Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Research and Scholarly Publishing

The Journal of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Research (JPADR) recognizes the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in scientific research, manuscript preparation, peer review, and scholarly communication.

JPADR supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI-assisted technologies while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, authorship accountability, confidentiality, and ethical publishing practices.

This policy aligns with recommendations from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other internationally recognized guidance on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in scholarly publishing.

1. Purpose of this Policy

This policy aims to:

  • Promote transparency regarding AI-assisted technologies.
  • Protect scientific integrity and originality.
  • Ensure accountability of human authors.
  • Prevent unethical or misleading AI-generated content.
  • Safeguard confidentiality during peer review and editorial processes.

All participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and Editorial Board members, are expected to comply with this policy.

2. AI-Assisted Writing Disclosure Requirement

Authors must clearly disclose any significant use of Artificial Intelligence or automated technologies during manuscript preparation.

Examples include the use of AI for:

  • Manuscript drafting.
  • Language editing.
  • Grammar correction.
  • Data analysis assistance.
  • Literature summarization.
  • Figure preparation.
  • Image enhancement.
  • Statistical assistance.
  • Code generation.

Examples of AI technologies include:

  • Large Language Models (LLMs).
  • Generative AI systems.
  • AI writing assistants.
  • AI-based image editing software.

Disclosure should be included in a dedicated section of the manuscript before the References section or during manuscript submission.

Example Disclosure Statements

Example 1

The authors used an AI-assisted language editing tool to improve grammar and readability. All scientific content was reviewed, verified, and approved by the authors, who take full responsibility for the manuscript.

Example 2

Generative AI technology was used solely for language refinement and was not used for scientific interpretation, data analysis, image generation, or conclusions.

Example 3

No Artificial Intelligence tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.

Failure to disclose significant AI-assisted content may constitute publication misconduct.

3. Human Accountability and Responsibility

Artificial Intelligence cannot assume responsibility for scholarly work. Human authors remain fully responsible for:

  • Accuracy of the manuscript.
  • Integrity of the research data.
  • Validity of scientific interpretations.
  • Compliance with publication ethics.
  • Originality of the submitted work.
  • Proper citation and attribution.
  • Absence of fabricated or misleading information.

Authors must independently review and verify all AI-generated output before submission.

Use of AI does not reduce the ethical or scientific responsibilities of the authors.

4. AI Systems Cannot Be Listed as Authors

Artificial Intelligence systems, chatbots, software applications, and language models cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they:

  • Cannot take responsibility for the work.
  • Cannot approve the final manuscript.
  • Cannot disclose conflicts of interest.
  • Cannot satisfy internationally accepted authorship criteria.
  • Cannot be accountable for scientific integrity.

Authorship is limited to human contributors who satisfy the journal's authorship requirements.

5. Accuracy and Reliability of AI-Generated Content

Authors should recognize that AI-generated content may contain:

  • Inaccurate scientific information.
  • Fabricated references.
  • Hallucinated data.
  • Biased interpretations.
  • Misleading conclusions.
  • Incomplete or incorrect citations.

Before submission, authors are responsible for independently verifying:

  • Scientific claims.
  • References and citations.
  • Statistical analyses.
  • Data interpretation.
  • Clinical recommendations.

Submission of inaccurate or misleading AI-generated content may result in editorial revision requests, manuscript rejection, or retraction after publication where appropriate.

6. Prohibition of AI-Generated Scientific Misconduct

The use of Artificial Intelligence tools for unethical or fraudulent purposes is strictly prohibited.

Examples of prohibited uses include:

  • Fabrication of research data.
  • Falsification of research findings.
  • Manipulation of scientific images.
  • Creation of fake peer reviews.
  • Generation of fabricated references or citations.
  • AI-assisted plagiarism or paraphrasing intended to evade plagiarism detection.
  • Production of misleading or deceptive scientific content.

Any misuse of Artificial Intelligence technologies may constitute scientific misconduct and may result in editorial action, institutional notification, manuscript rejection, or article retraction.

7. AI-Generated Images and Figures

JPADR prohibits the inappropriate use of generative AI technologies to create, modify, or manipulate scientific images in ways that misrepresent original research findings.

Authors must not use AI tools to:

  • Fabricate scientific figures.
  • Create fake microscopy images.
  • Generate artificial radiological images.
  • Manipulate electrophoresis gels or laboratory results.
  • Alter clinical photographs in misleading ways.
  • Generate synthetic patient images presented as real evidence.

Basic image enhancement that does not alter scientific interpretation may be acceptable when performed transparently and disclosed appropriately.

Where AI-assisted image processing has been used legitimately, authors should disclose:

  • Name of the software or AI tool.
  • Purpose of image processing.
  • Nature of the modifications.
  • Confirmation that scientific interpretation was not altered.

The Editorial Office reserves the right to request original image files, laboratory records, or source data for verification.

8. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Authors should avoid uploading confidential or sensitive information to public or commercial Artificial Intelligence platforms.

Examples include:

  • Unpublished manuscripts.
  • Patient-identifiable information.
  • Confidential research datasets.
  • Institutional confidential information.
  • Commercially sensitive or proprietary research data.

