Case Study | Karger & the STM Integrity Hub

Strengthening Policy Enforcement at Scale

Karger is an international publisher focused on advancing health sciences through accessible, high-quality research. In line with its commitment to research integrity, Karger partnered with STM’s Integrity Hub to strengthen policy enforcement and respond proactively to emerging threats, such as unauthorized simultaneous submissions.

Challenge

While Karger has long required authors to confirm exclusive submission, the rise in duplicate submissions — often tied to manipulative publishing practices — has underscored the need for scalable tools capable of detecting violations early and at volume. The challenge: surface duplicate submissions swiftly, coordinate responses when needed across journals, and do so without compromising editorial efficiency.

Solution 

With support from STM’s Duplicate Submission Checker tool, Karger implemented a cross-journal integrity screening system in 2024. Duplicate submission alerts now flow through a centralized RIPE (Research Integrity/Publication Ethics) team, supported by: 

• A shared dashboard (replacing email-based coordination) 

• Tools such as Crossref Similarity Check, ImageTwin, and STM’s On-Demand Screening application (ODS) 

• A structured decision tree to assess author response, submission timing, and additional integrity concerns 

• All author responses and editorial decisions are now guided by standard operating procedures, and communication is managed efficiently using platforms like JIRA. 

Impact

• From July 2024 to February 2025, Karger received over 250 duplicate submission alerts.
• Where insufficient responses or no replies were received from authors, simultaneously submission manuscripts were withdrawn or rejected.
• As experience with the alerts has grown, workflow changes have made integrity checks more efficient and consistent.
• Editorial teams now have clear processes for escalations, appeals, and documentation—reducing ambiguity and reinforcing trust in Karger’s publishing standards.