The International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine (IJOTM) follows a single-blind peer review model. In this system, reviewers know the identities of the authors, but reviewer identities are not disclosed to the authors. All submissions are assessed through an editorial and peer review process designed to ensure scientific quality, ethical integrity, clinical relevance, and clarity of presentation.
Publication Frequency
IJOTM publishes one volume per year, consisting of four issues. The journal is published on a quarterly basis.
Accepted articles are scheduled for publication in the upcoming issue of the journal following completion of the editorial and production process.
Editorial Screening
After submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial screening, which normally takes one week. During this stage, the Editorial Office and the Editor assess whether the submission is complete, written in suitable English, aligned with the journal’s scope, and compliant with the journal’s basic ethical and formatting requirements. Manuscripts may be returned to authors for technical correction if essential information or files are missing.
The Editor also considers the originality, scientific relevance, and overall suitability of the manuscript for external peer review. Submissions that fall outside the journal’s scope or do not meet the journal’s minimum editorial standards may be declined at this stage.
External Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass initial screening are assigned to a handling editor or an Editorial Board member with relevant subject expertise. The handling editor selects two to three independent reviewers with appropriate knowledge of the manuscript topic.
Where a submission includes complex analyses, advanced methodology, or specialized statistical content, the manuscript may also be evaluated by a statistical advisor or another expert consultant.
The peer review stage normally takes 17 weeks. During this period, reviewers assess the manuscript for originality, scientific merit, methodological rigor, ethical standards, clarity, and contribution to the field of transplantation medicine.
Editorial Decision
After the reviewers’ reports are received, the handling editor evaluates the comments and makes a recommendation. Based on the peer reviewers’ assessments and the editor’s evaluation, the journal may issue one of the following decisions:
accept;
minor revision;
major revision; or
reject.
Reviewer comments and editorial recommendations are sent to the corresponding author. When revision is requested, authors are expected to submit a revised manuscript together with a clear, point-by-point response to the reviewers’ and editors’ comments.
Revised manuscripts may be assessed by the handling editor alone or may be returned to the original reviewers when further external evaluation is needed.
Final Decision and Production
The final decision on a manuscript is made by the Editor-in-Chief or the designated editor following consideration of the reviewers’ reports, the handling editor’s recommendation, and any additional specialist advice obtained during review.
Once a manuscript is accepted, it enters the production stage, which includes copyediting, formatting, and proof preparation. A galley proof is sent to the corresponding author for final review and approval before publication.
Accepted papers are published in the upcoming issue of the journal.
Review Timeline
The journal’s standard editorial timeline is as follows:
Initial screening: approximately 1 week after submission
Peer review process: approximately 17 weeks
Total time to decision before production: approximately 18 weeks, excluding any time required for author revision
These timelines are intended as general editorial targets and may vary depending on reviewer availability, the extent of revisions required, and the complexity of the manuscript.
Commitment to Quality and Fairness
IJOTM is committed to a fair, timely, and academically rigorous peer review process. The journal seeks to provide authors with constructive expert feedback while maintaining high standards of scientific and ethical evaluation across all submissions.