Authors remain responsible for protecting:

  • Patient privacy.
  • Research confidentiality.
  • Institutional data security.
  • Intellectual property.

The use of public AI systems should never compromise legal, ethical, or institutional confidentiality obligations.

9. Reviewer Use of Artificial Intelligence

9.1 Confidentiality During Peer Review

Peer reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality regarding all manuscripts received for review.

Reviewers must not upload any confidential manuscript material to public or commercial AI systems, including:

  • Manuscripts.
  • Figures and illustrations.
  • Supplementary files.
  • Research data.
  • Reviewer comments.
  • Editorial correspondence.

Uploading confidential manuscripts into AI platforms that may retain data, train models, or share information may constitute:

  • Breach of confidentiality.
  • Violation of publication ethics.
  • Unauthorized disclosure of intellectual property.

9.2 Appropriate Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers may use AI tools only for limited assistance, such as:

  • Language improvement.
  • Grammar correction.
  • Organization of reviewer comments.

Such use is acceptable only when:

  • Confidentiality is fully preserved.
  • No manuscript content is disclosed to unauthorized AI systems.
  • Scientific judgement remains entirely human.

9.3 Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers remain fully responsible for:

  • Scientific evaluation.
  • Accuracy of reviewer comments.
  • Ethical judgement.
  • Independent critical assessment.
  • Maintaining confidentiality.

Artificial Intelligence should support—but never replace—the reviewer's professional expertise and independent scholarly judgement.

10. Editor and Editorial Board Use of Artificial Intelligence

Editors and Editorial Board members should use Artificial Intelligence technologies responsibly while preserving editorial independence and research integrity.

Editors must not:

  • Upload confidential manuscripts into public AI systems.
  • Use AI as a substitute for editorial judgement.
  • Delegate publication decisions entirely to automated systems.
  • Allow AI-generated recommendations to replace independent editorial evaluation.

AI technologies may be used cautiously for limited purposes such as:

  • Administrative assistance.
  • Language improvement.
  • Preliminary plagiarism screening.
  • Workflow optimization.
  • Editorial support functions.

Final editorial decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts must always be made by qualified human editors exercising independent scientific and ethical judgement.

11. Detection and Investigation of AI Misuse

JPADR reserves the right to evaluate manuscripts where inappropriate or undisclosed use of Artificial Intelligence is suspected.

To protect research integrity, the journal may:

  • Screen submissions for AI-generated or AI-assisted content.
  • Request clarification regarding the use of AI technologies.
  • Request original manuscript drafts, datasets, or supporting documentation.
  • Assess figures and images for possible AI-generated manipulation.
  • Use plagiarism detection and research integrity assessment tools where appropriate.

Where concerns arise, authors may be asked to provide additional explanations or evidence demonstrating compliance with this policy.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in one or more of the following actions:

  • Request for manuscript revision.
  • Additional editorial review.
  • Rejection of the manuscript.
  • Investigation of potential publication misconduct.
  • Notification to the authors' institution where appropriate.
  • Retraction of published articles if misconduct is confirmed.
  • Restriction of future submissions to the journal.

Investigations involving suspected misuse of Artificial Intelligence will be conducted in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

12. Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research

JPADR encourages the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence technologies that support scientific research and scholarly communication while preserving human oversight and accountability.

Appropriate use of AI may assist researchers by improving:

  • Scientific communication.
  • Language quality.
  • Data analysis.
  • Research efficiency.
  • Accessibility of scholarly information.

However, AI technologies should complement—not replace—the following:

  • Human expertise.
  • Critical scientific thinking.
  • Independent interpretation of results.
  • Ethical decision-making.
  • Professional accountability.

Researchers are expected to exercise sound scientific judgement and carefully review all AI-assisted outputs before manuscript submission.

13. Future Policy Revisions

Artificial Intelligence technologies and international publishing standards are rapidly evolving.

JPADR may periodically review and revise this policy to maintain alignment with:

  • Emerging ethical publishing standards.
  • International editorial recommendations.
  • Advances in Artificial Intelligence technologies.
  • Regulatory developments.
  • Best practices in scholarly publishing.

Updated versions of this policy will normally apply prospectively to future submissions unless otherwise specified.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and Editorial Board members are encouraged to review this policy regularly to remain informed of any updates.

Commitment to Responsible Artificial Intelligence

JPADR supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence technologies in scholarly publishing while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and editorial independence.

The journal remains committed to:

  • Scientific integrity.
  • Research transparency.
  • Human accountability.
  • Ethical scholarly communication.
  • Confidential peer review.
  • Editorial independence.
  • Responsible innovation in scientific publishing.

Artificial Intelligence should serve as a supportive technology that enhances research quality without replacing the expertise, responsibility, ethical judgement, and accountability of researchers, reviewers, editors, and other contributors.

JPADR will continue to encourage innovation while safeguarding the trust, credibility, and integrity of scholarly publishing.

References

  1. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and Authorship.
  2. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
  3. World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Recommendations on Chatbots and Generative Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Publications.
  4. Council of Science Editors (CSE). Best Practices for Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Communication.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically by the Editorial Board to ensure continued alignment with evolving Artificial Intelligence technologies, international publication ethics, and recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.

The latest version of this policy will always be available on the official JPADR website.