Conflict of Interest Policy

All participants in the publication process authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the research, peer review, or editorial decision-making. This policy ensures transparency, editorial independence, and integrity of the scholarly record.

What Constitutes a Conflict of Interest

A COI may be financial, professional, institutional, or personal, including but not limited to:

  • employment, consultancies, honoraria, paid expert testimony
  • grants, sponsorships, or funding arrangements that may affect interpretation
  • stock ownership, patents, or other intellectual property interests
  • personal relationships, rivalries, or close collaborations that may bias judgment
  • institutional affiliations, supervisory relationships, or competitive interests

A COI is not inherently unethical; non-disclosure is the primary concern.

1) Author Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose all relevant COI and funding information at submission, including:

  • funding sources, grant numbers (if available), and the role of funders/sponsors (if any)
  • financial or non-financial interests related to the submitted work

If no COI exists, authors must include the statement:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

The editorial office may request clarification or documentation if disclosures are incomplete or unclear.

2) Reviewer Disclosure Requirements

Reviewers must disclose conflicts before accepting an invitation to review and must decline if impartial evaluation cannot be ensured. Reviewers should decline when, for example:

  • they have recent collaboration with the author(s)
  • they share a current or recent institutional affiliation with the author(s)
  • they have financial, personal, or competitive relationships that may affect objectivity

Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality and must not use information obtained during peer review for personal or professional advantage.

3) Editor Disclosure and Recusal

Editors must disclose conflicts and recuse themselves from handling a manuscript when a COI exists. The manuscript must be reassigned to an independent, qualified editor to ensure:

  • editorial decisions remain free from commercial, institutional, or personal influence
  • peer review is managed fairly and transparently

4) Management of Disclosed Conflicts

Declared conflicts do not automatically disqualify a submission. Disclosures are evaluated and managed through safeguards such as:

  • reassignment of editors or reviewers
  • additional independent reviews
  • strengthened disclosure statements in the published article

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in:

  • rejection prior to publication
  • publication of a correction to the disclosure statement
  • retraction when non-disclosure materially undermines trust in the work

5) COI Inquiries

For conflict-of-interest concerns or clarifications, contact: jbams@grasp-society.com