Guidelines for Authors

1. Manuscript Submission

Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration or published elsewhere in any form or language. Submission of plagiarized or duplicate content is strictly prohibited and violates publication ethics. Authors should ensure compliance with these policies at the time of submission.

2. Submission Checklist

Review and adhere to all author guidelines before submitting. Manuscripts should be comprehensive yet concise; for word count or figures see ‘Article Types and Specifications’. Required files: manuscript (Word or compatible format), cover letter, high-resolution figures, supplementary materials (if any).

3. Article Type and Specifications

Article Type	Description	Structured Abstract & Graphical Abstract*	Abstract Word Limit	Article Word Limit** (Excluding Abstract, Refs,Tables/ Figs)	Max Figures / Tables	Max References (Recent Preferred)
Full Articles	Original full-length research papers	Preferred	250	5,000 – 6,000	10	60
Short Communication	Concise original research reports	Preferred	250	1,500 – 2,000	5	25
Letter to Editor	Rapid, brief reports of novel findings	Preferred	250	1,500 – 2,000	5	20
Review Articles	Authoritative overviews of fields/topics	Preferred	250	Up to 6,000	8	100
Case Reports	Unique disease mechanism or diagnostic insights	Preferred	250	Up to 2,000	3	25
Commentary / Opinion	Perspectives, Opinions, Obituaries	No Abstract	N/A	Up to 2,000 including references	1	10
Editorials (Invited)	Editorial Pieces (invited submissions only)	No Abstract	N/A	Up to 2,000	1	15

*Three highlights are required for each Article type (Commentary / Opinion and Editorials are excluded)
**Word limits are guidelines; exceptions may be considered with editorial approval.

4. Authorship 

All authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria, and that any post-acceptance author changes are disallowed.

5. Manuscript Preparation Components

• Cover Letter (mandatory) confirming originality, authorship approval, and exclusive submission to SIR.
• Title Page with author affiliations and corresponding author details.
• Structured Abstract (as per article type).
• Highlights: 3 key points summarizing the manuscript (for manuscripts to be published in 2026 and onwards).
• Main Text Sections:
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods (clear & detailed promoting reproducibility)
  • Results (with tables/figures)
  • Discussion (interpretation and significance)
  • Conclusion (6-7 lines)
• Acknowledgments (brief, including funding/grants)
• Author Contributions (brief statements)
• Conflict of Interest disclosure
• References (10% must be annotated recent publications) [For manuscripts to be published in 2026 and onwards]
• Figure Legends and Tables (editable, cited in-text).
• Supplementary Information (if applicable, submitted as-is with descriptions).

6. Abstract & Highlights

Abstracts (max 250 words) must succinctly describe scope, methods, results, and major conclusions. Highlights should be 3 concise statements showcasing the manuscript’s novelty and findings.

• Example Highlights:
  • Developed a novel multi-omics integration framework for cancer biomarker discovery.
  • Demonstrated high accuracy (>90%) of AI-based smoker detection using wearable sensors.
  • Identified key molecular targets for personalized therapy in breast cancer patients.

7. References

Follow AMA Manual of Style (11^th Edition), citing references by number in brackets in text. Annotated references must briefly describe study importance and be recent (within last 10 years). Provide comprehensive and correctly formatted references for journals, books, and electronic sources, including DOI. Authors may use reference management tools and are encouraged to verify journal abbreviations via NLM database.

• Example:
  1.Saleem W, Sarfraz B, Mazhar S. Combined effect of honey, neem (Azadirachta indica), and turmeric against Staphylococcus aureusand E. coli isolated from clinical wound samples. BioScientific Review. 2022;4(4):21-44. https://doi.org/10.32350/BSR.44.01.

• Example of an Annotated Reference:
  1. Saleem W, Sarfraz B, Mazhar S. Combined effect of honey, neem (Azadirachta indica), and turmeric against Staphylococcus aureusand E. coli isolated from clinical wound samples. BioScientific Review. 2022;4(4):21-44. https://doi.org/10.32350/BSR.44.01. This study demonstrates the excellent antimicrobial activity of natural ingredients against clinical bacterial isolates, suggesting potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

8. Figures and Tables

Submit high-resolution images in separate files (recommended formats: TIFF, JPEG, PNG). Figures and tables must be cited in proper order within the text and legibly labeled. Large visuals may be submitted as supplementary material. Colors must be used meaningfully and be accessible.

9. Ethical Consideration

Manuscripts involving humans or animals must include ethical approval statements and consent declarations in line with recognized guidelines (Declaration of Helsinki, ARRIVE, etc.). Authors must disclose any competing interests.

10. Language and Style

Manuscripts should be clear, concise, and written in standard English. Non-native English authors are encouraged to use professional editing services before submission. SIR offers free language editing only for manuscripts accepted for publication.

11. Peer-review Process

All submissions undergo initial editorial assessment followed by double-blind peer review by at least two qualified reviewers. Average review time is 4–6 weeks. Authors must respond to reviewer comments with detailed rebuttals during revision.

12. Publication and Access

SIR is an open-access journal with no article processing charges. Accepted articles are published online as Articles in Press before final typesetting and proofreading.

13. Plagiarism and Integrity

Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism; similarity index must be below 20%. Misconduct including data falsification, duplicate publication, and unethical experimentation is subject to strict sanctions.

14. Additional Recommendations

Authors should provide data availability statements and ORCID identifiers. Manuscripts incorporating new technologies, software, or datasets should provide access links where possible.