Introduction of new Editors‐in‐Chief, Epilepsia

Abstract

Gary W. Mathern, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery and Psychiatry & BioBehavioral Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. Epilepsia © ILAE Astrid Nehlig, PhD, Research Director, INSERM U 663, Paris, France. Epilepsia © ILAE Epilepsia, first published in 1909, has been a leading resource for epilepsy research as “the journal of the International League Against Epilepsy” (ILAE). The journal is known for publishing high quality original research that influences the multidisciplinary international field of epilepsy. In addition, Epilepsia fulfills part of the education mission of the ILAE by ensuring that health professionals, patients and their care providers, governments, and the public worldwide have the knowledge they need in understanding, diagnosing, and treating persons with epilepsy (2009 Strategic Plan: www.ilae.org/Visitors/Documents/StrategicPlan-FinalJuly-09.pdf). As the new Editors-in-Chief, beginning in July 2013, we will strive to strengthen the great traditions built into the journal by previous Epilepsia editors. Our vision is to capture the highest quality research and educational materials related to epilepsy, and to make those materials available to as many people who need that information around the world as possible. At the same time, we wish to brand Epilepsia as the most innovative, respected, and widely read medical journal focused on epilepsy and related neuroscience fields, and to be seen as leaders in the dissemination of information for a disease-focused professional journal. Over the coming months, readers will notice gradual changes to the journal and the ILAE's publication portfolio designed to achieve our vision and goals. For example, the League has recently joined forces with Epileptic Disorders, which has been acquired by the ILAE to further develop its educational mission. The editors of Epilepsia and Epileptic Disorders, under Alexis Arzimanoglou, are already working together to enhance the mission of both journals, especially in providing up-to-date and useful educational material. For Epilepsia, we will also be working on ways to improve visibility for authors on their published research, especially new investigators, and to broaden and enhance our readership. To accomplish our goals and to be innovative we seek your assistance. As readers, we ask that if there are topics or areas of emerging epilepsy-related clinical and basic science research that you think are important, to please let us know by sending an email indicating the topic and why it is important for our international audience ([email protected]). We are especially interested in neuroscience topics related to epilepsy that new readers to Epilepsia would find important. Likewise, as authors of new research with high impact, we encourage you to submit your work to Epilepsia and to Epileptic Disorders. We will make sure that your research receives the greatest exposure and audience (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/epilepsia). Remember, Epilepsia and now Epileptic Disorders are your journals as ILAE members. We thank the outgoing editors, Phil Schwartzkroin and Simon Shorvon, for doing an outstanding job for Epilepsia, and for providing us as new editors with a solid foundation and reputation for quality on which to build. The League and its members are grateful for the groundbreaking initiatives that Phil and Simon have introduced to make Epilepsia an international success. As the new Editors-in-Chief, we look forward to the opportunities and challenges of this position, and encourage readers and authors to work with us to make the League's journal the source for epilepsy-related information and education.