The Pacific Journal of Cardiovascular Innovations (PJCI) upholds a rigorous and transparent peer-review process designed to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity, quality, and scholarly excellence. This structured process ensures that only the most impactful, credible, and scientifically sound research is disseminated globally. The peer-review process at PJCI is outlined as follows:

 

1. Submission and Initial Evaluation

• Manuscript Submission: Authors submit their manuscripts via the PJCI online submission system. A cover letter, detailing the significance, originality, and relevance of the research, must accompany the manuscript. Authors must ensure that the manuscript complies with the journal’s formatting guidelines, ethical standards, and conflict of interest disclosures.
• Initial Screening: The editorial office conducts an initial screening to verify adherence to formatting guidelines and assesses the manuscript for originality using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage.

2. Assignment to an Editor

• Editor-in-Chief Assignment: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to the Editor-in-Chief or a Senior Editor, who evaluates the manuscript’s novelty, significance, and relevance to the journal's objectives.
• Selection of Handling Editor: The manuscript is assigned to a Handling Editor with specialized expertise in the relevant field to oversee the peer-review process.

3. Peer Reviewer Selection

• Reviewer Identification: The Handling Editor selects potential peer reviewers based on their expertise and relevant publication history. Typically, two to three reviewers are invited to assess the manuscript, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.
• Invitation to Review: Reviewers receive an invitation email with the manuscript's title, abstract, and instructions. They must confirm their availability and disclose potential conflicts of interest before accepting the invitation.
• Conflict of Interest Check: Reviewers are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality. If conflicts are identified, an alternative reviewer is selected.

4. Double-Blind Review

• Anonymity: PJCI follows a double-blind review process, ensuring both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. This eliminates bias and promotes an objective evaluation.
• Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript on the following aspects:

• Originality and Novelty
• Methodological Rigor
• Data and Results
• Relevance and Impact
• Clarity and Structure

• Reviewer’s Report: Reviewers provide a detailed report with specific comments, suggestions, and a recommendation on whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.

5. Editorial Decision

• Handling Editor's Assessment: After reviewing the peer reviewers' feedback, the Handling Editor formulates a recommendation. If necessary, additional reviews may be requested.
• Decision Categories:

• Accept: Manuscript is accepted for publication without further revisions.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes and must be resubmitted after revisions.
• Major Revisions: Significant revisions are needed before resubmission, with possible additional reviews.
• Reject: The manuscript is deemed unsuitable for publication due to significant flaws or misalignment with the journal's scope.

• Final Decision: The Handling Editor's recommendation is forwarded to the Editor-in-Chief for a final decision. Authors are notified of the decision and required revisions.

6. Revision and Resubmission
   • Author Revisions: Authors are given a specified timeframe to address the reviewers' comments and resubmit the manuscript. A detailed response letter outlining the changes made must accompany the resubmission.
   • Re-Review (if applicable): For significant revisions, the revised manuscript may be sent to the original reviewers for a second evaluation.

7. Final Acceptance and Publication

• Final Check: The editorial office performs a final review to ensure that all revisions have been incorporated and that the manuscript adheres to the journal's standards.
• Proofing: Authors receive proofs of the accepted manuscript for final approval, allowing for minor corrections before publication.
• Online Publication: Accepted manuscripts are published in the next available issue of PJCI. Articles are immediately accessible under the journal’s open-access policy and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license.

8. Post-Publication

• Post-Publication Review: PJCI encourages ongoing scholarly discussion and feedback. If significant new information or concerns arise after publication, the editorial team may issue corrections, retractions, or updates.
• Author and Reviewer Recognition: PJCI acknowledges the contributions of authors and reviewers in advancing cardiovascular research. Reviewers who provide exceptional feedback may be invited to join the editorial board or serve as guest editors.