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Celebrating 100 years of publishing discovery in physiology 1908 – 2008

2007; Wiley; Volume: 93; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1113/expphysiol.2007.041475

1469-445X

David J. Paterson,

Educational Leadership and Innovation

One hundred years on from its first issue and 18 months into my chairmanship of Experimental Physiology, I am pleased to report that the journal is going from strength to strength. I would like to thank authors, reviewers, editors, readers and publication staff for supporting the journal and helping it reach this position. The standard and quantity of work submitted, the quality of reviews and speed of publication turnaround are at the highest level ever. Although our focus is directed towards the future in making the journal internationally competitive, our centenary year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the evolution of Experimental Physiology. In the following few pages,I have asked my predecessors to give brief accounts of key events that occurred during their tenure as Chairman of the Editorial Board. As you will read, their vision has underpinned the foundation on which we now stand. The current challenge of the Editorial Board is to build on the early successes of the journal, and reposition it to meet the needs of competitive 21st Century physiological sciences, given the explosion of post-genomic information. To meet this challenge, we have assembled an internationally recognized Editorial Board of scientists spanning a wide range of expertise from experimental physiology to bioengineering and computational biology. Given the interdisciplinary nature of experimental physiology,we feel it is important we position the journal to reflect current trends in physiology itself. To this end, we have enhanced the scope of Experimental Physiology by taking on the challenge of translation and integration of physiological problems and, in so doing, have encouraged authors to work over different experimental spatial domains to fulfil this mission as highlighted below. We welcome papers that embrace the journal's new orientation of translation and integration. Specifically,we are keen to receive manuscripts dealing with both physiological and pathophysiological work that investigates gene/protein function using molecular,cellular and whole animal approaches. In addition,pertinent methodological papers are encouraged,as are manuscripts that use computational models to further our understanding of physiological processes. We also commission reviews that cover rapidly developing areas of physiology or which update our understanding of classical fields of physiology. In pursuing new goals it is important that we do not detach ourselves from the roots of the journal that were clearly stated by Sir Edward Sharpey-Schafer FRS,the founding Editor. Our commitment to authors is the same as it was 100 years ago. That is, to let authors express their thoughts in a scholarly manner without undue editorial interference, to publish papers that fall in the wider definition of physiology and to maintain the journal's tradition of high-quality illustrations. But above all it is important we heed the words of a past Editorial Chair, David Whitteridge. In his lucid history of the journal, reprinted below, he reminds us that it is the labours of the authors, not of editors, that sell the journal. We echo this sentiment and assure authors that their offerings are welcomed and will be treated fairly. We recognize that, as editors, we are trustees whose duty is to ensure publication of first-class science. The improved quality of the content of Experimental Physiology has seen its impact factor (published in the 2006 Science Journal Citation Reports) continue to rise and its position in the Ranking of Physiology Journals go from 51 out of 71 in 2002 to 33 out of 79 in 2006. The half-life of 5.7 years for papers in Experimental Physiology indicates that interest in these is not short-lived,citation continuing for nearly 6 years after publication. Since moving to the HighWire/Benchpress online manuscript processing system in 2003,ease of submission and speed of review has improved,as has the average time from submission to initial decision. It is now just over 30 days. Within days of acceptance of a manuscript, the authors' pdf file is published online in Physiology in Press (http://ep.physoc.org/physinpress.shtml). The final copy-edited version of papers scheduled for publication in the next issue will appear within approximately 6 weeks at Online Early (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/eph/0/0). The average time from acceptance to publication in the printed bimonthly issue is 57 days. Experimental Physiology can now be accessed at over 5000 institutions worldwide. The full Experimental Physiology archive for 1908–2008 is available online on HighWire (http://ep.physoc.org/contents-by-date.0.shtml). Our international Editorial Board (http://ep.physoc.org/misc/edboard.shtml) has ensured global interest in the journal and increased international submissions. The rejection rate has also been increased to raise the standard of papers published. The increase in themed issues and commissioned reviews,exemplifying the translational direction