When the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences came on the scene 50 years ago, in January 1961, it was a time of optimism and new beginnings. That same month, just two miles from the American Pharmaceutical (now Pharmacists) Association headquarters in Washington, DC, where the journal was published, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States. The journal that emerged under the sure hand of then-editor Edward G. Feldmann was both new and old. It had a new name, having previously been called Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition, bore a polished new look, and contained a breadth of new features, including editorials, review articles, and technical articles. The scope was expanded to enhance its scientific content and value. But it was shaped from a foundation built as far back as 1852, when APhA was established and started publishing scientific papers. Ed guided JPharmSci™ to prominence as the premier journal in the field. Those were heady days for pharmaceutical science as it gained recognition in the broader scientific community. Pharmaceutics, known then as physical pharmacy, had recently evolved into a rigorous discipline led by the legendary professor Takeru Higuchi, also one of JPharmSci™'s most prolific contributors and the author of the article readers have cited the most from JPharmSci™: “Mechanism of Sustained-Action Medication,” published in 1963. Until the 1960s, pharmaceutical science was viewed by the pharmaceutical industry as a support service that developed traditional dosage forms. During that decade, it became clear that new drug delivery technologies, such as controlled-release formulations, could be the basis of new products, and pharmaceutics emerged as a dynamic research field. Over the ensuing years, the journal has met changing needs and scientific pursuits while maintaining its focus. Today, APhA is proud to have sustained and improved the oldest journal in the pharmaceutical sciences and one of the most influential. It's gratifying to think about the role JPharmSci™ plays in sharing findings that promote the development of safe and effective medicines. The science contained within its pages—and now disseminated online—forms the basis for the ongoing development of pharmaceuticals and is the nexus of pharmacy practice. From a journal that, in its earliest incarnations, dealt primarily with plant substances, JPharmSci™ became a key source of information and an important publishing outlet for pharmaceutical scientists—and other disciplines—in academia, industry, and government. In the 1960s, the combination of physical pharmacy and biopharmaceutics enabled a rational approach to dosage form design. Soon after, pharmacokinetics emerged as a leading discipline, and JPharmSci™ was where pioneers in the field published their work. Leslie Z. Benet, professor of biopharmaceutical sciences and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco, co-author of the second-most-cited paper from JPharmSci™ (“Noncompartmental Determination of the Steady-State Volume of Distribution,” August 1979), remembers lugging a suitcase full of JPharmSci™ issues to a meeting in New York in 1968 so he could read all the pharmacokinetics papers beforehand. Advances in pharmacokinetics and the introduction of the clearance concept in 1973 marked a turning point in the pharmaceutical sciences. Even after the Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics was launched in 1973, key researchers, such as Benet, continued to publish in JPharmSci™ to share with a broader audience breakthrough concepts and experimental data in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, cellular and molecular biopharmaceutics, and drug metabolism. The advent of biotechnology in the 1980s and 1990s opened a new door for JPharmSci™. After the revolutionary discovery that drugs could be produced from cells, pharmaceutical science was—and continues to be—instrumental in determining how to produce biotech drugs consistently, keep them stable, store and ship them, and deliver them to the patient. Editor Ron Borchardt made a conscious decision to expand the journal's role in biotechnology, including therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and vaccines, so that today, JPharmSci™ is the premier publication outlet for biotechnology. Overall, the journal focuses on physical pharmacy, pharmaceutical engineering, materials science, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, biopharmaceutics, cellular and molecular biopharmaceutics, drug delivery, drug metabolism, pharmaceutical biotechnology, computer modeling, and medicinal chemistry. These study areas have a fundamental and ongoing influence on pharmacy practice. APhA was initially the sole publisher of JPharmSci™. To adapt over time and to maintain the quality and stature of the journal, we've struck relationships with other publishing houses. From 1994 to 1999 the journal was jointly owned and published by APhA and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Since 2000, JPharmSci™ has been published on behalf of