Correction & Retraction Policy

1. Purpose of Corrections

Trends in Medical and Biological Sciences is committed to maintaining the accuracy, credibility, and transparency of the scientific record. Corrections are issued to address genuine errors in published work that could affect interpretation, data integrity, or scholarly understanding. Prompt corrections help preserve trust in scientific communication and biomedical research.

2. Types of Corrections

Erratum (Publisher-Initiated Correction):
Issued when errors are introduced during the publishing process (e.g., typographical mistakes, incorrect figures, or reference errors). These corrections do not alter the study’s conclusions.

Corrigendum (Author-Initiated Correction):
Issued when authors identify a substantive mistake after publication that may affect the clarity, interpretation, or reliability of the work but does not invalidate the research.

3. Correction Procedure

  • Detection: Errors may be reported by authors, readers, editors, or peer reviewers.

  • Editorial Assessment: The editorial team evaluates the nature and potential impact of the error.

  • Correction Implementation: When appropriate, a formal correction notice is published. The original article remains unchanged but is clearly linked to the correction notice to maintain transparency.

4. Visibility and Indexing

  • All correction notices are linked to the original articles on the journal’s website.

  • Corrections are indexed in relevant academic and scientific databases to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction Policy

1. Purpose of Retractions

Retractions are issued to formally withdraw a published article when its scientific validity, reliability, or ethical foundation is compromised. This measure protects the academic record and prevents the continued citation of flawed or unethical work.

2. Grounds for Retraction

  • Research Misconduct: Proven cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation.

  • Ethical Violations: Breaches involving human or animal subject research, lack of ethical approval, or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

  • Critical Errors: Major flaws in methodology, analysis, or conclusions that invalidate the findings and cannot be resolved through a correction.

3. Retraction Procedure

  • Inquiry and Investigation: The editorial board initiates a detailed investigation, which may involve authors, peer reviewers, and, where necessary, institutional or ethical oversight bodies.

  • Editorial Decision: Based on COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines, the board determines whether retraction is justified.

  • Issuance of Retraction Notice: A formal retraction notice is published, clearly stating the reason for retraction. The original article remains accessible but is watermarked or labeled as "RETRACTED" to maintain transparency.

4. Indexing and Transparency

All retraction notices are:

  • Openly published on the journal’s website

  • Indexed in major academic and biomedical databases

  • Linked to the original article for complete traceability

5. Ethical Standards and Governance

Trends in Medical and Biological Sciences strictly follows the ethical principles of COPE and complies with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan benchmarks for scholarly publishing. All correction and retraction processes are handled with transparency, fairness, and academic integrity.