Research Involving Humans Animals and Informed Consent Policy

Authors must report the ethical oversight, consent and safeguards applicable to research involving people or animals. The journal may request supporting documentation.

Ethical oversight and human participants

Where ethical approval is required, authors must identify the approving body and provide the approval reference and date. Where approval was waived or was not required, authors must explicitly explain the reason and the applicable institutional or regulatory basis, identifying any authority that granted a waiver. Research involving people must respect applicable requirements and the Declaration of Helsinki. Describe how informed consent to participate was obtained or justify an approved waiver, and explain protection of privacy, clinical records and personal data.

Consent for publication

Consent to participate differs from consent to publish identifiable information. Case reports, photographs, images or details from which someone might be recognised require appropriate publication consent from the individual or authorised representative unless a valid exception applies. Removing a name alone may not prevent identification. IPMM may request confirmation and withhold identifying material.

Animal research

State approval or a permitted exemption, compliance with applicable animal welfare law and institutional guidance, and measures to minimise harm. Follow ARRIVE when applicable.

Clinical trial registration

Interventional trials meeting recognised registration requirements must be registered in a publicly accessible registry before enrolment of the first participant. Give the registry, identifier and registration date; if registration was retrospective, state this explicitly, and if registration was not required, explain why. The journal assesses exceptions case by case.

Editorial checks

Authors are responsible for accurate declarations. The editors may request clarification, decline work or correct or retract published work when ethical requirements were not met or declarations were materially inaccurate.