- For authors
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to the In-vitro In-vivo In-silico Journal: submission routes, article types, manuscript structure, reporting standards, ethics statements and fees.
Submission
Submission routes
Primary route
ManuscriptZone
The publisher’s online submission and review system. Register or sign in, choose the In-vitro In-vivo In-silico Journal and upload the manuscript files.
Alternative route
Simple manuscript submission form
A single-page form that opens with the In-vitro In-vivo In-silico Journal selected.
Assisted route: editorial email
info@openaccesspub.org
For authors who are unable to use either online route. Send the manuscript files with a cover letter to the editorial office.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Formats
Article types
IIIJ publishes the article types below. Requirements depend on the format: hypotheses, outcomes, power calculations and a Methods and Results structure apply where the design calls for them. The scope of each type is set out in the Aims and Scope.
Original Research
Empirical studies using in-vitro, in-vivo or in-silico approaches, alone or combined, including mechanistic, pharmacological, toxicological, formulation, structure–activity and computational studies.
- Abstract. Structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text. Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions. State the research question and, where applicable, the hypotheses, primary and secondary outcomes, experimental units, replicates and sample-size justification. Give materials, models and, for computational work, software, versions, parameters, training and validation data.
- Reporting. The guideline for the design, for example ARRIVE 2.0 for animal studies, CONSORT for trials or TRIPOD for prediction models.
Review
A narrative or critical review of a defined topic in drug discovery, development or delivery that synthesizes and interprets published work.
- Abstract. Brief, unstructured.
- Main text. Introduction; a clearly organized body with descriptive headings; discussion of gaps and future directions. State how the literature was identified.
- Reporting. Cite the evidence for each claim.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic syntheses of evidence on a defined question, with or without meta-analysis. Scoping reviews that use systematic methods are included.
- Abstract. Structured.
- Main text. Introduction; Methods (eligibility criteria, information sources and the full search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment and synthesis); Results with a flow diagram; Discussion. Give the protocol registration, for example in PROSPERO, where applicable.
- Reporting. PRISMA 2020; PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews.
Methods
New, adapted or validated assays, models, computational methods or workflows, and protocols for planned studies.
- Abstract. Structured, with headings adapted to the method.
- Main text. Rationale; a description of the method with the detail, code or materials others need to apply it; validation or a worked application, compared with existing approaches where available; limitations.
- Reporting. SPIRIT for trial protocols, PRISMA-P for review protocols and TRIPOD for prediction models, where applicable.
Short Communication
A concise report of a focused or preliminary finding.
- Abstract. Brief, structured.
- Main text. A condensed Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion centered on the main finding.
- Reporting. As for Original Research, where applicable.
Data Note
A description of a dataset, such as screening, assay, omics or simulation data, to support its reuse.
- Abstract. Brief, unstructured.
- Main text. Background and rationale; data collection methods; description of the dataset (variables, format, coverage); quality control; data access, with the repository, persistent identifier and license; limitations for reuse.
- Reporting. Deposit the dataset in a recognized repository before submission.
Case Report
An individual case or short case series that adds to understanding of a drug’s action, safety or use.
- Abstract. Brief, unstructured.
- Main text. Introduction; case presentation, with a timeline where useful; discussion of the mechanism or pharmacological relevance. Hypotheses and power calculations do not apply.
- Reporting. CARE. Consent for publication from the patient or a legal guardian, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable; identifying details removed.
Commentary
An evidence-based argument on a current question in the field or on published research. Perspectives and viewpoints are submitted as Commentaries.
- Abstract. Brief, unstructured.
- Main text. Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting. Reference the evidence for each claim.
Letter
A brief response to an article published in IIIJ, or a short observation relevant to the field.
- Abstract. None.
- Main text. Short text without section headings and with a small number of references. A letter about a published article cites it in full, and its authors may be invited to reply.
- Reporting. Reference the article or evidence discussed.
Length. There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Choosing a type. Where a manuscript sits between types, choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter; the editors confirm the classification. A scoping review is classified as a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, and a study protocol as Methods.
Manuscript
Preparing the manuscript
These requirements apply to every article type. The structure of the main text follows the guidance for the type above.
- Files
- Editable main text
- The main text as an editable word-processing file (for example, Microsoft Word), with figures, tables that cannot be edited in the text, and supplementary material supplied as separate files.
- Title page
- Title and authors
- A concise, informative title; full names, affiliations and ORCID iDs (recommended) of all authors; and the corresponding author’s contact details.
- Double-blind review
- Anonymized manuscript
- For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
- Abstract
- As set for the type
- Structured abstracts use the headings Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions. Letters have no abstract.
- Keywords
- Specific terms
- A short list of specific, searchable terms; Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) are recommended.
