HEALING
Official Journal of IICAT Kolkata
Open Access Journal
Open Access Journal
All manuscripts must be submitted exclusively through the online submission portal. For this, the author needs to create an account in the manuscript submission portal if submitting for the first time, or log in if an existing author in this submission portal. This integrated digital platform manages the entire publication workflow, from initial submission to final publication. Prospective authors must first create an account, after which they can upload manuscripts and supplementary materials, track submission status, receive editorial decisions, and submit revisions.
Critical Submission Requirements:
Our multi-stage editorial process ensures rigorous evaluation while maintaining transparency and efficiency throughout the review cycle.
Initial Screening Phase (2-3 Days): Upon submission receipt, the manuscript undergoes preliminary assessment:
Outcome: Manuscripts failing to meet basic criteria are returned for correction; those passing screening proceed to peer review within 2-3 days.
Double-Blind Peer Review (2-3 Weeks): Manuscripts undergo rigorous evaluation through our double-blind review system:
Revision Process: Authors receiving revision requests must:
To uphold the integrity and impartiality of the peer review process, the journal has established specialised conflict-of-interest protocols for submissions involving members of the journal's editorial personnel. If a manuscript is submitted by a member of the Editorial Board, the review process will be managed directly by the Editor-in-Chief, who will exercise full editorial discretion. In the case of a submission authored by the Editor-in-Chief, the process is handled independently by a designated Associate Editor, under the oversight of a senior editorial figure. Furthermore, should any potential conflict arise between an author and an assigned reviewer (e.g., prior collaboration or a direct personal relationship), the editorial office will exercise its discretion to replace and reassign the reviewer to prevent any bias. These measures ensure that every manuscript receives an objective and fair evaluation.
Authors may formally appeal an editorial decision under specific, substantiated circumstances. Valid grounds for an appeal include: a perceived substantive error in the manuscript evaluation; a demonstrable misunderstanding of the research methodology or findings; or evidence of a procedural irregularity within the review process. To initiate an appeal, a formal written request must be submitted to the Editorial Office. This submission must meticulously outline the grounds for appeal, supported by clear evidence, and directly address the specific reasons stated in the original decision letter. Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of the initial decision notification. The resolution process targets a timeframe of 1-2 weeks, during which the appeal undergoes an independent evaluation by a senior editorial committee. The final, binding determination is rendered by the Editor-in-Chief. Contact em@spjinternational.co
The Healing Journal maintains a transparent and balanced intellectual property policy that protects author rights while enabling broad dissemination. Authors retain copyright for their original work. They are explicitly granted permission to archive preprints and postprints in institutional or subject repositories and may freely use their published material for teaching purposes and in future publications. Concurrently, authors grant SPJ Publications an exclusive license for commercial re-use. All articles are published open access under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. This license permits others to share and adapt the work for any non-commercial purpose, provided appropriate credit is given, a link to the license is provided, and any changes are indicated. For any commercial use of the published material beyond the scope of this license, written consent must be obtained directly from permissions@spjinternational.co.
The Journal maintains the highest standards of research integrity through policies aligned with international best practices. Before peer review, all submissions undergo mandatory similarity checking using iThenticate/Turnitin. While a similarity index below 10% for self and 15% overall (excluding bibliographies) is a general threshold, each manuscript receives a detailed, contextual examination of matched content to ensure proper attribution and original scholarship. The journal maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on plagiarism. Manuscripts found to contain significant unoriginal or unattributed material before publication will face immediate rejection, with formal notification sent to all authors. In cases of plagiarism discovered post-publication, the article will be retracted. The journal will notify the authors' affiliated institutions and may impose a temporary embargo on further submissions from the involved parties. For systematic or severe ethical violations, the journal will report the matter to relevant academic oversight bodies and funding agencies. Suspected ethical breaches, including plagiarism, can be reported confidentially to the Editor-in-Chief at editor@spjinternational.co. All reports will be investigated thoroughly and discreetly.
