At AJNR, we have a long tradition of continuously striving to improve the quality of our journal. In the months to come, based on the feedback of previous Chief and Deputy Editors, Editorial Board members, reviewers, and authors, the AJNR will see a series of transformative initiatives that will enhance the quality, speed, and diversity of the content it delivers to its readers. Today, after extensive consultations and advice, I am excited to share with all of you the first of these improvements, and I wish to express my gratitude to those who have been instrumental in bringing them to fruition.
First and foremost, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Jeff Ross and to the Senior Editors who dedicated their time, knowledge, and expertise to AJNR over the past years: Dr Harry Cloft, Dr Risto Filippi, Dr Thierry Huisman, Dr Nancy Fischbein, Dr Yvonne Lui, and Dr Doug Phillips, as well as Deputy Editor for AI, Dr Peter Chang. Their invaluable contributions helped shape the journal into what it is today. As these friends and colleagues step down, we recognize the lasting impact they have had on the journal and on our field. Dr Lubdha Shah will remain on board as the Deputy Editor. Bryan Comstock will remain our Senior Statistical Editor.
I also wish to thank the current members of the Editorial Board and the current reviewers for AJNR for their outstanding service, and we hope that they will continue to serve as reviewers for the Journal.
The new Editorial Board will ensure that the AJNR remains at the forefront of emerging trends and advances in neuroradiology. The new structure of the Editorial Board is expanded to encompass a broader range of expertise, with 14 teams each focusing on one specific area of neuroradiology:
Emergency Neuroradiology
Neurovascular/Stroke Imaging
Neurodegenerative Disorder Imaging
Ultra-High-Field MRI/Imaging of Epilepsy/Demyelinating Diseases/Inflammation/Infection
Brain Tumor Imaging
Neuropsychiatric Imaging
Pediatric Neuroimaging
Head and Neck Imaging
Spine Imaging and Spine Image-Guided Interventions
Neurointervention
Neuroimaging Physics/Functional Neuroimaging/CT and MRI Technology
Molecular Neuroimaging/Nuclear Medicine
Health Policies/Quality Improvement/Evidence-Based Neuroimaging
Artificial Intelligence
The new Editorial Board reflects my commitment to diversity and inclusivity. I recognize that our field is rich with talent from across the globe, and I am proud to welcome editors with diverse perspectives and experiences to AJNR. This diversity will enrich the content of the Journal, making it more relevant to a global readership.
Along with a new Editorial Board will come a new review process that will leverage the expanded expertise of the new Editorial Board. The new review process is explained on our Web site (https://www.ajnr.org/content/ajnr-academy-reviewers). The goal of this new review process is to reduce the time from submission to editorial decision to less than 3 weeks. We understand the importance of timely dissemination of research findings and are committed to achieving this ambitious timeline.
To ensure a continuous flow of fresh ideas and expertise, we will limit the terms for Senior and Associate Editors (2 years, with a potential extension of 1 year). This approach will result in a regular rotation of editors, allowing us to tap into a wide pool of talent, as well as keeping the content of the Journal vibrant and up to date.
I invite individuals with expertise in neuroradiology to join our community of reviewers. I welcome anyone with relevant knowledge to participate and review a small number of articles (3–4 articles) each year, provided you can complete these reviews within 2 weeks of receiving them. This commitment to rapid reviews is instrumental in achieving our goal of expediting the editorial process and timely publishing.
Our readers need to trust that the AJNR is embracing change and innovation to better serve the neuroradiology community. Our revamped Editorial Board, commitment to diversity and international perspectives, and dedication to faster reviews are all aimed at elevating the quality, dissemination, and access of the Journal. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead, and we invite all neuroradiology enthusiasts to join us in this endeavor. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge in our field.
- © 2023 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
