of their manuscripts while complying with the journal's requirements. For complete details, visit the 📄 Author Self-Archiving Policy page.
12. What does the Authorship Policy cover?
The Authorship Policy defines who qualifies as an author and outlines responsibilities related to authorship, contributorship, author order, and authorship changes. For complete details, visit the 👥 Authorship Policy page.
13. Does GSCBPS have a Data Sharing Policy?
Yes. GSCBPS encourages responsible research data sharing whenever legally, ethically, and practically appropriate. For complete details, visit the 📊 Data Sharing Policy page.
14. Does GSCBPS allow the use of AI in manuscript preparation?
Yes. Authors may use AI tools in accordance with the journal's AI Usage Policy but remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work. For complete details, visit the 🤖 AI Usage Policy page.