Guide for reviewers

Guide for Reviewers

We are delighted that you have agreed to review manuscripts for the Journal of Computational Biology and Medicine. Your expertise and thoughtful feedback are invaluable in ensuring the quality and rigor of the research we publish. As a reviewer, you play a crucial role in maintaining the academic standards of the journal and advancing the field of computational biology and medicine. This guide provides important information to help you understand the review process and your responsibilities as a reviewer.

Scope of Review

The Journal of Computational Biology and Medicine publishes articles that bridge the gap between computational methods and their applications in biological and medical research. As a reviewer, you may be asked to review manuscripts in a variety of subfields, including but not limited to:

• Computational biology and bioinformatics
• Medical informatics and clinical applications of computational techniques
• Algorithm development for data analysis in biomedical research
• Computational modeling in medicine
• Machine learning and artificial intelligence in healthcare

Your review should assess whether the manuscript contributes new insights, methods, or applications to the field, and whether it aligns with the journal's scope.

Review Process

Upon receiving a manuscript for review, you will be asked to assess the quality, originality, and scientific validity of the paper. Your review should consider the following:

• Novelty and Originality: Does the manuscript introduce new ideas, methodologies, or applications to the field? Is the work innovative, or does it merely replicate existing research?
• Scientific Rigor: Are the methods used in the study appropriate and well-executed? Are the data presented in a clear and logical manner? Are the conclusions supported by the results?
• Relevance and Significance: Does the manuscript address important questions or challenges in computational biology and medicine? What is the potential impact of the research on the field?
• Clarity and Organization: Is the manuscript well-structured and easy to follow? Are the figures, tables, and supplementary materials clearly presented? Is the language used appropriate for a scientific audience?
• Ethical Considerations: If applicable, does the study comply with ethical standards in research involving human or animal subjects? Is proper ethical approval stated?

Review Criteria

When reviewing the manuscript, please consider the following points:

• Overall Quality: Does the manuscript meet the journal’s standards of scientific quality and originality? Does it make a valuable contribution to the field of computational biology and medicine?
• Strengths: What are the major strengths of the manuscript? Is the research well-designed? Are the results presented clearly and logically?
• Weaknesses: Are there any major weaknesses or limitations in the study? Are the methods sound, or are there flaws in the analysis? Are there areas of the manuscript that need clarification or improvement?
• Suggestions for Improvement: Provide specific, constructive feedback that will help the authors improve their manuscript. Point out areas where additional explanation or clarification is needed, suggest further experiments or analyses, and recommend any improvements to the presentation of the research.
• Recommendation: Based on your evaluation, you will be asked to make a recommendation. You can choose from the following options:
• Accept: The manuscript is of sufficient quality and can be published without further changes.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires some revisions but is acceptable in its current form.
• Major Revisions: The manuscript requires substantial changes and should be re-evaluated after revision.
• Reject: The manuscript does not meet the standards for publication.

Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

Please remember that the review process is confidential. Do not discuss or share the manuscript with others without permission from the editorial team. If you have a conflict of interest (e.g., you have a personal or professional relationship with the authors), please disclose it immediately, and we will reassign the manuscript to another reviewer if necessary.

Timeliness

We appreciate your commitment to providing a timely review. Please try to submit your review within the assigned deadline. If for any reason you are unable to complete the review on time, please inform the editorial team as soon as possible.

Reviewer Feedback

Your feedback is an essential part of the review process. Authors rely on constructive comments to improve their work, and we encourage you to provide clear, detailed, and respectful feedback. Please avoid dismissive or overly critical comments that do not offer a path for improvement.

In your review, it is helpful to:

• Provide specific references to sections or figures in the manuscript.
• Frame your feedback in a constructive, objective manner.
• Highlight both strengths and areas for improvement.

We strive for an open, transparent, and respectful review process, and your thoughtful and detailed feedback is key to achieving this.

Final Thoughts

We thank you for your time and dedication in reviewing manuscripts for Journal of Computational Biology and Medicine. Your role as a reviewer is integral to the scientific community, and we value your expertise and contributions. By providing comprehensive, thoughtful, and timely reviews, you help ensure that only high-quality research is published, fostering progress in the field of computational biology and medicine.

Should you have any questions or need further guidance during the review process, please do not hesitate to contact the editorial team.