Research Ethics, Clinical Studies and Consent

Research involving people, identifiable records, biological specimens or interventions requires approval from a competent ethics committee or institutional review board and informed consent or a justified waiver. Authors must state the committee, approval identifier where available and consent process.

Prospective clinical trials must be registered in a recognized public registry at or before enrolment of the first participant. Manuscripts should report the registration number, protocol deviations, adverse events and relevant reporting checklist. Case reports and recognizable images require specific consent for publication.

Animal studies must document ethical approval, welfare safeguards, humane endpoints and compliance with applicable law and ARRIVE guidance.