A New Publishing Medium for the Endocrine Society

It is a privilege to share with you the inaugural issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society (JES). As we conclude the celebration of the centennial year of the Endocrine Society, it is fitting that we witness the launch of a new medium for publication—an open access journal.

The Endocrine Society was founded in 1916 and first published Endocrinology in 1917, 100 years ago. By all accounts, Endocrinology has been a great success, providing a high-impact, peer-reviewed journal for our field. In the ensuing years, the Society launched additional journals, including the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) in 1941, Endocrine Reviews (Endocr Rev) in 1980, Molecular Endocrinology (Mol Endocrinol) in 1987, and Hormones and Cancer (Horm Cancer) in 2010. These publications have been the bedrock of scholarly publications in our field. We are indebted to the many Editors, Editorial Boards, and Reviewers who have provided critical assessment and peer review of our research.

Going forward, JES will undoubtedly play a central role in the dissemination of research and knowledge in our field. Publishing is rapidly transitioning from bound journals delivered by mail to online sources of information. As our readers search for topics, they expect ready access to information as provided by open access journals such as JES. Our authors want their research to be reviewed and published quickly. Open access journals provide this type of efficient turnaround. Another trend is the globalization of science and medicine. Our colleagues practice and teach endocrinology in every corner of the world. Research is also a global effort, as we build upon the ideas and results of scientists in many different countries. From my perspective, one of the most appealing features of JES is that the information will be accessible to anyone in the world with access to the Internet. Many scientists and physicians are not part of institutions with large libraries, and they cannot afford to maintain subscriptions to multiple medical and scientific journals. An open access journal like JES equalizes access to information, independently of the economic status of a particular country or person. It is encouraging to see the Endocrine Society carry out this experiment in publishing as it enters its second century.

As you peruse this inaugural issue, you will see features that reflect the broad spectrum of our field. There are prismatic case reports that remind us to consider rare conditions in the differential diagnosis. There are epidemiologic studies using advanced methods such as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to measure salivary testosterone. In addition to its findings on changes in testosterone during aging, this article reminds us of the ongoing evolution of technologies that advance our field. Since the development of radioimmunoassays, our understanding of endocrine physiology, pathophysiology, and treatment has been inextricably linked to novel ways to measure hormones with greater sensitivity and specificity. A study on the measurement of microRNAs is a reminder to be ever vigilant for biological processes that could not have been imagined a few decades ago. Along with our other journals, we have included a poignant memoriam of Melvin Grumbach, an Endocrine Society President in 1981, a pioneer in pediatric endocrinology, and a friend and mentor to many members of our community.

I hope all of you will consider JES a means to share your research, perspectives, and reviews in the field of endocrinology. I want to thank our outstanding group of Associate Editors and members of the Editorial Board for their engagement with this exciting new journal, as well as their rigorous assessment of current and future submissions. On this birthday of the new journal, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!