APhA by Wiley InterScience, which has all the electronic tools and expertise in place to produce top scientific journals. Today JPharmSci™ is also the official journal of the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and is published in cooperation with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), affiliations that have significantly increased JPharmSci™'s scientific base and international exposure. While I was a senior director on the APhA staff from 1987 to 1992, Ed Feldmann stepped in twice to serve as interim editor of JPharmSci™ when the post was vacated. His office was downstairs from mine, and each time we crossed paths I enjoyed his warm personality and welcoming smile. I didn't realize at the time that he'd been editor in 1961 and was the force behind the modern journal we know and respect today. I could see, though, that he was dedicated to the journal and tireless in his efforts to publish outstanding material. Ed, who has a BS in chemistry from Loyola University in Chicago and an MS in pharmacy and a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, joined the APhA staff in 1959 after 4 years with the American Dental Association. During his 26-year career with APhA, Ed wore many hats, including director of the National Formulary, chairman of the National Formulary Board, and vice president for scientific affairs. He was editor of JPharmSci™ from 1961 to 1974 and contributing editor from 1974 to 1985, after which he left to establish a private consulting organization. He served as interim editor in 1987 and 1991–1994. As both a staff member and a consultant, he was instrumental in producing the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. Today, he is retired and living in Sarasota, Florida. As I prepared to write this commentary, I leafed through early issues of JPharmSci™ and was particularly drawn to the editorials Ed wrote each month, covering everything from the state of pharmaceutical research, to the proliferation of food fads, the importance of lifelong learning, and the role of animals in the lab. Ed is still paying attention! Last year I wrote an editorial about the similarities between pharmacists' understanding of drug interactions in 1971 and their understanding of pharmacogenomics today. Shortly after, Ed sent me his original copy of Evaluations of Drug Interactions—A Pilot Project, which he produced in 1971 to seed interest among scientists and the profession regarding this advancing body of knowledge. Today, thanks in large part to Ed Feldmann and his colleagues, pharmacists “own” drug interactions. We can only hope to be as influential with pharmacogenomics. APhA is tremendously grateful to William Higuchi for serving as editor of JPharmSci™ from January 1994 to March 2001, bringing to the table his impressive credentials and attracting articles from prominent colleagues and former students. Bill believes fervently in the importance of this journal and worked hard to boost its role in the international community of pharmaceutical scientists. Bill received his PhD in physical chemistry in 1956 at the University of California-Berkeley. He joined his older brother Takeru Higuchi at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy from 1956 to 1958, serving as a postdoctoral research fellow, and later returned to Wisconsin as assistant professor of pharmaceutical chemistry (1959–1962). Areas of research included drug release from solids, diffusion through heterogeneous barriers, and the kinetics of aggregation in oil-in-water emulsions and suspensions. His professorial career continued at the University of Michigan in 1962 and the University of Utah in 1982; he retired in 2007 and is currently professor emeritus of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Utah. Bill helped define the scope of pharmaceutics and establish its significance in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and therapeutics. During his tenure as editor of JPharmSci™, Bill had a hand in many improvements, including adding popular reviews that summarize contemporary research in the pharmaceutical sciences. When I was named APhA executive vice president and chief executive officer late in 2008, it was comforting to know that JPharmSci™ was in the capable hands of Ron Borchardt. I agree with the words of my predecessor, John A. Gans, who said at the time of Ron's appointment, “Having a scientist of Ron Borchardt's stature at the helm of JPharmSci™ gives APhA great confidence that the journal will remain the premier international journal of the pharmaceutical sciences.” Ron's innovations and dedication over the past decade have surpassed our expectations. The Solon E. Summerfield Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Kansas, Borchardt earned a BS in pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967 and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Kansas-Lawrence in 1971. He joined the Kansas faculty in 1971 and has remained there ever since. He is the author of 500 scientific publications and 460 abstracts, and the editor of 10 books. His research interests