Article Processing Charge (APC)

Open Access Policy and Article Processing Charges (APC)

In open access publishing, the full texts of published articles are freely available to readers worldwide without delay. Publishing an article in this open access journal is subject to an Article Processing Charge (APC), which covers the journal’s scientific and editorial costs. These include article production, editorial services, technical infrastructure, innovation, electronic archiving (from 2003 onward), and customer service.

APC Details

The following publication fees apply:

• Original articles: €500 (VAT included)
• Letters to the Editor: €200 (VAT included)

These fees cover the costs of editorial work, editing, publication (online and print), and long-term archiving.

The corresponding author is responsible for the payment of the APC, either personally or through their institution (or that of a co-author). The APC must be paid after acceptance of the article but before final publication.

Accepted papers will be published according to the current publication queue of Acta Biomedica (i.e., in the next available issue, based on payment order and space availability).

Fast Publication Option

Authors requesting fast publication may opt for an additional service at a fee of €800 (VAT included). This ensures the article is guaranteed publication in the very next issue of Acta Biomedica, regardless of the existing queue.

Note: This fast-track fee is waived for papers designated as publication priorities by the reviewers.

Reduced APC Eligibility

A reduced fee of €300 (VAT included) is only reserved to Authors from low-income countries (according to World Bank Open Data).

No additional costs will be required for priority publication. The evaluation will be based primarily on the high quality of the scientific contribution and the Editor-in-Chief's judgment.

Waivers and Free Submissions

The following types of submissions are exempt from APCs:

• Correspondence to the Editor (NOT Letters to Editor)
• Invited Reviews
• Commentaries and Viewpoints

Final Proof and “Online First” Publication

Before final publication, authors will receive a final proof from the editorial office for review. Once the proof has been approved and the APC has been paid, the article will be published in the “Online First” section of the journal website. This allows early visibility prior to its assignment to a regular issue.

Withdrawal Policy

Authors retain the right to withdraw their article at any stage. However, if withdrawal occurs after editorial and/or peer review, a withdrawal fee of 50% of the APC will apply.

For questions regarding APCs, waivers, or manuscript withdrawal, please contact the Managing Editor, Dr. Valeria Ceci (valeriaceci@mattiolihealth.com)

Misconduct, Plagiarism, and AI-related Violations

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of all references included in their manuscripts. In cases where serious inconsistencies are found—such as non-existent references, fabricated data, or citation of unpublished material—the editorial office reserves the right to suspend or terminate the editorial process at any stage.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of references must be explicitly declared under the Declarations section of the manuscript. The editorial office may conduct verifications both before and after pre-acceptance by the Editor-in-Chief. Manuscripts found to include AI-generated references without disclosure may be subject to immediate suspension.

In the event of confirmed misconduct, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, or fraudulent citation practices, no refund will be granted for any editorial or publication services already rendered. Furthermore, if the manuscript is withdrawn due to misconduct after acceptance or final processing, the publisher reserves the right to apply a penalty fee equivalent to twice the standard publication fee.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ITALIAN RESEARCHERS