- Experimental detail
- Materials, models and software
- Give compounds with source and purity, cell lines and animal strains with source, assay conditions, and, for computational work, software with versions, parameters, force fields and the data used for training and validation. Compound structures are shown or deposited in a machine-readable form where possible.
- Statistics
- Methods and reporting
- Describe statistical methods in enough detail for replication; report effect estimates with confidence intervals, give exact p-values where statistical tests are used, and name the software and version.
- Declarations
- Statements
- Author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and consent where applicable, data availability for empirical research, and any use of AI tools.
- Cover letter
- Cover letter
- States the article type and the relevance of the work to the journal, confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and notes any preprint and any request for double-blind review.
- Language
- Clear English
- Clear English, with abbreviations defined at first use.
Reporting standards
Reporting guidelines
Report the study following the guideline that matches its design and upload the completed checklist as a supplementary file. The guidelines are available from the EQUATOR Network.
| Study design | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Animal research | ARRIVE 2.0 |
| Randomized trials | CONSORT |
| Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) | STROBE |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Trial and review protocols | SPIRIT; PRISMA-P |
| Diagnostic accuracy studies | STARD |
| Prediction models | TRIPOD |
| Economic evaluations | CHEERS 2022 |
| Case reports | CARE |
Presentation
References, tables and figures
- Reference style
- Numbered
- Numbered in order of first citation. List the first five authors, then et al., and give a DOI or stable URL where one exists. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
- Tables
- Numbered consecutively
- Each with a descriptive title; abbreviations and symbols explained in a footnote.
- Figures
- High resolution
- At least 300 dpi in TIFF, EPS, PNG or high-quality JPEG, with a caption for each figure and text that remains legible after reduction. Gels, blots and micrographs are presented without selective adjustment.
- Supplementary files
- Numbered
- For example, Supplementary Table S1; cited in the text and listed with short titles at the end of the manuscript. They are published as supplied, so they must be final.
- Reused material
- Permission
- Written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt published figures, tables or text, unless the material is already available under a license that permits reuse; the source is cited in the legend.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Journal article
- Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, et al. (Year) Title of the article. Journal Name. Volume(Issue):pages. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Book
- Book
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
- Dataset
- Dataset
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the dataset. Version. Repository Name. DOI or accession number
- Preprint
- Preprint
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the preprint. Preprint Server Name [Preprint]. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
Research ethics
Ethics and declarations
Each manuscript includes the statements below that apply to it. The full policies are set out in the Editorial Policies.
- Human participants
- Approval and consent
- The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval reference number, and confirmation of informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable.
- Clinical trials
- Registration
- Interventional clinical trials must be registered in an accepted public trial registry at or before the first participant provides consent for enrollment. The registry name, registration number, and registration date must be reported in the manuscript.
- Animal research
- Approval and reporting
- Approval from the institutional animal care and use committee or animal ethics committee with its reference number, where applicable, compliance with animal-welfare regulations and the 3Rs, and reporting in line with the ARRIVE guidelines.
- Case Reports
- Consent
- Informed consent for publication from the patient or a legal guardian, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable, with identifying details removed.
- Conflicts of interest and funding
- Disclosure
- All financial and non-financial interests of every author, each source of funding and the role of the funder.
- Data availability
- Statement
- Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. It explains where the data can be found or the conditions for access.
- Use of AI tools
- Disclosure
- Any use of AI tools in writing, analysis or figure preparation, with the tool named and its use described. AI tools are not listed as authors.
After submission
Peer review and decisions
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review. The editorial office also runs a similarity check with Crossref Similarity Check.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
Revised manuscripts are accompanied by a point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments. After acceptance, authors check the proofs, and the article is published open access under CC BY 4.0.
Charges
Fees
Article processing chargeUSD 1,200
For every article type.
The article processing charge is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal’s withdrawal policy.
No charge is made at submission. Fee-relief inquiries are considered case by case; contact the editorial office before or at submission. Full details are on the Article Processing Charges page.
Before you submit
Final checklist
A fuller checklist and the submission routes are on the Submit Manuscript page.
- The manuscript addresses a question within the Aims and Scope and uses one of the article types above.
- The title page, keywords and main text follow the guidance for the article type, with an abstract where the type requires one; Letters have no abstract.
- For double-blind review, the reviewer manuscript is anonymized and identifying information is in the title-page file.
- Where the manuscript reports experimental or computational work, materials, models, software and parameters are described in enough detail for others to repeat it.
- Ethics approval, consent or waiver, animal-ethics approval and trial registration are reported where applicable.
- The completed reporting checklist is attached where applicable.
- Declarations cover contributions, funding, conflicts of interest and AI use, with a data-availability statement for empirical research.
- Figures, tables and supplementary files are cited in the text, and permissions are in place for reused material.
- A cover letter accompanies the submission, which is made through one route only.
Questions
Author inquiries
Questions about preparing or submitting a manuscript can be sent to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org.