This will constitute my final Dear Reader column for Brain Pathology, at least as the journal's editor. Dr. Arie Perry, from Washington University in St. Louis, will take on the editorship of the journal, officially beginning with the January 2007 issue. (New manuscripts submitted after November 1, 2006 will be edited by Dr. Perry). I have had the pleasure and honor to serve in this capacity since 2001. The experience has been educational, stimulating and eminently enjoyable, even as Brain Pathology has gone through significant changes and challenges. During my term of office, I have tried to expand the scope of the mini‐symposia, and have introduced the Controversies in Neuropathology series of papers—the latter intended to be short mini‐review/position papers on much debated or contentious subjects in our field. We have also started to publish a series of papers on the history of how a more complete understanding of specific neurologic diseases—indeed, insights into their pathogenesis—resulted from diligent, thoughtful work in various neuropathology laboratories; this initiative was first proposed several years ago by the International Society for Neuropathology (ISN) Archivist, Prof. Francesco Scaravilli.
Brain Pathology is a unique and relatively young periodical. It emerged in 1990 as the “brainchild” of Prof. Paul Kleihues, who indeed has often referred to it (rightly so) as his “baby.” It was conceived originally as a forum for major review articles and “mini‐symposia” on selected topics in neuropathology. Like all “babies,” it quickly grew up. As it matured into adolescence, Brain Pathology continued to remain a home for such overview papers, but increasingly published cutting‐edge work in both experimental and diagnostic neuropathology. The journal now consistently ranks among the top periodicals (as judged by impact factor) in both the clinical neurosciences and pathology, and even does well among periodicals that publish only basic neuroscience research. (A periodical's impact factor is not, nor should it be, the sole determinant of a journal's perceived quality, but this magical number is used surprisingly often by authors in deciding where to submit work, and even by academic promotions committees in evaluating the impact of a scientist's published work.) Brain Pathology is one of the best sources of information on cutting‐edge technology that may be (or has been) used to investigate human neurologic disease or relevant animal and in vitro models pertinent to human ailments.
When Brain Pathology moved to UCLA in late 2000, it was a “two‐man operation”—consisting of the managing editor, Duncan MacRae, and myself. All articles were received and handled here. Layout and production of accepted articles were completed entirely by Duncan, who was also pivotal (under Yngve Olsson's capable editorship) in the preparation, layout and publication of many volumes in the popular ISN book series. Final printing and distribution of the journal were in the hands of Allen Press. In 2005, the ISN made the decision to have the journal handled by a large commercial publisher (a decision similar to one that virtually all high‐profile scientific periodicals have made in recent years), and for this purpose settled on a partnership with Blackwell Publishing, based in the United Kingdom. Only a skeletal Brain Pathology office remained at UCLA, while the editorial activities of the journal are now ably handled by Michael Willis at Blackwell's office in Oxford, England. We have also moved to a web‐based system for manuscript submissions, review and disposition. Of interest, it appears that these moves have already led to a significant increase in manuscript submissions to the journal. It also means that Brain Pathology will benefit from the substantial strength in advertising and marketing the journal (and possibly the ISN books), including unique consortium arrangements that Blackwell brings to the table. Thus, Dr. Perry's job, including both its challenges and opportunities, will be much different than the one I inherited. He will present his vision for Brain Pathology in an upcoming Dear Reader. We have been working together for many months, and with helpful input from Michael Willis and other members of the Blackwell team, to ensure a smooth transition of the editorial process.
I owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals who have made my editorship a most enjoyable and educational one, among them Clayton Wiley (who preceded me in this post and has frequently provided helpful advice in the years that followed), Duncan MacRae (an incredibly talented and productive managing editor with whom I had the good fortune to work from 2001–2005; see above) and Michael Willis (the current Blackwell editorial assistant assigned to Brain Pathology). Yngve Olsson has been a beacon of light and inspiration in his dedication to the ISN book series, which one hopes will continue. I appreciate the numerous thoughtful, scholarly and timely reviews of complex papers—some of the submitted work judged to be good, some not—provided by both the journal's associate editors and many ad hoc reviewers.
Finally, I am grateful to the many authors who, having completed the hard work that goes into a credible scientific manuscript describing a scientific achievement of which they are justifiably proud, looked at possible placement for their study and concluded, ‘I think I’ll try Brain Pathology’.
President
Prof Francoise Gray Hopital Lariboisière‐Universitaire Paris VII F‐75475 Paris cedex 10 France Tel.: (+33) 01 4995 8421 Fax: (+33) 01 4995 8536 E‐mail: francoise.gray@lrb.ap-hop-paris.fr
Secretary General
Prof Seth Love Department of Neuropathology Institute of Clinical Neurosciences Frenchay Hospital Bristol BS16 1LE United Kingdom Tel.: (+44) 0 117 975 3823 Fax: (+44) 0 117 975 3760 E‐mail: seth.love@bris.ac.uk
Treasurer
Dr Marcus Tolnay Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology Schonbeinstrasse 40 CH‐4003 Basel Switzerland Tel.: (+41) 61 265 2896 Fax: (+41) 61 265 3194 E‐mail: mtolnay@uhbs.ch
Project Secretary
Leila Chimelli Servico de Anatomia Patologica Hospital Universitario‐UFRJ Ilha do Fundao‐Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP 21941‐590 Brazil Tel.: (+55) 21 2562 2450 Fax: (+55) 21 2562 2450 E‐mail: chimelli@hucff.ufrj.br