Conflicts of Interest
Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Pathology and Surgery (a member of the Negah Journals family, owned by Guilan University of Medical Sciences and co-published by the Negah Institute for Social Research & Scientific Communication) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and scientific credibility. In line with the ICMJE recommendations on “Author Responsibilities—Conflicts of Interest,” this policy is designed to ensure that all participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff—identify and disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the design, conduct, reporting, or review of scientific work.
Public trust in peer-reviewed research and the credibility of published articles depend critically on the proper management of conflicts of interest throughout manuscript preparation, review, and editorial decision-making. Conflicts of interest may occur when financial, personal, professional, or intellectual relationships have the potential to inappropriately influence judgment or decision-making. These relationships—sometimes referred to as dual commitments, competing interests, or competing loyalties—can range from negligible to substantial in their potential to bias scientific reporting.
General Principles

1. Disclosure is essential: All potential conflicts of interest, whether financial or non-financial, must be disclosed. Even relationships perceived as minor should be reported, as perception of bias can undermine confidence in research.
2. Financial conflicts are most identifiable: Employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patents, or any other direct financial interest in the outcome of research must be disclosed.
3. Non-financial conflicts can also be significant: Personal relationships, academic competition, intellectual passion, or institutional affiliations may create bias and should be transparently reported.
4. Transparency protects credibility: Disclosure allows editors, reviewers, and readers to evaluate the potential influence of conflicts and make informed decisions.

• Authors must disclose all financial, personal, and professional relationships that may bias the work. Disclosures should be provided on a Conflict-of-Interest Statement page immediately following the title page of the manuscript and may be further explained in the cover letter.
• Authors should explicitly state whether any conflicts exist or not, to avoid ambiguity. Silence is insufficient.
• Authors must identify individuals who provide writing, technical, or other assistance and disclose the source of funding for such support.
• Investigators must disclose potential conflicts to study participants when applicable and indicate whether this disclosure has occurred in the manuscript.
• Completion and submission of the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest is mandatory for all authors. Manuscripts will not be considered for peer review without submission of this form.
• Editors are encouraged to publish author disclosures when relevant, to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

• Many studies receive funding from commercial firms, private foundations, or government organizations. While sponsorship is common and often essential, funding arrangements may introduce bias or appear to influence research outcomes.
• Authors have an ethical obligation to submit accurate and credible research results for publication. They should avoid agreements that restrict access to data, limit independent analysis, or constrain the ability to publish findings freely.
• Authors must clearly describe the role of the sponsor, if any, in:
  • Study design
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Manuscript writing
  • Decision to submit the manuscript for publication
    If the sponsor had no role, this must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.
• When sponsors are directly involved, potential biases are analogous to methodological biases. In such cases, editors may require a signed statement, such as:

• Editors may request copies of study protocols, contracts, or agreements with sponsors prior to manuscript acceptance. Manuscripts may be rejected if a sponsor exerts undue control over publication rights or the reporting of results.

• Editors must avoid assigning reviewers with obvious conflicts of interest, such as colleagues or collaborators working in the same department or institution as the authors.
• Authors may suggest individuals who should not review their manuscript due to potential conflicts (professional or personal). Editors may request an explanation to make informed decisions about reviewer selection.
• Reviewers are required to:
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may bias their assessment
  • Recuse themselves from reviewing manuscripts where conflicts exist
  • Avoid using information obtained during the review process for personal gain
  • Explicitly state whether conflicts exist or not
• Editorial staff participating in decision-making must disclose relevant financial, personal, or professional relationships and recuse themselves when necessary. Staff must not use confidential manuscript information for personal advantage.
• Editors responsible for final decisions must have no personal, academic, or financial involvement in the issues being judged.
• The journal will publish periodic disclosure statements regarding potential conflicts of interest among editorial staff to maintain transparency.

• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may result in rejection of manuscripts, retraction of published articles, or other corrective measures as deemed necessary by the editorial board.
• The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the publication process, including requests for clarification, additional documentation, or public disclosure.
• Full disclosure is considered a professional and ethical responsibility for all parties involved in the journal’s publication process.