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Editorial

Case Western Reserve

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As Molecular Endocrinology completes it tenth Anniversary year, the transition to the journal’s third editorial staff is well underway. Congratulations and thanks are due to Tony Means and the team of managing editors who served during his tenure: Susan Organ, Gretchen Daugherty, and Beverly James. Under their stewardship, the journal set new standards for efficient manuscript processing and for soliciting fair and timely reviews by which to identify outstanding work in molecular endocrinology. Tony and his staff have continued and enhanced the superb reputation established by the founding editor-in-chief, E. Brad Thompson. According to the most recent report on impact factors from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Molecular Endocrinology ranked 94th of 4,730 biomedical journals and second among journals that publish primary research data in the fields of endocrinology and metabolism. Simply put, Molecular Endocrinology is a vital and respected contributor to the scientific community. This record of accomplishment provides a healthy challenge for the new editors and myself as we begin our tenure as stewards of this fine journal. We are keenly aware that we must safeguard and, if possible, raise the scholarly standards set by our predecessors. We must demonstrate integrity, fairness, and a willingness to entertain new ideas or new ways of thinking about existing scientific problems. These are benchmarks of good scholarship.

Although it would be possible for the editors to work alone to implement our vision for the journal, our goal is to achieve it through a partnership that extends from the editors and members of the editorial board to the readership of Molecular Endocrinology. The journal must be viewed as responsive, as well as responsible, to its constituents. In short, we need your input as much as we need your manuscripts. We hope to form a partnership with our readers that will create a dynamic and continually evolving journal dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly science.

Molecular Endocrinology will continue its emphasis on molecular signaling mechanisms within the endocrine system, but we are also committed to expanding the scientific boundaries of our discipline. Many studies are being done in molecular medicine with physiological overtones that warrant publication in Molecular Endocrinology. Initiatives in the human and mouse genome projects that impact on endocrinology also have a place in the journal. Furthermore, many efforts in biotechnology, especially in the area of functional genomics, impact on endocrinology and therefore merit consideration for publication in Molecular Endocrinology. While these are only a few examples of important new areas, the editors and I can think of no better way to usher in the new millenium than to actively solicit manuscripts that expand the frontiers of molecular endocrinology.

Minireviews that have appeared in selected past issues of Molecular Endocrinology have proven extremely valuable because of their timeliness. We will continue to publish these short articles and, whenever possible, will use them as vehicles for introducing new areas of investigation. By 1999 we hope to devote two or three issues of the journal to selected topics of special interest. The June 1997 Special Anniversary Issue of Molecular Endocrinology is an excellent demonstration of the appeal of a thematic approach. We would also like to publish short rapid communications, especially when they describe new avenues of investigation. We would greatly appreciate any feedback on these proposed changes.

We also have some more practical, but no less ambitious, goals with regard to manuscript handling. Our ultimate intent is to develop a completely electronic submission and review process. We hope that by facilitating the submission and review of manuscripts, we will make the journal even more responsive to its readership. To aid us in implementing the first phase of this change, we urge authors to submit all manuscripts on diskette in addition to a printed version of the text.

Our editorial team will include Managing Editor Kathryn Schultz and Editorial Assistant Leslie Switalski. Both are dedicated to working with our authors and reviewers in a timely, courteous, and professional manner. I am also fortunate to be joined by five new editors: John Cidlowski, Olli Jänne, Kelly Mayo, JoAnne Richards, and Jeffrey Rosen. They are excellent scientists with a wide range of expertise in molecular signaling mechanisms and other topics relevant to the journal. We look forward to the challenge of following in the footsteps of Brad Thompson and Tony Means and their colleagues, and hope to see the journal reach new heights of accomplishment. Achieving this goal will require an interactive and active partnership with our contributors and readers. I invite your participation and look forward to working with you.

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