© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Editorial |
Goals of the New Editors
As the Editorial Offices of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology move from Los Angeles and San Diego to Iowa City, we look back on changes in the Journal and look forward to challenges and goals. Alan Fogelman, with Sam Rapaport, Jack Hawiger, Göran Bondjers, Giulio Gabbiani, and James Scott, have been extraordinary Editors. This view was supported by the overwhelming majority of subscribers in a recent survey. The Journal has the highest impact factor of the journals that focus on atherosclerosis and lipids, and the number of manuscripts submitted has almost tripled during Dr Fogelman's editorship. The Journal has growing recognition in studies of interaction of blood with the vessel wall, and it is emerging as a major journal for studies of vascular biology. As a scientific community, we owe Drs Fogelman, Rapaport, Hawiger, Bondjers, Gabbiani, Scott, the Associate Editors, and the Editorial Board a hearty thank-you.
What are our aims and goals for ATVB? We plan to publish basic and clinical research related to:
- vascular biology, including normal mechanisms and alteration during
disease. Vascular biology, which is a rapidly expanding area of
research, will be a major focus of the journal.
pathophysiology and complications of atherosclerosis.
thrombotic mechanisms in blood vessels, particularly in relation to interaction of blood and the vessel wall.
Authors and readers of ATVB have broad interests. Some appropriate areas of research include studies of normal vascular biology, risk factors for atherosclerosis, dyslipidemias, thrombotic and antithrombotic mechanisms in blood and blood vessels, and vascular abnormalities associated with human disease. Appropriate disciplines include vascular biology, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cardiovascular physiology, morphology, imaging, and epidemiology. Important new approaches, including use of transgenic and gene-disrupted animals, and gene transfer to blood vessels and vascular tissues, will receive special emphasis.
The Journal will continue its close ties with the ATVB Council of the American Heart Association and with the European Vascular Biology Association, which are comprised of distinguished leaders in arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. We will continue to have Editorial Offices in the United States and Europe and, as a reflection of the emergence of outstanding research in the Pacific Rim, an Editorial Office has been established in Japan. Giulio Gabbiani and James Scott have agreed to continue as Editors in Europe, and Akira Takeshita has agreed to be the Editor in Asia. Authors generally will submit manuscripts to the closest Editorial Office, but authors have the option to submit manuscripts to any of the Editorial Offices.
Authors and reviewers will notice an important change in the journal. The number of Associate Editors has been reduced from 37 to 3. Beverly Davidson has expertise in gene transfer, Steven Lentz has expertise in thrombotic and antithrombotic mechanisms, and Arthur Spector is assuming responsibilities as Associate Editor of ATVB as his term as Editor of Journal of Lipid Research is completed. The Editor and Associate Editors are all at one institution, which will allow timely (typically daily) discussion of decisions. The Editor and Associate Editors in Iowa City, and the Editors in Europe and Asia, will assign reviewers and make decisions regarding acceptability of manuscripts for publication. Members of the Editorial Board, many of whom have served as Associate Editors or currently serve on the Editorial Board, have been selected based on their expertise in the disciplines that are represented in the journal. In the next issue of the Journal, we will briefly provide criteria for evaluation of manuscripts, which may be useful for authors as well reviewers.
Readers will notice, during the next few months, several changes in the Journal. A few papers will be accompanied by Editorial comments, to highlight and put into context major advances. A few papers will be published as Rapid Publications, that will have high priority for publication and generally will be brief. Letters to the Editor will be considered for publication. The American Heart Association has agreed to publish more papers, during the next few months, to shorten substantially the current delay from final acceptance of manuscripts to publication.
Despite these changes, we emphasize the underlying principles of the Journal, which are unchanged. The Editors are committed to scientific excellence, with rapid and fair decisions. We have assembled a group of Editors, Associate Editors, and distinguished members of the Editorial Board who will work hard to identify and publish excellent papers. We look forward to receiving from you advice and guidance about the Journal.
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