Ethical Concerns in Human or Animal Subjects

Ethical Concerns in Human or Animal Subjects


Ethical Concerns in Human Subjects Research

1.1 Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

      1. Studies or research involving human participants, personal data, health information, or identifiable biological specimens, whether directly or indirectly identifiable, such as urine, blood, serum, or tissue, must undergo ethical review and receive approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or another formally appointed ethics committee before the research begins.
      2. If an exemption or waiver from ethical review has been granted, the authors must clearly state the exemption or waiver and provide the reasons supporting it.

1.2 Ethical Approval Information Required in the Manuscript 
      Authors must provide the full name of the ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB), the approval date, and the certificate number or approval number in the Methods section or under a designated heading such as “Institutional Review Board Statement” or “Ethical Approval.”

1.3 Informed Consent for Research Participation 
       1. Authors must clearly state in the manuscript that informed consent has been obtained from the research participants.
        2. If verbal informed consent was obtained, the authors must explain why written informed consent could not be obtained.

1.4 Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
       1. Authors must prioritize the welfare and well-being of research participants and minimize potential risks or harm to the greatest extent possible.
       2. The anticipated benefits of the study must outweigh its potential risks. Researchers are responsible for minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of participants throughout the study.

1.5 Privacy and Confidentiality
       1. Authors must protect the privacy of research participants, maintain confidentiality, and strictly safeguard their personal information throughout data collection, storage, and publication.
        2. The journal reserves the right to reject manuscripts that fail to comply with these requirements and may request additional supporting documentation when necessary.

 

Ethical Concerns in Animal Subjects Research

2.1 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Approval
      All studies, research activities, and procedures involving experimental animals must be conducted solely for the advancement of scientific knowledge and must receive approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before the research begins.

2.2 Research Conducted Without Access to an IACUC
      1. If no Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is available in the relevant area for submission and review, authors must acknowledge that the ethical aspects of the research will be evaluated by reviewers and editors.
      2. Authors must prepare documentation explaining the ethical appropriateness of the research, using principles consistent with those applied by an IACUC. The journal may request such supporting documentation at a later stage.

2.3 Ethical Approval Information Required in the Manuscript
       Authors must provide the full name of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the date of permit issuance, and the permit number in the Materials and Methods section or under the heading “Ethical Approval.”

2.4 International Guidelines and Standards for Animal Research
      All animal experiments must comply with the ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) or the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,” as specified in the TCI guidelines.

References identified in the source document:

  • ARRIVE Guidelines: https://arriveguidelines.org/
  • Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1996

2.5 Compliance with Animal Welfare Standards
      For research involving animals, authors must confirm that their studies comply with applicable national and international animal welfare guidelines, such as AAALAC standards or the ethical principles and guidelines for the use of animals for scientific purposes issued by the National Research Council (NRC) of Thailand.

References identified in the source document:

Reference: Guidelines issued by the Thai-Journal Citation Index Centre (TCI).