Pan Asian journals that fall in the STEM category must follow the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki. All of the manuscripts should be prepared in strict observation of research and publication ethics guidelines recommended by the Council of Science Editors, International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Any study including human data must be reviewed and approved by a responsible Institutional Review Board (IRB) also known as an independent ethics committee (IEC), ethical review board (ERB), or research ethics board (REB). They can be either internal or external review boards.

When it comes to animal experimentations, it should be reviewed by an appropriate institutional animal care and use committee that follows the global standard (e.g. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Besides, studies with pathogens requiring a high degree of biosafety should pass a review of a relevant institutional biosafety committee (IBC). The editor may request submission of copies of informed consent from human subjects in clinical studies or institutional review board (IRB) approval documents. Our STEM journals are expected to follow the guidelines by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for settlement of any misconduct.