include drug design and drug delivery. Awards he's received include Fellow (1988), Research Achievement Awards in Biotechnology (1993) and Medicinal Chemistry (1994), and Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award (1997) from AAPS; Takeru and Aya Higuchi Memorial Lectureship Award from APSTJ-Japan (1993); Paul Dawson Biotechnology Award (1997) and Volwiler Research Achievement Award (1998) from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; Hoest-Madsen Medal (1999) from FIP; Research Achievement Award and Takeru Higuchi Research Prize (2003) from APhA; and Smissman-Bristol-Myers Squibb Award from ACS (2003). He also has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark (2002), Katholieke University, Leuven, Belgium (2004), and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (2006). When Ron took over the editorship of JPharmSci™ in 2001, he and the associate editors re-evaluated the journal's scope. They agreed that JPharmSci™ should continue to publish manuscripts addressing these two critical questions:•What are the physical and biological barriers that limit the access of drugs to their therapeutic targets?•How can drugs, dosage forms, and delivery systems be designed to maximize their therapeutic efficacy? One of Ron's many accomplishments as editor has been guiding JPharmSci™ into the Internet age. From a system where manuscripts were submitted and shared with reviewers by regular mail and FedEx, JPharmSci™ has moved to an entirely online operation. Manuscripts are submitted via a web-based system provided by Wiley, and from there they flow from the editorial office at The University of Kansas to an associate editor and on to reviewers in a matter of minutes—no matter where in the world these people are. And they could be anywhere, because Ron has also worked hard to expand the international reach of the team that works behind the scenes on the journal. From five associate editors, all based in North America, who were in place a decade ago, the ranks have expanded to 12, with 25% hailing from Europe, 17% from Asia, and 58% from North America. This group, which represents diverse scientific fields, manages articles and other types of submissions, including reviews and commentaries. Ron also systematically expanded the editorial advisory board (EAB) to broaden its international composition and speed the manuscript review process. From 49 members in 2001, the EAB has expanded to 156 today based in North America (58%); Europe (24%); Asia (14%); and Australia/New Zealand (4%). All internationally recognized experts in their respective areas, EAB members serve 3-year terms and their reappointment is based on performance, not politics. We've enjoyed a significant increase in the number of submitted manuscripts, from 390 new manuscripts processed in 2001 to 805 in 2009. Likewise, 204 were published in 2001 and 395 in 2009. Acceptance criteria have become more stringent; in 2001, approximately 55% of manuscripts were accepted; in 2009, the acceptance rate was approximately 45%. The increase in submitted manuscripts has challenged us to increase the number of pages dedicated to their publication, while assuring that the quality remains high. Where would a journal like JPharmSci™ be without the efforts of researchers and authors? In 2006, the journal began publicly recognizing recipients of the Ebert Prize in an editorial and photo. The Ebert Prize, established in 1873, is the oldest pharmacy award in the United States and one of the most prestigious. It is given annually by the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science to the authors of an article published in JPharmSci™ that describes particularly new, original, and novel findings with a high probability of significantly impacting the pharmaceutical sciences. Presented at the APhA Annual Meeting, the award consists of a silver medallion bearing the likeness of Albert Ethelbert Ebert, the APhA president in 1872–1873 who donated funds to establish the prize. In 2007, the journal started honoring “true giants” in the pharmaceutical sciences by publishing issues dedicated to them and the science they fostered. Former colleagues and students of these eminent scientists serve as guest editors and contributors, shedding light on their achievements. So far, dedicated issues have focused on the following individuals:•2007 The late Professor David J.W. Grant (University of Minnesota).•2008 Professor William Higuchi (University of Utah).•2009 Professor Michael Pikal (University of Connecticut).