of the journal,is indicated below. Recent Themed Issues include: Cardiovascular Genomics (2005, 90) Julian F. R. Paton and Mohan K. Raizada Neural Control of the Circulation during Exercise (2006, 91) Peter B. Raven Modelling of Biological Systems (2006, 91) Peter Hunter Sleep Apnoea and Hypertension: Physiological Bases for a Causal Relation (2007, 92) Michael L. Smith We have continued to publish Hot Topic Reviews, Reviews, Exchange of Views, Lectures and Symposium Reports. In 2006 we introduced Viewpoints, which are short articles that comment on a research paper or groups of articles of particular interest. The following recent articles have attracted the most interest. Exchange of Views between: Patrice G. Guyenet, Ruth L. Stornetta, Douglas A. Bayliss & Daniel K. Mulkey (2005). Retrotrapezoid nucleus: a litmus test for the identification of central chemoreceptors. Exp Physiol90, 247–253 and G. B. Richerson, W. Wang, M. R. Hodges, C. I. Dohle & A. Diez-Sampedro (2005). Homing in on the specific phenotype(s) of central respiratory chemoreceptors. Exp Physiol90, 259–266. Review Articles by: Edmund J. Crampin, Matthew Halstead, Peter Hunter, Poul Nielsen, Denis Noble, Nicolas Smith & Merryn Tawhai (2004). Computational physiology and the physiome project. Exp Physiol89, 1–26. M. J. Parkes (2006). Breath-holding and its breakpoint. Exp Physiol91, 1–15. Hot Topic Reviews by: Nathan L. Absalom, Trevor M. Lewis & Peter R. Schofield (2004). Mechanisms of channel gating of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily inferred from protein structure. Exp Physiol89, 145–153. Terry N. Thrasher (2004). Baroreceptors and the long-term control of blood pressure. Exp Physiol89, 331–335. K. G. Murphy & S. R. Bloom (2004). Gut hormones in the control of appetite. Exp Physiol89, 507–516. Patrick H. Maxwell (2005). Hypoxia-inducible factor as a physiological regulator. Exp Physiol90, 791–797. Nanduri R. Prabhakar (2006). O2 sensing at the mammalian carotid body:why multiple O2 sensors and multiple transmitters?Exp Physiol91, 17–23. Lectures by: Jerome A. Dempsey (2005). Crossing the apnoeic threshold: causes and consequences. Exp Physiol90, 13–24. (Julius H. Comroe Memorial Lecture) Michael J. Rennie (2005). Body maintenance and repair:how food and exercise keep the musculoskeletal system in good shape. Exp Physiol90, 427–436. (G. L. Brown Prize Lecture) Symposium Reports from: Viral gene transfer in neuroscience: new tricks of the trade (2005, 90) Sergey Kasparov & Julian F. R. Paton Cardiovascular-renal interactions:central and peripheral autonomic control (2005, 90) Edward Johns & John Coote New aspects of artery resistance and structure (2005, 90) Ian McGrath Neural mechanisms in obesity-related hypertension (2005, 90) Roger Dampney The physiology of anion transport (2006, 91) Mike Gray Novel partners and mechanisms in oxygen sensing (2006, 91) Nanduri Prabhakar Muscle-energetic and cardio-pulmonary determinants of exercise tolerance in humans (2007, 92) Susan Ward Hydromineral neuroendocrinology (2007, 92) Edward Stricker Neural-glial-vascular communication in the brain (2007, 92) Jessica Filosa To celebrate the success ofthe journal as it reaches its centenary year and to reflect the increasing interest in Experimental Physiology,the journal will be published monthly online from 2008.Hard copies of the journal will continue to be printed and dispatched as a bimonthly publication. Throughout 2008 we are publishing a series of invited articles in which experts in the field will apply a current perspective to classical papers that appeared in the progenitor of Experimental Physiology, the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology (the title was expanded between 1938 and 1981 to Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and Cognate Medical Sciences). The Contributors will include: Roger Lemon on: A. S. F. Leyton & C. S. Sherrington (1917). Observations on the excitable cortex of the chimpanzee, orang-utan,and gorilla. Q J Exp Physiol11,135–122. John Morrison on:F. J. F. Barrington (1925). The effect of lesions of the hind- and mid-brain on micturition in the cat. Q J Exp Physiol15, 81–102. Simon Gandevia on: Charles Reid (1928). The mechanism of voluntary muscular fatigue. Q J Exp Physiol19, 17–42. James F. X. Jones on: P. Alcock, J. L. Berry & I. de Burgh Daly (1935). The action of drugs on the pulmonary circulation. Q J Exp Physiol25, 369–392. Walter St John on: Fritz Buchthal (1959). Electromyography of intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci44, 137–148. Uwe Proske on: P. B. C. Matthews (1962). The differentiation of two types of fusimotor fibre by their effects on the dynamic response of muscle spindle primary endings. