Editorial

Abstract

In recent years the journal has grown in stature and this is in part reflected by the journal impact factor (JIF). In 2005 for Veterinary Dermatology the JIF was 1.2 (31/129 in veterinary sciences). It is anticipated that this will improve in 2006. While the JIF is important when choosing a journal to submit material for publication, it is also important to consider who is going to read the article? Well the readership can expect to see in Veterinary Dermatology reviews, scientific papers, brief communications and case reports on diverse topics including the diagnosis, treatment and control of skin disease, skin pharmacology, structure and function of skin, and the production of hides, skins and skin products. If you would like to know more about the journal and particularly about the submission of an article then please go to http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/VDE and follow the links to author guidelines. Prospective authors should be aware that we use a peer-review process and send articles out to one of three co-editors who then sends to two independent reviewers – we may also use a statistician as required. Reviews are sought and a decision made thereafter by the co-editor – in some cases we may seek an opinion from another reviewer if required. The electronic process of submission and the editorial office based in Blackwell seek to make the process of review as quick and as transparent as possible. We welcome your articles on all aspects of veterinary dermatology. We are very grateful to all the board members and reviewers who give their time and expertise to review papers. In the last journal issue the abstracts from the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology-European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD-ECVD) congress were published. Unfortunately, there was an error in transcription of one of the abstracts, which is regretted. It should have read: Della Salda L., Venuti A., Simeone P., Romanucci M., Malatesta D., Rizzo C., Palmieri C., Bongiovanni L. A novel papillomavirus identified in multiple skin neoplasms in twin goats (Veterinary Dermatology 2006; 16: 355). I am pleased to announce that the following people have joined the editorial board: John Angus, USA; Rosario Cerundolo, USA; Silvia Colombo, Italy; Cecilia Friberg, USA; Andrew Hillier USA, Judith Nimmo, Australia and Desmond Tobin, UK. They bring a variety of skills and experience to the board and we look forward to their support of the journal. Tim Nuttall, UK, has also been reappointed. We are also very pleased to welcome back to the board Gail Kunkle, who had a term on the board in the past and returns to share her considerable experience and expertise. We would like to express our great debt of gratitude to and appreciation for the members of the editorial board who are retiring from the board this year. They include Didier Carlotti, Carol Foil, Linda Frank, Keith Hnilica, Neil McEwen, Keith Thoday, Claudia von Tscharner, and Ton Willemse. They have given many hours of their time and expertise to review articles and submitted a great many of their own articles too. Without their efforts the journal would not be as successful as it is today. Peter Hill has stepped down as a co-editor and Joan Rest has stepped down as editor-in-chief (EiC), and they both remain on the board. The journal has thrived under their supervision and with their hard work. In the relatively short time that Joan has been the EiC, she has made many changes including the establishment of an electronic submission process, appointing and expanding the roles of translators and statisticians, making changes to improve the quality of the images, and arranged an agreement with the WCVD6 Hong Kong organizing committee to publish the proceedings in Veterinary Dermatology. A great many review articles have been published or commissioned and this has helped to promote the JIF and sales of the journal. The journal has increased in size in terms of page numbers and the editorial board has increased with more co-editors appointed, and the publishing schedule is much faster. There has also been reformatting of the journal to improve printing and paper legibility. There has recently been the establishment of an office for the journal based in Blackwell in Oxford. As EiC, Joan has worked tirelessly to improve the quality and status of the journal. We are indebted to her for all her efforts to promote the journal and the discipline of veterinary dermatology. It is a great privilege to take up the role of EiC and to work with the many people who contribute in various ways to the journal. I hope that you will feel able to support the journal as an author, reviewer, editor, reader, sponsor or correspondent. Please feel free to contact the journal through the journal office in Oxford via the e-mail address given below.