Ethics & Conflict of Interest (COI) Disclosure

ProData upholds the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to adhere to international ethical guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Research Ethics

All research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data must comply with relevant ethical standards and legal requirements.

Human Participants

• Studies involving human subjects must have been approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Ethics Committee (REC), or equivalent body.
• A clear statement confirming informed consent must be included in the manuscript.
• For studies involving vulnerable populations or sensitive topics, additional ethical safeguards must be described.

Animal Research

• All research involving animals must comply with national and international guidelines on the ethical treatment of animals.
• Manuscripts must include details on ethics approvals, animal welfare protocols, and efforts to minimize suffering.
• Use of personally identifiable data, third-party datasets, or indigenous knowledge must be justified and accompanied by appropriate permissions or licenses.
• Authors must disclose any use of genetically modified organisms, hazardous materials, or dual-use research of concern.

Publication Ethics

We expect all authors to:

• Submit original work not published or under review elsewhere.
• Avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, or manipulation.
• Acknowledge all sources, contributors, and funding appropriately.
• Register clinical trials or pre-register studies where applicable.

If ethical violations or research misconduct are identified, ProData will take appropriate actions, including correction, retraction, or reporting to institutions or funders, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

To ensure transparency and avoid potential bias, all authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could be perceived to influence their work. Authors must disclose:

• Financial relationships (e.g., grants, consultancies, employment, stock ownership, honoraria).
• Personal relationships or affiliations that could influence interpretation or presentation of findings.
• Non-financial interests (e.g., advocacy roles, competing intellectual commitments).

A Conflict-of-Interest statement must be included in the manuscript. If there are no conflicts, please state:

“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Editors and Reviewers

All editors and peer reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest before accepting an assignment. They must recuse themselves from handling or reviewing submissions where a conflict exists.

Use of AI Tools

If generative AI tools (e.g., for writing, analysis, translation, or image generation) were used in any part of the manuscript, authors must:

• Disclose the tool and its specific use.
• Verify and take responsibility for all content generated.
• Ensure the AI tool has not introduced errors, plagiarism, or biased representations.

Ethics Inquiries and Complaints

Concerns about ethical misconduct, COI violations, or research integrity can be submitted confidentially to the editorial office at editor@intellectpress.com. All complaints will be investigated fairly and in accordance with COPE procedures.