The Annals of Biomedical Science and Engineering (ABSE) operates under a Gold Open Access model, providing immediate and unrestricted access to published articles. To support editorial operations, peer review management, digital archiving, and website maintenance, the journal applies Article Processing Charges (APCs). This Charges Policy outlines transparency in pricing, inclusions, waiver eligibility, and refund mechanisms in accordance with DOAJ, OASPA, and COPE best practices.

1. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Authors are required to pay a publication charge upon acceptance of their article. The APC covers all stages of the publication process, including peer review, editing, DOI assignment, XML conversion, long-term archiving, and online hosting.

Article Type
Case Report / Clinical Trial	USD 2949
Short Communication / Case Study	USD 2949
Opinion / Editorial	USD 2949

All APCs are charged only after manuscript acceptance, ensuring that editorial decisions remain unbiased and based solely on scientific merit.

2. What the APC Covers

Editorial and peer-review management.
Professional language editing and formatting.
DOI assignment and CrossRef registration.
Online publication with permanent hosting.
Open-access distribution and indexing inclusion.
Long-term preservation in Portico and LOCKSS.
Graphic design and digital production support.

3. What the APC Does Not Cover

Author’s research expenses, datasets, or experimental materials.
Printing or hard-copy delivery of the journal (optional and chargeable separately).
External translation or reformatting services requested by authors post-publication.

4. Payment and Invoicing

After acceptance, authors receive an invoice by email with detailed payment instructions. Payment can be made via:

International bank transfer (preferred method).
Online payment gateway (PayPal or Stripe).
Institutional or funding body remittance.

All payments are acknowledged with an official receipt issued by Heighten Science Publications Inc.

5. Waivers and Discounts

ABSE supports equitable access to publishing and offers waivers or discounts to authors from low-income countries or with demonstrated financial constraints. Please refer to the Waiver Policy for detailed eligibility criteria and application procedures.

6. Refund Policy

Refunds may be granted under exceptional conditions such as technical issues, duplicate payments, or cancellation before peer review. Please see the Refund Policy for further details on eligibility and process.

7. Publication Ethics and APC Transparency

All editorial decisions are made independently of payment status. APCs are charged only after the peer-review process concludes with an acceptance recommendation. ABSE does not accept submission or review fees.

“APC payments do not influence editorial outcomes, ensuring objectivity, fairness, and ethical integrity in all publication decisions.”

8. Institutional and Funder Support

ABSE encourages institutions, libraries, and research funders to cover APCs on behalf of authors. The journal complies with open-access funding policies of:

National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA)
European Research Council (ERC)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Plan S and cOAlition S initiatives

9. Fee Waiver for Special Issues or Invited Papers

Authors invited to contribute to special issues, editorials, or thematic collections may receive partial or full waivers at the discretion of the editorial board.

10. Currency and Tax

All APCs are quoted in USD. Applicable taxes or transaction charges are borne by the author or funding body as per payment method and country regulations.

11. Policy Review and Updates

This Charges Policy is reviewed annually to ensure transparency, fairness, and alignment with open-access publishing standards. Updated versions are made available on the journal’s website.

12. Contact Information

For Inquiries: [email protected]
For Waivers: [email protected]
Editorial Office: Annals of Biomedical Science and Engineering (ABSE), USA