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci47, 324–333. Topics chosen for two Themed Issues to be published during our centenary year are: ACE 2/RR, organized by Mohan Raizada with papers from Robson Santon, Thomas Coffman, Genevive Nguyen and Josef Penninger Physiome of the Brain, organized by Peter Hunter. Past Chairman Top row, from left: E. A. Sharpey-Schafer (1908–34) I. de Burgh Daly (1935–48) J. H. Gaddum (1949–50) Bottom row, from left: D. Whitteridge (1951–68) R. B. Fisher (1969–72) W. E. Watson (1973–80) The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology suffered periodic financial crises during its first 60 years; on several occasions The Society made a contribution to its costs. In the worsening situation during the late 1970s, The Society concluded that the best solution would be to take over the ownership itself. At that time, the head of the Edinburgh University Department of Physiology, W. E. Watson, was the effective proprietor. In his opinion, the journal served little useful purpose so, although he did not wish to remain responsible for it, he was strongly against the idea of transferring it to The Society. Eventually, he agreed to meet the Committee and finally accepted the idea that C. R. House should take over the Editorship and interim management. Had the outcome been different the journal is unlikely to have survived. Negotiations with Livingstone, the Edinburgh Publishers, and with Cambridge University Press (CUP) took time, so although The Society acquired the Quarterly Journal in 1980 the first issue under its ownership was published in January 1981. C. Randall HouseChairman of the Editorial Board, 1981–86 On transfer of the QJEP's ownership to The Physiological Society in 1980, I was invited to become its Distributing Editor and Chairman of the Editorial Board. I accepted the offer chiefly to retain the link between the QJEP and Edinburgh during the transfer. Another lure was the quality of the international Editorial Board recruited by The Society with Edinburgh's input. New Editors were drawn from Cambridge, Edinburgh, London, Oxford, St Andrews, Sydney and Yale, and over the next 7 years I enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with them and especially with the efficient Press Editor, James Hickson of Pembroke College, Cambridge. At the outset, the Board decided to enhance the QJEP's content by publishing invited review articles, papers presented at selected symposia and, above all, the Sharpey-Schafer Lectures to honour the journal's founder. Volume 67, the second under our control, implemented this new policy with the publication of an influential review by the late Alan Brown on The Dorsal Horn of the Spinal Cord. This volume also had the full papers offered at a Physiological Society Symposium on Hormonal Control of Sodium Excretion held at Charing Cross Medical School on November 6th 1981, to mark the retirement of Professor H. E. De Wardener. Other review articles and symposia papers followed in volumes 68,69,70 and 71. Volume 68 was issued in 1983, the 75th anniversary of the QJEP. The journal celebrated 1983 by carrying a banner heading on the journal's cover, by holding a dinner for its Editors and Committee Members at Abden House in Edinburgh University and, more significantly, by publishing the Sharpey-Schafer lecture on Morphological Basis of Visual Control Function given by the Nobel Laureate Torsten N. Weisel and Charles D. Gilbert at UCL on 30th March, 1983. Volume 68 also contained David Whitteridge's revealing and much-quoted history of the QJEP entitled The Origin of the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology. Volume 71 carried the next Sharpey-Schafer Lecture on Ion Channels and Signal Processing in the Outer Retina delivered by David Atwell at UCL on 25th March, 1986. The next volume, my last as Chairman, included a brief tribute to a fellow Editor - the highly gifted and respected Peter Baker who died suddenly on 10th March, 1987 on the eve of his 48th birthday. His loss was deeply felt by the QJEP Editors and Members of the Society; we can only imagine what his death meant to his family and friends. Although my period as an Editor ended on a tragic note, I feel that our Board ensured that the QJEP's early nurture from 1980 to 1987 under The Society's care was a healthy and pivotal one. Cecil KiddChairman of the Editorial Board, 1987–94 When I took over, it was the first time that the Chair had moved away from Edinburgh; since then it has progressed steadily further South! On my watch, we initiated a number of changes with the aim of enhancing the image of the journal and attracting more papers from a wider scientific clientele, especially from outside the UK. The first was the change to bimonthly publication in 1988; this immediately reduced the delays in the publication of all papers. In that, and subsequent years, we published about 1000 pages annually compared with about 500–600 pages previously. In the same year, a Rapid Communications section was introduced. This allowed for short papers (up to 3.5 pages with a maximum of two figures or tables or one of each) that appeared within 6 weeks of acceptance. The papers had to meet the criterion of high scientific quality that merited accelerated publication. After rapid action by referees, they were produced as camera-ready copy in the Aberdeen Publications Office using desktop publishing techniques. The first paper, by Geraldine Clough and Charles Michel, appeared in January 1988. There were five other ‘Rapids’ in that issue and thereafter two to eight (mostly 6–8) papers appeared each time. As far as I am aware, this format was a ‘first’ in physiological journals in Europe and was a highly appreciated introduction. In the current climate of publication online, it is hard to remember that there were substantial publication delays (e.g. 4–6 months) after