Expression of Concern Policy
Expression of Concern Policy
Some investigations take months. An Expression of Concern warns readers that a serious question has been raised about a paper, without pre-judging the outcome — so nobody builds on a disputed result while the facts are established.
Last reviewed August 2026 · Applies to all submissions to JMVRA (ISSN 2984-8911)
An Expression of Concern sits between doing nothing and retracting. It is used when a credible concern has been raised that JMVRA cannot yet resolve — and when leaving readers unwarned in the meantime would be worse than publishing an unfinished answer. It is not an accusation, and it is never intended to be permanent.
When One Is Published
- An investigation is under way at the authors’ institution, and its outcome will take longer than readers can safely wait.
- Evidence of unreliable findings exists but is inconclusive — enough to warrant a warning, not enough to justify retraction.
- The authors’ institution will not investigate, or does not respond, leaving the concern unresolvable by any other route.
- The authors cannot be reached despite repeated attempts to the published contact addresses.
- The investigation is unlikely to be fair or conclusive — for example where the only body able to investigate has a conflict of interest.
- Raw data cannot be produced when legitimately requested for verification, contrary to the Data Availability Policy.
Where It Sits Between the Other Notices
What the Notice Says
Which Article
Title, authors and DOI of the paper concerned, stated unambiguously.
The Nature of the Concern
What has been questioned, in factual terms and without characterising the authors.
Current Status
What is being done, by whom, and what would resolve it.
What It Does Not Mean
An explicit statement that the notice is not a finding of misconduct.
How It Ends
An Expression of Concern is always temporary. Every one has exactly three possible endings, and each is published as its own linked notice so the record shows how the matter closed:
| Outcome | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Concern resolved | The notice is withdrawn and replaced by a statement confirming the paper stands. The withdrawal is as prominent as the original notice — a cleared author should not be left under a permanent cloud. |
| Partly substantiated | A correction is published and the Expression of Concern is withdrawn. |
| Substantiated | The paper is retracted and the retraction notice supersedes the Expression of Concern. |
Fairness to Authors
- Authors are contacted before publication of the notice and given the opportunity to respond or resolve the concern.
- Wording is factual and neutral. The notice describes what is unresolved, never what the authors are presumed to have done.
- The authors’ position is included where they provide one, so readers see both sides.
- Investigation is active, not indefinite. A concern is pursued to a conclusion rather than left standing.
- The decision can be appealed under the Complaints & Appeals Policy.
Where the Expression of Concern Policy Applies
The stages of a paper’s journey this policy governs are highlighted.
Applies at: After
Expression of Concern Policy in Brief
An Expression of Concern is an interim notice that alerts readers to a serious question about a published paper while it is being investigated. It does not pre-judge the outcome or imply wrongdoing by the authors.
It is always temporary. When the investigation ends, the notice is lifted, replaced by a correction, or escalated to a retraction — and the outcome is recorded publicly.
