Conflict of Interest Policy

Auna Press is committed to maintaining transparency, objectivity, and integrity throughout the scholarly publishing process. Authors, editors, reviewers, and editorial staff are expected to disclose any circumstances that could create an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.

A conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate inappropriate conduct. However, disclosure allows the editorial team and readers to assess whether such circumstances could have influenced the research, review, or publication process.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when personal, professional, financial, institutional, or other interests may influence, or reasonably appear to influence, an individual's judgment or responsibilities in the publication process.

Conflicts may be actual, potential, or perceived.

2. Types of Conflict of Interest

Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:

  • financial relationships or funding;
  • employment or consultancy relationships;
  • ownership of shares or other financial interests;
  • patents or intellectual property interests;
  • personal or professional relationships;
  • institutional affiliations;
  • academic competition or collaboration;
  • involvement in related research projects; and
  • other circumstances that may influence editorial or scholarly judgment.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must disclose all relevant conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission.

Authors should disclose:

  • sources of financial support;
  • research grants or sponsorship;
  • relevant employment or consultancy relationships;
  • intellectual property interests;
  • personal or professional relationships that could influence the research; and
  • any other circumstances that may reasonably be perceived as influencing the manuscript.

If no relevant conflict exists, authors should provide an appropriate declaration, such as:

"The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to the publication of this article."

4. Financial Disclosure

Authors must disclose financial relationships that are relevant to the research or publication.

Funding information should clearly identify the organization or institution that supported the research and, where applicable, describe the role of the funder in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or publication decision.

5. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must disclose any conflict of interest that could affect their editorial judgment.

An editor should not handle a manuscript when they:

  • have a personal or professional relationship with one or more authors;
  • have a significant academic or professional conflict with the authors;
  • have a financial interest related to the manuscript;
  • have participated substantially in the research; or
  • have another circumstance that could compromise or reasonably appear to compromise editorial impartiality.

When a conflict exists, the manuscript should be assigned to an appropriate alternative editor.

6. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation to review a manuscript.

Reviewers should decline the review if they:

  • have a close personal or professional relationship with an author;
  • have recently collaborated with an author;
  • are involved in competing research that could create a conflict;
  • have a financial or institutional interest related to the manuscript; or
  • believe that they cannot provide an objective and impartial assessment.

Reviewers must not use information obtained through peer review for personal, professional, or financial advantage.

7. Institutional and Professional Relationships

Institutional affiliation alone does not necessarily constitute a conflict of interest. However, relationships that could reasonably affect or appear to affect an individual's judgment should be disclosed.

The editorial team will determine the appropriate way to manage disclosed conflicts while preserving the fairness and integrity of the publication process.

8. Management of Conflicts

Disclosure of a conflict does not automatically prevent publication or participation in the editorial process.

Depending on the circumstances, Auna Press may:

  • require additional disclosure;
  • assign a different editor or reviewer;
  • request clarification from the authors;
  • require a conflict-of-interest statement in the published article;
  • implement additional editorial safeguards; or
  • take other appropriate measures to protect the integrity of the publication process.

9. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

If a previously undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, Auna Press may investigate the matter and determine whether corrective action is necessary.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may publish a correction, clarification, expression of concern, or other appropriate notice.

Serious undisclosed conflicts that materially affect the integrity of the research or publication process may result in further editorial action, including retraction where warranted.

10. Transparency

Auna Press encourages complete and transparent disclosure of relevant interests. The purpose of this policy is not to prohibit legitimate professional or financial relationships, but to ensure that such relationships are openly disclosed and appropriately managed.

11. Policy Review

This policy may be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect developments in research integrity, publication ethics, and international scholarly publishing practices.