the acceptance of a paper. Just around this time, our publisher, Cambridge University Press, was converting from hot metal to computer-generated printing. We also attempted to speed up the refereeing processes without compromising on quality. January 1990 saw changes of both title and our image; Cambridge University Press designed an eye-catching red cover to flag the new features. In my Editorial, I explained that the Board felt that retention of Quarterly in the title had masked the journal's new vigour and the faster publication that resulted from the move to six issues a year. The change of title took considerable discussion, since we were initially unable to find out whether such a change would have an impact on our ratings in the Science Journal Citation Reports! In the event, it was accepted by their Editors that we were in fact the same journal and we did not have to restart. When Edward Sharpey-Schafer founded the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology in 1908, his aim was to enable authors to publish scientific papers expressed in their own style and illustrated as fully as possible. We saw Experimental Physiology as perpetuating these traditions of a flexible attitude toward authors and a high standard of illustrations. In line with this, we later decided that the mandatory alphabetical order of authors' names should be relaxed and authors should be able to choose their own sequence. I was never quite sure whether in the laboratories this introduced more ‘angst’ than the alphabetical one! In terms of the scope of the journal, we retained the previous broad pattern of welcoming full papers dealing with human as well as whole animal systems and cellular physiology but the Board noted developments in molecular studies and we indicated that ‘papers in cellular and molecular biology especially relevant to an understanding of integrative mechanisms may be accepted’. In response to queries, we decided that methodological papers might be published and indicated that theoretical papers would be considered if they were based on experimentally derived data and that the hypothesis was amenable to experimental testing; we also initiated a Letters to the Editor Section for comment, critical or otherwise, on recently published papers. During my tenure neither of these formats attracted any customers! We initiated a substantial increase in the number of commissioned Reviews in selected areas, including historical approaches. We also published most of The Society's Prize Lectures: thus, in addition to the Sharpey-Schafer Lecture, the G. W. Harris, the Wellcome and the G. L. Brown Lectures also appeared. In general, we aimed to have at least one Lecture or Review in each issue. The range of topics was wide; it reflected the broad interests and overall ethos of the Journal and attracted considerable interest. Book Reviews were retained as a service to readers and seemed to be appreciated, albeit they were slightly out of line with the hard science research ethos and added a somewhat old-fashioned flavour. Nevertheless, they provided the only route for reviews of physiological books. However, the pressure to continue them disappeared with the appearance of the Physiological Society Magazine. Early in my tenure, we published the papers given at a symposium in honour of Bernard Katz. However, the effects of Hurricane Hugo on communications and power in Puerto Rico meant that at least one of the proofs arrived very late and by a very circuitous route, possibly involving a forked stick! Because of the difficulties in properly editing symposium material we did not continue with them, though subsequently they have returned. On the takeover of the journal by The Society in 1980, the Editorial Board was set at 12 members. This inevitably restricted the types of papers submitted. Finally, towards the end of my term we created a Board of Associate Editors, mostly overseas people, with the aim of encouraging submissions from new fields, both scientific and geographical. Throughout my period as Chairman, the Editorial Board was always positive in looking for new ways to make EP effective as a high-quality scientific journal and it consistently supported the Aberdeen Office. We owe much to Peter Mott, the Production Controller at CUP who was invariably flexible and helpful. On his retirement, he was invited to a Board dinner, and we presented him with a special mock-up of Experimental Physiology. In 1993, while work on Experimental Physiology continued simultaneously, the Office in Aberdeen took on the preparation and publication of the Preliminary Announcement together with the Abstract and Programme Books for the XXXI Ind Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences in Glasgow. After appropriate text and ethical editing, over 3700 abstracts in five volumes were compiled as camera-ready copy using desktop publishing. We commissioned artwork for the front covers of the Programme Books, etc. and, through Louise McGregor who contacted a Glasgow artist, we were able to produce a back cover with a delightful composite waterfront view of Glasgow buildings. Printing by Aberdeen University Press was achieved against horrendous deadlines. Overall, the activity was hectic and stressful; it could be described, in modern vernacular, as ‘24/7’ over a longish period! In the end, we unleashed about 7.6 million pages of printed material at a cost of 1.6p per page. I hate to think of the carbon cost, let alone the emotional one! Throughout, I received superb and unstinting help and support from Ann Silver as Press Editor to the journal and the major contributor to the effective editing of the Congress Abstracts. Louise McGregor and Karen Smith, successive Editorial Assistants in Aberdeen, each made substantial and significant contributions in their different ways to many facets of our EP and Congress activities. I am extremely grateful to everyone for their individual contributions. