Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies

The Ukrainian Journal of Nephrology and Dialysis (UJND) supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in scientific research and scholarly publishing.

This policy has been developed in accordance with:

• the Law of Ukraine “On Academic Integrity” No. 4742-IX of 18 December 2025;
• Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 56 of 19 January 2026 “On Amendments to the Procedure for Forming the List of Scientific Professional Publications of Ukraine”, registered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 28 January 2026 under No. 129/45523;
• the Recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Publishing.

1. General Principles

• AI may be used as a supporting tool but must not replace scientific judgment, professional expertise, or human responsibility.
• AI systems, chatbots, and other AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.
• Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, appropriate citation, and scientific validity of all material submitted to the Journal, regardless of whether AI tools were used.

2. Use of AI by Authors

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or other AI-assisted technologies when they have been used to:

• write, rewrite, paraphrase, or substantially edit manuscript text;
• create or substantially modify images, figures, or other visual content;
• create tables or computer code;
• analyze or interpret data;
• generate other substantive components of the manuscript.

Authors must carefully review and verify all content generated or modified with AI. They remain responsible for any errors, bias, inaccurate statements, plagiarism, fabricated data, or incorrect references produced by an AI system.

AI-generated output must not be used as a primary scientific source. All references and sources suggested by AI tools must be verified by the authors against the original publications.

Routine automated spelling, grammar, or formatting functions that do not generate new content or alter the scientific meaning of the manuscript do not require separate disclosure.

3. AI as a Research Method

When AI, machine learning, or another AI-based algorithm forms part of the research methodology, its use must be described in sufficient detail in the Methods section.

Where relevant, authors should report:

• the name and version of the software or AI model;
• the algorithm or model used;
• the sources and characteristics of the data;
• training, testing, and validation procedures;
• key model parameters and performance metrics;
• procedures used to verify and validate the results.

The description should provide sufficient information for appropriate scientific assessment and, where possible, reproducibility.

4. Disclosure of AI Use

At submission, authors must indicate whether generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in preparing the manuscript.

If such technologies were used to generate or substantially modify manuscript content, authors must include a separate “Use of Artificial Intelligence” statement before the References.

The disclosure should specify:

• the name of the AI tool;
• the purpose of its use;
• where relevant, the part of the manuscript or type of work for which it was used.

Example:

Use of Artificial Intelligence: During manuscript preparation, the authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) for language editing and improvement of readability. All AI-assisted content was reviewed and edited by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final content of the manuscript.

If generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were not used, no separate disclosure statement is required in the published article.

When AI forms part of the research methodology, its use must also be described in detail in the Methods section. A general AI disclosure statement does not replace appropriate methodological reporting.

5. Use of AI by Reviewers

• Submitted manuscripts and all associated materials are confidential.
• Reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript or confidential parts of it to external AI systems when confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured.
• AI must not replace the reviewer’s professional judgment.
• Reviewers must comply with the Journal’s policy on AI use and request permission from the Journal before using AI technology to facilitate peer review.
• If an approved AI tool is used to assist in preparing a peer-review report, its use must be disclosed to the Journal.
• Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy, reasoning, and conclusions of their reviews.
• If reviewers identify reasonable concerns regarding undisclosed or inappropriate AI use by the authors, they should report these concerns to the Editorial Office.

6. Use of AI by Editors and the Journal

• Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, editorial correspondence, and peer-review materials.
• Editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts or confidential material to external AI systems when confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured without the authors’ explicit permission.
• AI tools may be used only to support editorial processes.
• AI must not independently make decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts. Responsibility for all editorial decisions remains with the Journal’s editors.
• If the Journal uses AI for substantial copy-editing or other production processes that may affect published content, authors should be informed of such use.

7. Undisclosed or Inappropriate Use of AI

Undisclosed AI use will be assessed according to its nature, extent, and possible effect on the scientific integrity of the work.

The use of an AI tool is not, by itself, an automatic reason for manuscript rejection.

Before publication, the Editorial Office may:

• request clarification from the authors;
• require an appropriate or revised AI disclosure;
• request correction or additional verification of parts of the manuscript;
• reject the manuscript if a substantial breach of academic integrity is established.

Intentional concealment of substantial AI use, presentation of AI-generated text, images, models, data, or other results as the authors’ own original work, fabrication of data or references, or other inappropriate use of AI may be considered a breach of academic integrity.

If such concerns are confirmed after publication, the Journal may take appropriate post-publication action, including correction, an editorial notice, or retraction.

8. Automated Detection of AI-Generated Content

• The Journal may use automated tools to support editorial screening of submitted manuscripts.
• The output of an automated AI-detection tool alone is not considered sufficient evidence of academic misconduct.
• Editorial decisions will be based on an overall assessment of the manuscript, the available evidence, and, where appropriate, explanations provided by the authors.