Research Involving Human Participants: All studies conducted with human subjects must strictly adhere to the highest international ethical standards. This includes compliance with the ethical principles established in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and the specific guidelines for the protection of research participants issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Authors are also responsible for following all applicable institutional and national regulatory requirements.
Required Documentation: Authors must provide clear and verifiable evidence of ethical approval. This includes submitting the name of the approving Institutional Review Board (IRB) or independent ethics committee, the official approval number, and the date of approval. Documentation of informed consent obtained from all participants is mandatory, along with a description of the specific measures implemented to ensure participant confidentiality and data protection. For Case Reports, Case Series, or any manuscript containing potentially identifiable patient information (including clinical images), obtaining written, informed consent specifically for publication is compulsory. A statement confirming that such consent was secured must be included within the manuscript text.
Clinical Trial Registration: To promote transparency, reduce bias, and prevent redundant research, the journal requires the prospective registration of all clinical trials.
Registration Requirements:
Policy on Animal Research: The journal does not accept manuscripts reporting research conducted on animal subjects. The journal's scope is exclusively dedicated to human medicine, clinical imaging sciences, and related technological innovations for human application. Any manuscript based primarily on animal experimentation will receive an administrative rejection upon initial editorial screening and will not be sent for peer review. Authors are advised to consider this policy before submission.
A Data Availability Statement is required for every manuscript submitted to the journal. This statement must clearly explain how other researchers can access the data from your study. You may state that your data is publicly available in an online repository (please include the link or accession number), that it is included in the supplementary files of your submission, that it is available from you upon a reasonable request, or that it cannot be shared due to specific ethical, legal, or commercial restrictions (which you must justify).
The journal strictly adheres to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship criteria. To qualify as an author, an individual must meet the following conditions:
Important Notes: Individuals who contributed solely to tasks such as general supervision, funding acquisition, technical support, or writing assistance do not automatically qualify for authorship. They should instead be acknowledged in the relevant section of the manuscript. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors meet these criteria and have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
To ensure the integrity and stability of the scholarly record, the list of authors is considered final upon the completion of the manuscript submission to the healing journal. The journal will only consider changes to the authorship list, such as additions, deletions, or reordering, in exceptional circumstances. Acceptable justifications include a documented, genuine error in the original list (e.g., an accidental omission), substantial changes in contributor roles that occurred during major revisions, or evidence that an individual did not meet the journal's authorship criteria. To request a change, the corresponding author must submit a formal request to the editorial office at em@spjinternational.co. This request must be signed or otherwise agreed to by all original authors and all newly proposed authors. It must include a detailed justification for the change and any supporting evidence, such as a reassessment of contributions. The editorial office will review the request and retain final, absolute discretion on whether to authorise any changes to the published authorship.
To ensure clarity and facilitate a structured review process, manuscripts submitted to the Innovative Journal of Medical Imaging must be organised in the following sequential order. This format is mandatory for all article types unless otherwise specified.
To ensure consistency and facilitate the peer review and production process, all manuscripts submitted to the healing journal must adhere to the following technical formatting guidelines. Non-compliance may result in the return of the manuscript for correction before peer review.
The Healing Journal publishes different types of scholarly work. Authors should carefully select the most appropriate category for their submission and adhere strictly to the specific requirements outlined below.
Original Research Article: Original research articles are intended for the presentation of new and original findings derived from empirical studies, clinical investigations, or technological innovations in the field of medical imaging. These manuscripts typically follow a comprehensive scientific structure and are expected to contribute meaningful advancements to existing knowledge. The total word count should be between 2,000 and 4,500 words, excluding abstract and references. A structured abstract of 250–300 words is mandatory, divided into Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. The main manuscript must strictly follow the IMRaD format, including Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Authors may include up to 8 combined tables and figures, and the reference list should range from 15 to 50 citations, ensuring adequate scientific support.
Review Article: Review articles are designed to provide a broad yet critical synthesis of existing literature on a specific topic in medical imaging. Rather than presenting new experimental data, they analyse and interpret previously published studies to highlight developments, trends, and research gaps. The word limit ranges from 2,500 to 6,000 words. A 250-word abstract is required, which may be structured or unstructured depending on the topic. The internal structure is flexible, but the content should be logically organised to present an overview of the field, critical evaluation of literature, and future research directions. Authors may include up to 8 tables and figures, supported by 30 to 70 references.
