The Journal of Medicinal Chemistry depends on the dedication and expertise of reviewers to ensure that published articles meet the highest standards of scientific excellence and integrity. Reviewers serve as vital partners in maintaining the credibility of the journal by providing critical, constructive, and unbiased evaluations of submitted manuscripts.

These instructions are designed to guide reviewers through the process and to clarify expectations.

1. Role of the Reviewer

As a reviewer, you are expected to:

• Evaluate manuscripts for scientific rigor, originality, and relevance.
• Provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work.
• Ensure that the manuscript meets the scope and ethical standards of the journal.
• Assist editors in making balanced and fair editorial decisions.

Your input directly shapes the quality of published research and strengthens the reputation of the journal.

2. Confidentiality

• All manuscripts under review are confidential documents.
• Do not share, discuss, or use the content of the manuscript outside the review process.
• Reviewer identity remains confidential unless explicitly agreed upon with the editorial office.

3. Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing a manuscript, please consider the following aspects:

• Novelty and Significance
  • Does the research address an important question in medicinal chemistry?
  • Does it present new findings, methodologies, or concepts?
• Scientific Rigor
  • Are the experiments, synthesis, or computational studies well-designed and reproducible?
  • Are the data sufficient to support the conclusions?
• Clarity and Presentation
  • Is the manuscript well-written, logically structured, and free of major language issues?
  • Are figures, tables, and spectra clear and properly labeled?
• Ethical Standards
  • Has the study obtained appropriate ethical approvals for human or animal experiments?
  • Is there any evidence of plagiarism, data manipulation, or duplicate publication?
• Relevance to Journal Scope
  • Does the manuscript align with the journal’s focus on medicinal chemistry and related disciplines?

4. Review Report Guidelines

Your review should be:

• Objective and Respectful: Critique the manuscript, not the author.
• Detailed and Specific: Provide clear suggestions for improvement (e.g., methodology, data analysis, discussion depth).
• Balanced: Highlight strengths as well as weaknesses.
• Action-Oriented: Recommend one of the following: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, Resubmission, or Reject.

Please structure your report as follows:

1. Summary: A brief overview of the manuscript and its contribution.
2. Major Comments: Substantive issues requiring significant revision.
3. Minor Comments: Technical corrections, language improvements, or formatting suggestions.
4. Recommendation: Final decision proposal for the editor.

5. Timeliness

• Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within 2–3 weeks of receiving the invitation.
• If more time is needed, please inform the editorial office promptly.
• Decline invitations if the manuscript is outside your expertise or if you cannot commit to the timeline.

6. Conflict of Interest

• Reviewers must decline to review any manuscript where a conflict of interest exists (e.g., recent collaborations, financial interests, personal relationships with the authors).
• If unsure, disclose the potential conflict to the editorial office for guidance.

7. Ethical Responsibilities

• Report any suspicions of plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation, or unethical research practices to the editorial team.
• Refrain from using any unpublished data or ideas from the manuscript in your own work.

8. Recognition and Support

• Reviewers’ contributions are acknowledged annually on the journal’s website (with their consent).
• Certificates of appreciation may be provided to reviewers for their professional service.
• Constructive and thorough reviews enhance your visibility as an expert in the field and strengthen the scholarly community.

By serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, you play a pivotal role in ensuring that published research is credible, innovative, and impactful. Your commitment not only supports the journal but also advances the global discipline of medicinal chemistry.