Privacy Statement

At Biomed Thought, we value and respect your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding the personal data of our authors, reviewers, editors, and other users. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

1. Information We Collect:

We collect personal information necessary for the submission, review, and publication processes, as well as to maintain communication with our authors, reviewers, and readers. The types of personal data we collect include:

  • Author Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, phone number, ORCID ID (if applicable), and any other details provided during manuscript submission (e.g., biography, co-author details).

  • Reviewer Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, expertise areas, and any feedback provided during the peer review process.

  • Editor Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and other relevant professional details.

  • Website Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our website, including IP addresses, device types, browser information, and usage statistics. This data is collected to improve website functionality and user experience.

2. How We Use Your Information:

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Manuscript Submission and Publication: To process, review, and manage manuscript submissions, communications with authors, and the publication of accepted articles.

  • Peer Review: To invite reviewers, assign reviewers to manuscripts, and facilitate the review process. Reviewers may be contacted for feedback on submitted manuscripts.

  • Editorial Decisions: To support editors in making fair and informed decisions regarding the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts.

  • Communication: To communicate with authors, reviewers, and editors about the status of manuscripts, important journal updates, and administrative matters.

  • Website Functionality and Improvement: To enhance the user experience and improve the functionality of our website. This includes monitoring website traffic, identifying technical issues, and providing website content.

3. Sharing of Your Information:

We do not share your personal information with third parties except under the following circumstances:

  • Peer Review Process: For manuscript review purposes, we share author details (name, manuscript title, abstract) with invited reviewers. Reviewers' identities are kept confidential, and they are prohibited from sharing the manuscript with others.

  • Service Providers: We may share personal information with trusted third-party service providers that assist with the operation of the journal (e.g., manuscript tracking, peer review systems). These service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are not permitted to use your personal data for any purpose other than providing their services.

  • Legal Requirements: If required by law or in response to legal processes (e.g., subpoenas, court orders), we may disclose personal information to comply with applicable legal obligations.

4. Data Security:

We employ strict technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and restricted access controls. However, please be aware that no method of data transmission over the Internet is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention:

We retain personal information for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including maintaining our journal’s records, completing the publication process, and addressing post-publication concerns. After this period, we securely delete or anonymize your personal data, unless retention is required for legal reasons.

6. Your Rights:

Depending on applicable data protection laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Correct: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain conditions.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data under specific circumstances.
  • Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your data, particularly for direct marketing purposes.
  • Right to Data Portability: You can request to receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format and transfer it to another organization.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

We may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance the user experience on our website. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that allow us to analyze website usage and remember user preferences. You can manage cookies through your browser settings, although disabling cookies may limit some website features.

8. Third-Party Websites:

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. Biomed Thought is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites before submitting personal information to them.

9. Updates to This Privacy Statement:

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page, and the revised policy will be effective as of the date it is posted. We encourage you to review this Privacy Statement periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal information.