The Journal of Clinical Trials upholds a rigorous, unbiased, and transparent double-blind peer review process to ensure the integrity, scientific validity, and ethical soundness of every manuscript we publish. Our editorial team is committed to maintaining high standards of scholarly excellence while promoting fairness, inclusivity, and timely feedback for authors.

✦ Overview of the Review Process

1. Initial Editorial Screening
   • Upon submission, manuscripts are screened by the editorial office to verify basic requirements, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
   • Submissions that do not meet formatting or ethical standards may be returned to authors before peer review.
2. Assignment to Handling Editor
   • A qualified Section or Associate Editor is assigned based on the subject area and expertise required.
   • The handling editor conducts an in-depth assessment of the manuscript and determines its suitability for external review.
3. Double-Blind Peer Review
   • The manuscript is sent to two or more independent reviewers, who are unaware of the authors’ identities, and vice versa.
   • Reviewers evaluate the manuscript:
     • Scientific rigor and validity
     • Methodological soundness
     • Ethical compliance
     • Clarity of presentation
     • Relevance to clinical practice or research advancement
     • Appropriateness of references and data interpretation
4. Reviewer Recommendations
   • Reviewers submit a structured report along with a recommendation:
     • Accept
     • Minor Revision
     • Major Revision
     • Reject
   • In cases of conflicting opinions, a third reviewer or the editor may be consulted.
5. Editorial Decision
   • The handling editor reviews all feedback and makes an evidence-based recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief.
   • Authors receive a detailed decision letter along with anonymized reviewer comments.
   • Revised manuscripts may undergo additional rounds of review depending on the extent of revisions.
6. Final Decision and Acceptance
   • Once a manuscript is accepted, it undergoes final formatting, quality checks, and proofreading before publication.
   • Authors are notified of acceptance and publication timelines.
7. Publication
   • Accepted manuscripts are published online in the upcoming issue and made openly accessible.
   • A DOI is assigned, and the article is indexed accordingly.

⏱️ Review Timeline

We strive to offer an efficient and timely review process:

• Initial Decision: within 7 days
• Peer Review Completion: 2–3 weeks
• Final Decision Post-Revisions: 1–2 weeks
• Online Publication: within 7–10 days of acceptance

✦ Confidentiality & Integrity

• All manuscripts and reviewer communications are treated with strict confidentiality.
• Reviewers and editors are required to disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
• Any allegations of misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate submission) are handled in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

✦ Commitment to Quality

The Journal of Clinical Trials ensures that all published research contributes meaningfully to clinical knowledge, patient safety, and evidence-based practice. By upholding a meticulous peer review process, we aim to advance the global standards of clinical research publishing.

For questions regarding the peer review workflow, contact: editor.clinicaltrials@sciconxjournals.com