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the helm and have also been delighted to see the ways in which EP is continuing to evolve. J. I. GillespieChairman of the Editorial Board, 1995–2000 Under the stewardship of Cecil Kidd, the journal had acquired a new image and many changes had been put in place to continue its development. When I took over the Chair in 1994, the journal office moved from Aberdeen to Newcastle and was incorporated into my office as the Meetings Secretary. This coming together was important. It allowed us to develop the day-to-day running of the journal and develop the already strong relationships between authors, referees and Editorial Board. Crucially, it allowed us to keep a finger in the pulse of what was happening in The Society. Submissions increased, and the number of pages published in the volumes in 1995–99 began to regularly exceed 1000 pages. The preparation of papers for publication, once accepted, continued to be done in The Society's Publication Office in Cambridge. There too there were major changes, with the introduction of desktop publishing, first for The Journal of Physiology and then for Experimental Physiology. These changes were by no means straightforward but were overseen and driven by an extremely active Editorial Board and a conscientious and supportive team of staff. Everyone was determined to continue the improvement and development of Experimental Physiology. Over the next 3 years there were considerable achievements thanks to the efforts of the Editorial Board and the Newcastle and Cambridge offices. The Board was formulating plans to develop, improve and expand the remit of the journal. In order for these to be put in place in a timely manner, we needed further leadership and support. A key factor at this time was the appointment of Bridget Lumb as Press Secretary. The journal restarted publishing papers presented at Society Symposia (volume 80, 1995) and mini-reviews on key topics of the time, the first mini-review appearing in volume 81 in 1996. Also, the Journal began what we hoped would be a long and fruitful collaboration with the Federation of Physiological Sciences where we would, as part of this coming together, publish the proceedings of their scientific meetings. Despite all this progress, we still had one problem: the time between acceptance of a paper and its publication was too long. Authors wanted their work reviewed rapidly and published quickly. A solution had to be found. Thanks to Herculean efforts from everyone, a new system of working with referees and production was evolved which allowed us to achieve a median time from submission to publication of just over 5 months, a significant fall from the median of 10 months in 1993. Everything was getting better for Experimental Physiology. There then followed a somewhat difficult period that almost saw the end of Experimental Physiology. There was a strong, positive and fully justified desire within The Society to support new things and use its limited resources wisely. The Foreign Secretary wanted to have more international collaboration and to support foreign institutions, The Journal of Physiology wanted to grow by publishing more papers, the Committee wanted more Studentships and Prizes and to support more symposia, while the membership wanted better meetings. There was a whole range of ‘good things’ that needed to be done. The Society then looked for ways to do this. Resources were limited, and all of The Society's budgets required scrutiny. Attention from some quarters focused on Experimental Physiology. The improvements to the journal in recent years were clear but they did not come without cost. Should The Society use its resources to continue to support Experimental Physiology? It was being argued that The Society did not need two journals. The Journal of Physiology was big and profitable. It needed more resources, so why not simply discontinue Experimental Physiology and move resources to our sister journal? It was true that Experimental Physiology did not make money but it was never the intention that it should. In his review of the origins of the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology, David Whitteridge reminded us that it was created to provide an alternative route for Members to publish their work. However, knives were out, and an end to Experimental Physiology was closer than many ever imagined. Suffice to say the Board did not agree to roll over and let the journal disappear. There was also considerable support for Experimental Physiology from the Committee, Members of The Society, physiologists all over the world and the