Editorial Process and Peer Review

All article types published in Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (PPCR) are peer reviewed, except Letters to the Editor, which are assessed by the editors and may be sent for external review.

Peer-review model

PPCR uses reviewer-blinded (single-blind) peer review. Reviewers see the authors' names and affiliations. Reviewers' identities are not disclosed to authors unless a reviewer chooses to sign their report.

How a manuscript is handled

1. Initial screening. The editorial office checks that the manuscript fits the journal's scope, is complete, includes the required statements and reporting checklist, and passes a text-similarity check. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements are returned to the authors or declined without external review.
2. Editor assignment. The Editor-in-Chief assigns a handling editor with relevant expertise and no conflict of interest with the authors.
3. External review. The handling editor invites at least two reviewers with relevant expertise who were not involved in the work and have no conflict of interest with the authors. Reviewers assess the methods, the validity of the conclusions, the reporting, and the limitations of the work.
4. Decision. The handling editor considers the reviews and makes a recommendation. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. Reviewer comments are sent to the authors in full, except that information identifying an anonymous reviewer is removed; where a review contains a factual error, the editor adds a note to clarify it.
5. Revision. Authors submit a revised manuscript with a point-by-point response to every comment, plus marked and clean versions. Revised manuscripts are usually returned to the original reviewers.

Timelines

• Reviewers are asked to submit their report within 21 days.
• Authors are asked to submit revisions within 30 days. Extensions may be agreed with the editorial office.
• If review is delayed, the editorial office will tell the authors why. Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before acceptance.

Transparent peer review

PPCR publishes the peer-review history alongside each research article. The published file includes the reviewers' comments and the authors' point-by-point responses, so readers can see how each article was assessed and revised. Reviewers are told when they accept an invitation that their comments will be published. Reviewers remain anonymous unless they choose to sign their report, and confidential comments to the editor are not published.

Manuscripts by editors

Editors, including the Editor-in-Chief, may submit to PPCR. Their submissions receive no priority and are handled entirely by another editor. The authoring editor has no access to the review process or the decision, and their editorial role is declared in the published article.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not copy, share or discuss a manuscript, or use its content, without permission from the editorial office. Reviewers and editors must not upload any part of a manuscript or review to generative AI tools.

Reviewer conflicts of interest

Reviewers must decline an invitation if they have a competing interest, including a recent collaboration, shared affiliation, or personal relationship with any author, or a financial interest in the work.

Special issues

Manuscripts submitted to special issues follow the same screening and peer-review process as all other submissions. An invitation to contribute does not guarantee publication. Guest editors do not handle manuscripts on which they are authors or have a conflict of interest.

Appeals

Authors who believe a decision was wrong may appeal. See Appeals and complaints.