It is a pleasure and an honor to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief of our distinguished journal. I follow in the footsteps of some outstanding former editors, and I would like to thank Kevin A. Roth for his excellent stewardship of the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC) over the past 5 years. His advice has been of great value as I familiarized myself with the tasks ahead. As you can see, not only is there a change of Editor-in-Chief, but the format has changed, along with our transition to publication by Sage Publications. I hope you like the new style.
JHC has a substantial history, and along the way, it has published many long-lived and often referenced papers. There are many JHC publications that can be considered milestones in the development of our science, and in our niche area, we have been considered in the top rank. However, just as the pace of development in biological science has accelerated dramatically over the past two decades, so JHC should adapt and change to increase its high profile. Therefore, while keeping with the tradition of publishing new breakthroughs in imaging, cytochemical and histochemical technique, and microscopy, I want to enlarge the scope of the journal. JHC is considered a cell biology publication, and as a cell biologist myself, I would like to see a significant expansion of this area over my term. To this end, the Aims and Scope of the journal have been modified to accommodate this new direction. Please take a moment to read the revised Aims and Scope in this issue.
There is no doubt this is an exciting time to be a cell and molecular biologist. The scope of our field and its exploitation by disciplines ranging from developmental biology and epigenetics to biomedicine and pathology continue at a stunning rate. Nonetheless, all the various forms of imaging remain an essential part of the armory. Many of today’s high-throughput screens and “omics” depend on visualization methods. Although JHC is an important journal for publishing developments in techniques, it is much more than that. My vision for JHC is a resource of vital information to the wide array of scientists who come under the “cell biology” umbrella. This includes new insights into cellular and molecular function and their utilization in, for example, pathology, immunology, neuroscience, and human disease. Therefore, manuscripts where imaging is used to support novel insights into cellular and molecular function are strongly encouraged. As an indicator that JHC is changing and expanding its horizons, you will see that we now include a new cover format, with a different image each month. Authors of accepted manuscripts are encouraged to submit an image for consideration as a cover figure.
As part of our goal to serve as an essential resource to biological scientists, another new focus is to publish a series of methodology reviews on a regular basis. These mini-reviews will serve as an up-to-date resource for those using the wide range of techniques covered by JHC. Already we have several lined up for the early part of 2011, including two in this issue. Therefore, I encourage our readers to submit not only original research papers but also methodology mini-reviews, as well as concise reviews covering other recent developments across our field. Please contact me through the Editorial Office if you would like early feedback on a prospective review.
Before going any further, I need to thank the JHC Editorial Board members and reviewers. They have a vital role in maintaining the standards of the journal and give up precious time to do so. Having been on the Editorial Board of this and other journals, I know well that doing a good job of reviewing is a substantial commitment. I am immensely grateful to all who have contributed to the success of JHC in this way. We have some new Editorial Board members joining us in 2011, bringing further expertise and experience with them. I thank them also for their support of JHC.
Grateful thanks are also due to the team in Seattle. Tanda Jaipean (Managing Editor), Meg McGough (Marketing & Subscriptions Manager), Denis G. Baskin (Executive Editor), and William L. Stahl (Executive Director of The Histochemical Society) have provided me with tremendous support and have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition to a new publisher.
As we move into the next few years, I look forward to a thriving journal, increasing in its appeal, readership, and relevance to the fast-changing world of biological science research and publication. As I mentioned earlier, feedback from authors and readers is welcomed and highly encouraged. Please contact me through the Editorial Office. I thank you, the readers and authors who have supported JHC, and I anticipate a continued and lively partnership for the next 5 years.