eepi@nuclmed.gr

Peer Review & Editorial Policies

Last updated: Mar 2026

Peer‑Review Process

The Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine (HJNM) follows a rigorous, transparent, and ethical peer‑review process to ensure the scientific quality of all published material.

Peer‑Review Process (Corrected Version)

  1. Submission and Initial Screening

All manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by the Editor‑in‑Chief or a Co‑Editor. This screening assesses:

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope
  • Originality and scientific merit
  • Ethical compliance
  • Adherence to author guidelines
  1. Assignment to Co‑Editor

After initial screening, the manuscript is assigned to a Co‑Editor with expertise in the subject area and no conflicts of interest.

  1. Double‑Blind External Peer Review

HJNM uses a double‑blind review system:

  • Reviewers do not know the authors’ identities
  • Authors do not know the reviewers’ identities

Each manuscript is evaluated by two independent reviewers. A third reviewer may be invited if needed.

  1. Editorial Evaluation and Decision

The assigned Co‑Editor evaluates the reviewer reports and provides a recommendation. The Editor‑in‑Chief makes the final decision on all manuscripts.

  1. Revisions

Authors must submit a detailed, point‑by‑point response to reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts may be re‑evaluated by the same reviewers.

  1. Final Decision and Acceptance

The Editor‑in‑Chief makes the final decision after evaluating:

  • Co-editor recommendations
  • Scientific and ethical standards
  1. Confidentiality

All manuscripts and reviews are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use manuscript content for personal benefit.

  1. Ethical Standards

HJNM adheres to:

  • COPE Ethical Guidelines
  • ICMJE Recommendations
  • WMA Declaration of Helsinki
  1. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Editors recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.

Reviewer Policy

Reviewer Qualifications

Reviewers are selected based on:

  • Demonstrated expertise in Nuclear Medicine or related fields
  • Active academic or clinical research involvement
  • Absence of conflicts of interest

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations
  • Assess scientific rigor, originality, and ethical compliance
  • Maintain strict confidentiality
  • Declare conflicts of interest immediately

Timelines

Reviewers are asked to submit their evaluations within the timeframe specified in the invitation. Extensions may be granted upon request.

Editorial Governance

Editor‑in‑Chief

  • Oversees the scientific and ethical integrity of the journal
  • Performs initial screening
  • Makes the final decision on all manuscripts
  • Ensures compliance with COPE and ICMJE standards

Co‑Editors

  • Assist with initial screening
  • Select appropriate reviewers
  • Evaluate reviewer reports
  • Provide recommendations to the Editor‑in‑Chief

Decision‑Making Process

The Editor‑in‑Chief makes the final decision after considering:

  • Reviewer recommendations
  • Co‑Editor assessment
  • Ethical and scientific standards

Appeals

Authors may appeal decisions by submitting a written justification. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor‑in‑Chief and one independent Co‑Editor.

Ethical Compliance

HJNM follows international standards for publication ethics, including:

  • COPE Code of Conduct
  • ICMJE Recommendations
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
  • Helsinki Declaration

Misconduct (plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication) is handled according to COPE guidelines.

Contact Information

Editorial Office Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine Aristotelous 24A, Thessaloniki, Greece, PC 54623 Email: hjnm@nuclmed.gr