•2010 Professor Stephen R. Byrn (Purdue University). Scientific debate is critical for examining findings and expressing other interpretations. An advocate of well-crafted opinion pieces, Ron invites readers to submit commentaries rebutting articles published in the journal. He feels it's critical to be able to say, “I don't agree with those conclusions.” Open discussion strengthens science, but it can also affect policy. Decision makers at pharmaceutical companies, the Food and Drug Administration, and other institutions need to hear intelligent, well-founded arguments about topics that affect human health. In 2009, articles downloaded the most from the JPharmSci™ website were reviews and commentaries. Ron's passion for open communication is paralleled by his frustration over the growth of ethics violations in the scientific community. Plagiarism and simultaneous submissions of journal articles seem to be increasing in frequency. In an effort to protect the reputation and integrity of JPharmSci™, authors must now sign a Confirmation of Manuscript Content Form that certifies their adherence to basic rules of scientific ethics. Anyone who violates these rules faces the possibility of being banned from publishing in JPharmSci™ and being reported to authorities at their institution. Over the years, JPharmSci™'s impact factor—a measure reflecting the average number of citations—has increased greatly, holding firm at 3.0 for the past 3 years. These “citation metrics” are useful for assessing a journal's standing, but with the transition of scientific journals from print to electronic format, “usage metrics” (article downloads) are increasingly important. In that area, JPharmSci™'s performance is outstanding. From 2001 to 2005, the number of article downloads increased 19% per year, and since 2006, the increase rate has been 13%. The total number of downloads was 393,363 in 2009. In 2007, Associate Editor John Carpenter of the University of Colorado suggested adding Global Health commentaries to the journal, an idea sparked in part by his visit to Haiti to check on an immunization campaign. He proposed a way to bring attention to health care needs in developing countries and inspire more pharmaceutical scientists to work toward improving global health. News about viral diseases such as AIDS, swine flu, bird flu, and West Nile virus has raised our consciousness of global health issues. So have the efforts of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, whose Global Health Program strives to save lives in poor countries and invests in research and development of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics. JPharmSci™'s Global Health Commentaries focus on the efforts of companies, charities, and individuals to improve health care in developing countries. In 2008, the journal launched a series of commentaries about translational medicine to provide readers with clinical trial information to help move science from the laboratory bench to the bedside. Associate Editors Jenny Chien (Eli Lilly and Company) and Rodney Ho (University of Washington) have identified experts to write these commentaries and are working with Wiley InterScience on a web-based searchable database of relevant ongoing clinical trials, which was launched in 2008. The most gratifying aspect of JPharmSci™ is that, at its core, it's about finding practical ways to treat and cure human illness. And that hasn't changed since it was launched 50 years ago. Looking to the future, the journal will continue to explore ways to formulate and deliver important medications and will expand into new areas, such as small interfering RNA, nanotechnology for drug delivery, and optimizing the delivery characteristics of drug candidates during drug discovery. Global health and translational medicine will remain important, as well. JPharmSci™ is committed to providing academic, industrial, and government scientists with the latest experimental breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical sciences and supplying a forum to discuss key scientific, regulatory, and societal issues. It's no exaggeration to say that this journal provides the essential bedrock on which the future of pharmacy practice—and indeed, the entire field of medicinal therapy—ultimately rests. Tabled 1JPharmSci™: Some Key Facts• JPharmSci™ receives roughly 850 submissions a year.• Since 2001, the number of manuscripts per year published in JPharmSci™ has increased from approximately 200 to approximately 400.• The JPharmSci™ reviewer database currently includes approximately 3,000 scientists whose areas of expertise are defined by over 800 keywords.• From 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009, the employment demographics of authors submitting manuscripts were 79% academic, 15% industry, and 2% government.• From 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009, the geographics of authors submitting manuscripts were 36% North America, 32% Asia, and 23% Europe. Open table in a new tab Tabled 1JPharmSci™ Editors: 1961–PresentEdward G. Feldmann 1961–1974Mary H. Ferguson 1975–1982Sharon G. Boots 1982–1986Edward G. Feldmann 1987J. Arthur F. de Silva 1988–1990Edward G. Feldmann 1991–1994William I. Higuchi 1994–2001Ronald T. Borchardt, 2001–Present Open table in a new tab Tabled 1JPharmSci™ Associate Editors: 2001–PresentBradley D. AndersonRodney HoKenneth L. AudusC. Russell MidaughMarcus E. BrewsterGary M. PollackHarry G. BrittianThomas RadesJohn CarpenterTetsuya TerasakiWilliam CharmanElizabeth M. ToppJenny ChienAkira TsujiFerdinando GiordanoIjeoma F. UchegbuDavid J. W. GrantJashvant UnadkatRichard GuyGaylan M. Zentner Open table in a new tab