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Past, Present, and Future

Department of Oral Biology, University of Birmingham, St Chad’s Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK; a.j.smith{at}bham.ac.uk

The Journal of Dental Research has a long and illustrious history of publishing the leading and most pivotal research within dentistry. During the last 11 years, Mark Herzberg has led the Journal as Editor-in-Chief with great vision and scientific integrity in a manner that has enriched the readership’s experience. He has been responsible for numerous changes, such as the more concise format of the reports, their grouping into subject sections, online publication and submission of manuscripts, and the appointment of Associate Editors, among other developments.

However, these changes are secondary to the more fundamental scientific changes, which have continued to build on the work of previous editors to develop the Journal as the premier forum for dissemination of scientific research within dentistry. As the research community within dentistry, we are indebted to Dr. Herzberg for the rich scientific legacy that he has endowed in the Journal. As the pressures from the editorial office ease for him, I am sure that we all wish him well as he develops greater opportunity to pursue his own scientific research.

The Journal owes its scientific position to the publication of only those research reports that are definitive in their outcomes and which represent a pivotal position within our goal for knowledge and understanding. This places an implicit obligation on the reviewers and Editorial Board to be robust and cogent in their consideration of which articles should be published. Most researchers are passionate about their science, and peer review can be a grueling process. However, it is only through rigorous review by other experts in the field that we can have confidence in what is published. The next time a reviewer asks for that extra experiment to be performed or data to be gathered prior to publication, please embrace the opportunity to strengthen your paper and other researchers’ perception of it rather than consider it an encumbrance.

Several changes have taken place in the Journal in recent times. The more concise format of reports is one of the most notable. Like some others, I had reservations about this when first introduced but have come to recognize that it provides much greater access to the research by a broader audience. This format facilitates ready assimilation and appreciation of the key findings, which can be understood by those from a range of fields. This broadening of audience can only help to further cross-fertilization of ideas. The availability of online appendices for articles ensures that there is no limit to how much detail can be included, and authors are encouraged to make greater use of this facility. Online publication of the Journal makes it accessible at the researcher’s desk-top and to wider audiences. Introduction of online submission procedures facilitates all aspects of the review and publication chain, thereby increasing the speed of publication. A modest submission fee for manuscripts is being introduced for the Journal, which simply represents the direct costs of the third-party provider for the online submission process and counter-balances the reduced costs to the author in manuscript and figure reproduction compared with paper-based submissions.

Scientific publishing is going through a time of great change, and the marketing strategies of some larger commercial publishers are having a strong impact on how institutional libraries manage their journal subscriptions. Like the journals of many learned societies and professional bodies, the primary goal of the Journal of Dental Research is the dissemination of the highest-quality scientific studies to the research community, without the publishing activity becoming a drain on the resources of the IADR/AADR. We continue to adopt this strategy, and our goal is for the widest possible dissemination of research throughout the world.

A major issue in scientific publishing at present is that of open access. While a limited number of open access journals have emerged, a financially viable model for such publications remains elusive. However, the Associations are considering the access approach codified in the DC Principles (www.dcprinciples.org) and wish to encourage the widest possible dissemination of scientific research. At present, only a few years’ worth of the Journal’s issues is available online, and we will be seeking ways to extend the scope of access to archives dating to 1919. Publication of the proceedings of symposia is important for the wider body of researchers to keep abreast of some of the latest developments in their field. Advances in Dental Research has served this role well, and symposia organizers are encouraged to consider it in bringing new developments within their field to a wide audience.

A journal is always looking for a new perspective on its continuing development. The incorporation of Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine within the Journal of Dental Research, beginning in January, 2005, provides just one such development, and Olav Alvares will continue to provide his unique touch in leading this section of the Journal. Critical Reviews has long provided the key source of erudite reviews for a variety of fields within dentistry, and two reviews per issue will be published in the new section of the Journal, maintaining the present level of publication. Irwin Mandel has led the Discovery section of the Journal in a truly venerable manner since its inception, providing a unique view of scientific research. Sadly, he has now decided to hand over the reins, and another Associate Editor for this section, along, also, with one for the Biomaterials & Bioengineering section, will be sought. We are grateful to our Associate Editors and all of those contributing to the Journal for their endeavors to maintain its high standards and breadth of interest.

Other developments will also emerge in time, but the fundamental principle of publishing definitive studies in dental research of the highest quality with a pivotal impact in the area will remain the goal of the Journal. Like most things in life, evolution and development will be required if the Journal is to maintain its premier position within the dental literature. However, I hope that researchers and readers will feel a sense of common ownership of the Journal in the course of their activities as both authors and reviewers. I will always be pleased to receive suggestions and comments for the Journal as we move forward in our quest for scientific knowledge and understanding.

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