Systematic Review: Systematic reviews are highly structured scholarly works that aim to collect, evaluate, and synthesize all relevant research studies addressing a clearly defined research question. These reviews follow a transparent and reproducible methodology to ensure scientific accuracy and reliability. The word limit for this category is between 3,000 and 7,000 words. A structured abstract of approximately 300 words is required. Manuscripts must strictly adhere to PRISMA guidelines to ensure proper reporting standards. The reference list may include 40 to 100 studies, and authors can include up to 10 tables and figures, including a mandatory PRISMA flow diagram that outlines the study selection process.
Case Report: Case reports describe unique, rare, or educational clinical cases that offer valuable insights into medical imaging practice. These reports usually focus on a single patient and highlight unusual imaging findings, diagnostic challenges, or novel interpretations. The word limit ranges from 1,000 to 2,500 words. An unstructured abstract of 150–200 words is required. The manuscript should be organised into Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, and Conclusion sections. Ethical compliance is essential, and written informed consent from the patient or guardian must be clearly stated. Authors may include up to 5 tables and figures, with 8 to 20 references supporting the discussion.
Case Series: Case series involve the detailed presentation of multiple related clinical cases to identify patterns, demonstrate emerging trends, or evaluate new imaging approaches. These studies help in understanding conditions that may not be well documented in single case reports. The word limit is 1,500 to 3,500 words. A structured abstract of 200–250 words is required. The manuscript should generally include Introduction, Case Descriptions, Comparative Analysis or Discussion, and Conclusion sections. Authors may use up to 8 tables and figures, supported by 15 to 30 references to strengthen scientific context.
Technical Note: Technical notes are concise articles that focus on innovations in imaging techniques, modifications in existing protocols, or brief methodological advancements. They are intended to share practical and useful technical improvements with the scientific community. The word limit ranges from 600 to 1,500 words. An abstract is optional, but if included, it should not exceed 150 words. The structure is brief and focused, usually covering Introduction, Description of the Technique or Method, and Applications or Discussion. Authors may include up to 2 tables or figures, with 10 to 15 references supporting the content.
Letter to the Editor: Letters to the Editor are short academic communications that provide comments, critiques, or additional insights related to previously published articles in the journal. They may also highlight brief scientific observations or issues of general interest to readers. The word limit is between 300 and 800 words, and no abstract is required. The format is direct and correspondence-based, often beginning with a reference to the article being discussed. Authors may include 3 to 8 references, and only one table or figure is allowed if it is essential to support the point being made.
Pre-Submission Verification: Before submitting your manuscript, please verify the following as a final checklist: ensure all listed authors have reviewed and approved the final version and agree to its submission; confirm the manuscript represents original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere; have all necessary ethical compliance documentation (e.g., IRB approval, patient consent) ready; check that all references are properly formatted in Vancouver/NLM style and correctly cited; verify that all figures and tables are numbered sequentially and referenced in the text; and, if applicable, secure a certificate from a professional language editing service.
Upon final acceptance, you will receive a formal email notification. Your manuscript will then enter the production phase, which includes copyediting, typesetting, and formatting, a process typically completed within 2-3 weeks. Following this, you will receive a PDF proof for your final review and approval. You are required to submit any corrections within a 48-hour window. After proof approval, the article will be published online first (ahead of print) and subsequently assigned to a formal journal issue. For inquiries regarding tentative issue assignment, please contact editor@spjinternational.co approximately two weeks after your acceptance notification.
The Journal has established a clear policy for addressing errors in published articles, categorised by their nature and impact on the scientific record. It is the corresponding author's responsibility to report any discovered error to the editorial office promptly, ideally within 72 hours of discovery, providing a detailed description and all corrected information.
General Principles:
Author Listing Protocol:
Reference Examples:
Editorial Office:
Portal Access:
Last Updated on: 14/12/2025