Publisher. However, words of support were not going to be enough. We could not remain as we were. In order to survive, we had to look long and hard at our costs and put strategies in place to increase our impact. We had to have a ‘business plan’. This focused the efforts of everyone, and a strategy was evolved. The origin and basis of the journal were sound. We could not start from scratch. So we had to build and capitalize on our historical strengths and increase the impact and effectiveness of the major changes we had made. Several factors were key at this stage. Firstly, the obvious one, we had to increase income from sales. This was not straightforward and took considerable time and effort. Working with CUP, marketing initiatives were put in place, particularly in Europe and the Far East, resulting in a greater income. Secondly, a decision was made to move to the more standard A4 format. This had several positive consequences. It was more cost effective and it allowed us to publish more work for similar costs, to reproduce better figures and to include colour at minimal cost. It also triggered the desired change in image. This transition was begun in 1999 with the appearance of the first A4 issues. For financial reasons and to maintain a degree of its past identity, the new larger cover remained red; not ideal but a compromise. By the end of 1999 costs had been reduced, sales were up, and the journal was publishing more papers while evolving a new identity. Importantly, for the first time in its recent history it was viable, almost, and a real asset. We should not look too closely at the finances but suffice to say, for the time being, Experimental Physiology was safe from those who would see it gone. In 2000 it was time to pass everything on to the next Chairman, and John Coote was given the reins to drive the journal onward not only into the next century but the next millennium. The rest, as they say, is history. John H. CooteChairman of the Editorial Board, 2001–06 On taking over the Chair of the Editorial Board, I was very aware of the need to justify The Physiological Society's investment in a second scientific journal. In part to meet this challenge, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to move the editorial office to the same site as that of The Journal of Physiology in Cambridge. This, coupled with the appointment of Emma Ward as editorial assistant and the advice of Carol Huxley, provided EP with a more secure physical base at the centre of The Society's publications effort. It was essential to redefine the focus and role of EP. A key development here was the statement of our new mission to encourage original papers that embraced the use of classical physiology with modern experimental approaches and, more recently, with mathematical modelling. To aid awareness of this change, the colour and design of the cover of the journal was changed from its vivid red to pale green with the superimposition of a faint image of a human body and the DNA double helix. The addition of a subtitle, Translation and Integration, completed the new image. Accompanying this change, the duties of the members of the new unified Board of internationally distinguished Editors were redefined. Each Editor was given administrative responsibility for their specialist area, choosing reviewers, editing their comments and acting as an early filter for the acceptability of papers for review. This was pivotal to decreasing review time and improving the quality of accepted papers for publication. A distinguished group of Consultant Editors were recruited in 2003 to advise on policy issues. One important further feature of my period as Chairman was the establishment of a sound base in North America. This was partly achieved by recruiting several high profile scientists in the USA, including a Deputy Chairman, Nanduri Prabhakar, and by holding one of our Editorial Board meetings each year at the Experimental Biology Meeting in the USA. The content of EP was also enhanced by introducing Hot Topic articles, managed very successfully by a single Editor, Rod Dimaline, and Exchange of Views, introduced by Julian Paton. Original research reports are now of higher quality and more focused on key topics, and there is worldwide interest in the journal. Many thanks must also go to Blackwell Publishing (our Publishers since 2004), who encouraged our efforts and worked hard to increase the journal's international profile. Particularly pleasing has been the relatively fast rise in Impact Factor, indicating that papers are more widely read and quoted. All of this could not have been achieved without the dedication of the entire Editorial Board, who all believed that EP had an important mission to fulfil. The far-sightedness and commitment of my Deputy Chairman, David Paterson, and, early on, the belief and enthusiasm of Press Secretary Bridget Lumb were crucial in the evolution of EP to a recognized role in publishing papers describing physiological function of molecular mechanisms in the wider context of biological systems. Photographs by Harold Lewis (I. de Burgh Daly, R. B. Fisher), Martin Rosenberg (C. Kidd, J. H. Coote), or supplied by The Wellcome Library, London (E. A. Sharpey-Schafer, J. H. Gaddum), Oxford University (D. Whitteridge) or the subject/subject's family.