Article Processing Charges | Insights in Biology and Medicine

Insights in Biology and Medicine (IBM) is a Gold Open Access journal. To sustain high-quality editorial, production, hosting, indexing, and preservation services while keeping articles free for readers worldwide, a single Article Processing Charge (APC) is payable only upon acceptance.

The standard APC is USD 2,949 per accepted manuscript, reflecting the journal’s established transparent funding model. No fees are charged prior to acceptance.

When charged: After formal acceptance and prior to publication.
What it covers: Peer-review management, professional editing/typesetting, hosting/DOIs/indexing, and long-term preservation.
Reader cost: Zero — all content is open access under CC BY 4.0.

What the APC Covers

Service	Description	Coverage
Peer Review Management	Coordinating expert reviewers and editorial oversight	Full coverage
Production	Copyediting, typesetting, figure optimization, quality assurance	Full coverage
Online Hosting & DOI	Article landing pages, persistent identifiers, SEO/indexing	Full coverage
Preservation	Long-term archiving via preservation networks	Full coverage
Author Services	ORCID integration, metadata distribution, repository support	Full coverage

These components mirror the previously published “Sustainable Funding Model” on the journal’s legacy site.

No Hidden Fees

No submission fees or page charges.
No color figure surcharges.
Optional third-party services (e.g., language editing, graphical abstracts) are author-selected and external.

Important: Invoice is issued only after acceptance; paying before acceptance is not required.

Waivers & Discounts

IBM is committed to equitable participation in open access publishing. The journal offers full and partial waivers, including automatic support for authors from specific economies and case-by-case consideration for genuine hardship.

Program	Eligibility	Benefit	Process
Full Waiver	Corresponding author from low-income countries	100% APC waiver	Request during submission
Partial Waiver	Lower-middle-income countries	50% reduction	Request-based with affiliation details
Discretionary Waiver	Documented financial hardship	Case-by-case	Formal request with justification
Institutional Membership	Affiliation with partner institutions	~20% discount	Automatic via membership code or institutional billing

Details reflect waiver language previously displayed on subpages of the legacy site.

Timing: Request waivers/discounts during initial submission so that the acceptance invoice reflects the approved amount.

Payment Terms & Methods

Due: After acceptance and before publication.
Methods: Major cards, bank transfer, and institutional purchase orders (where available).
Receipts/Invoices: Pro-forma on acceptance; official receipt upon reconciliation.

Refunds & Special Circumstances

APCs are generally non-refundable after production begins, but the journal maintains a fair refund policy for duplicate payments, billing errors, or publisher-initiated withdrawals. Exceptional circumstances (e.g., disasters, serious illness) may be considered for discretionary refunds.

For complete details, see the Refund Policy page.

Open Access, Licensing & Funder Compliance

All articles are published under CC BY 4.0, enabling broad reuse with attribution and ensuring compatibility with major funder mandates.

Attribution example: “© The Author(s) 2025. Distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the APC due?

Only after your manuscript is formally accepted. You’ll receive an invoice at that time.

Can my grant pay the APC?

Yes. Many funders permit APCs; confirm with your grants office.

What if I cannot pay the APC?

Apply for a waiver or discount during submission; eligibility includes low-income settings and genuine hardship.

Is there a submission fee?

No. IBM does not charge submission or page fees; the APC supports open access after acceptance.

Are there hidden costs for color figures?

No. Color and standard figure handling are included in the APC.

Questions & Billing Support

For APC invoices, payments, or waiver questions, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Submit a Manuscript Open Access Policy

APC Summary (At-a-Glance)

Item	Value
Standard APC	USD 2,949 (payable upon acceptance)
Waivers	Full (LIC), Partial (LMIC), Discretionary (hardship), Institutional discounts
Hidden Fees	None — no submission/page/color charges
License	CC BY 4.0
Refunds	Permitted for duplicates/errors and defined exceptional cases

Plain-language note: You never pay to submit. If accepted, a single APC of USD 2,949 funds peer review, production, hosting, indexing, and preservation. Waivers are available.