JALA Completes Ninth Year of Publication

Abstract

6A JALA Decem This issue marks nine years of publication for JALA. The six issues published in 2004 offered lab automation professionals unique information and insight via 20 original reports, 21 technical briefs, 11 technology reviews, three JALA Tutorials, six feature stories, close to 30 pages of literature highlights, 75 pages of World News, and 30 pages of other news. Throughout the entire year, issue after issue, page after page, JALA continued to serve as a testament to the expertise, energy and enthusiasm of willing and able volunteers. Volunteers fuel the momentum and success of our Journal and our association. In 2004, JALA and its readers benefited from the active support and participation of four guest editors, nearly 200 authors, 70 manuscript reviewers, and 28 editorial board members. Guest editors, in particular, made important contributions this past year. We benefited from their expertise and ability to fill their special issues with a well-rounded variety of articles that collectively illuminated a continuum of different perspectives on a common theme. Most readers seem to agree the results were outstanding, and that the planning and guidance of these guest experts added important value to pertinent subject areas. Their specialized knowledge helped readers explore and understand current trends in automation and cellular immunology, automation in academics, information technology and informatics, and it gave readers a taste of the breadth and depth of educational opportunities available at ALA’s annual LabAutomation conference. Because the field of laboratory automation embraces many different incarnations, JALA’s volunteer publishing team worked hard in 2004 to