Scientific merit
Is the question important, and are the methods appropriate to answer it?
Peer review at AJCR
For Reviewers
Guidance for experts who help AJCR evaluate scientific rigor, relevance, transparency, and practical value.
Reviewer pathway
Interested in reviewing for AJCR?
Tell us about your expertise and make yourself available for appropriate manuscripts.
Become a ReviewerWhat we look for
Review the science, not just the manuscript.
AJCR reviewers assess whether a study is methodologically sound, clearly reported, ethically conducted, and relevant to cancer research and care—particularly in African and resource-constrained contexts.
Originality
Does the work contribute meaningful new evidence, interpretation, or implementation insight?
Clarity
Can readers understand what was done, why it was done, and what the findings support?
Ethics
Are approvals, consent, conflicts, and important study limitations handled transparently?
Relevance
Does the manuscript matter to cancer research, policy, systems, clinical practice, or populations?
Data & analysis
Are the data adequate, the analysis appropriate, and the conclusions proportional to the evidence?
Review process
What happens after you accept an invitation.
Read the scope first
Confirm the manuscript falls within your expertise and that you can complete the review within the requested timeframe.
Check conflicts
Decline if a personal, financial, institutional, or scholarly conflict could reasonably affect your review.
Evaluate systematically
Separate major scientific concerns from reporting improvements and minor editorial suggestions.
Make the recommendation useful
Explain the evidence behind your recommendation so authors and editors can act on it.
Ethics & confidentiality
Reviewer responsibilities
Open peer review
AJCR uses open peer review. Reviewer and author identities are disclosed in accordance with journal policy.
Confidential manuscripts
Manuscripts remain confidential before publication and must not be shared outside the review process.
AI tools
Do not upload confidential manuscripts to external AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured unless AJCR has explicitly permitted that use.
Conflicts of interest
Disclose relevant conflicts promptly and decline the review when independence cannot reasonably be maintained.
Recognition
Reviewer contributions matter.
- Annual acknowledgment of AJCR reviewers
- Reviewer certificates upon request
- Opportunities for deeper editorial involvement as the journal grows
Reviewer resources
Ready to participate?
Create or update your AJCR profile, add your areas of expertise, and enable the reviewer role so the Editorial Office can match you with suitable manuscripts.