Charges Policy
Insights in Biology and Medicine (IBM) is a Gold Open Access journal. There are no submission fees, no page charges, and no color figure charges. An Article Processing Charge (APC) is payable only upon acceptance to cover editorial management, high-quality production, persistent identifiers, hosting, and long-term preservation.
IBM offers waivers and discounts for authors with limited resources, including those from low- and middle-income countries and unfunded projects. See Waivers & Discounts.
What the APC Covers
- Editorial triage, scope and ethics checks, plagiarism screening
- Peer-review coordination, reviewer guidance, decision letters
- Transparency: conflict-of-interest and reporting checklist validation
- Technical editing and typesetting; quality control
- Article landing page, HTML/PDF, figure optimization, accessibility tagging
- Metadata deposits (Crossref DOIs), indexing exports, and SEO
- Immediate CC BY 4.0 open access
- Long-term archiving (e.g., PKP PN / LOCKSS-style networks)
- Platform hosting, security, backups, and analytics
- Article-level metrics and post-publication updates
- ORCID integration, funding/grant metadata, and repository guidance
- DOI-linked press, social media, and collection features when selected
APC Schedule (Payable Upon Acceptance)
| Article Type | Discipline Group | Standard APC (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Research / Clinical Trial / Systematic Review | Life Sciences & Medicine | 1899 | Complex typesetting, extended QC, and metadata deposits included. |
| Original Research | Technology / Computational Biology | 1499 | Includes code & data linkage checks where provided. |
| Original Research | Engineering & Bioengineering | 1499 | Figures, equations, and unit checks included. |
| Short Communication / Methods / Mini Review | All groups | 999–1199 | Expedited production; range depends on complexity. |
| Case Report / Observational Study | Medicine | 999 | Patient consent and anonymization checks required. |
| Perspective / Editorial / Commentary / Letter | All groups | 399–699 | Light production; rapid publication aim. |
Currency: USD. Invoices may show local tax where applicable (see Tax & Invoicing). Institutional prepayment and membership options available.
No Hidden Fees
- No submission fee
- No color charges
- No page charges
- No figure count surcharge within reasonable limits (very large appendices may trigger a one-time handling fee only with author approval)
Waivers & Discounts
IBM is committed to equitable access to publishing. Waiver/discount decisions do not influence editorial outcomes.
| Program | Eligibility | Benefit | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic LMIC Waiver | Corresponding author affiliated in a low-income country (per World Bank list) | Up to 100% APC waiver | Upload institutional affiliation proof; request during submission |
| Lower-Middle Income Discount | Corresponding author in lower-middle income country | 50–75% discount | Flag in submission metadata; provide affiliation details |
| Unfunded Research | No external funding; small lab/startup group | 25–50% discount | Brief justification + supervisor/PI email in cover letter |
| Institutional Agreement | Author belongs to a partner institution or consortium | Prepaid APC or negotiated discount | Enter membership code on acceptance; invoice routed to library |
Timing: Request a waiver/discount during initial submission so it appears on the acceptance invoice automatically.
Payment Terms & Methods
- When due: After acceptance, before publication. Production begins immediately; publication proceeds upon payment or institutional guarantee.
- Methods: Bank transfer, major credit/debit cards, or institutional purchase order (PO) where available.
- Payee details: Provided on the pro-forma invoice. Include invoice number in payment reference.
- Receipts: Issued automatically once the payment is reconciled.
Refunds & Cancellations
APCs are charged for accepted articles and generally non-refundable after publication-ready files are produced. Fees may be refunded in full or part if:
- The publisher withdraws the article before publication for reasons not attributable to the authors
- Duplicate payment is made
- A transaction error occurs
Retractions for research integrity or ethical reasons are not eligible for APC refunds.
Tax, Compliance & Invoicing
- Invoices are issued in USD; local VAT/GST or withholding taxes may apply per jurisdiction.
- Provide correct billing address, tax IDs (e.g., VAT/GST numbers), and any procurement notes before invoicing.
- Where institutions require e-invoicing or PO numbers, supply details at acceptance to prevent delays.
Charges Policy — FAQ
Do reviewers or editors receive APC discounts?
Editors and reviewers may receive recognition credits or fee discounts at the publisher’s discretion; this does not affect editorial decisions.
Can I split payment across grants or departments?
Yes. Contact our billing team to allocate partial payments and issue split invoices.
What if my waiver request is pending at acceptance?
We proceed with production while the waiver is finalized; publication occurs upon invoice confirmation or institutional guarantee.
Are fast-track fees offered?
No expedited decision fees are charged. Turnaround targets apply uniformly to ensure fairness. Some special issues may set internal schedules, but there is no “pay-for-priority.”
Questions & Billing Support
General queries: [email protected] · Billing & invoices: [email protected]
Policy Summary (At-a-Glance)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Submission fee | None |
| APC payable | Upon acceptance |
| APC range | USD 399–1899 (type & complexity dependent) |
| Waivers | Available (LMIC, unfunded, institutional agreements) |
| Hidden fees | No color/page charges |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |