From the editors
"EMBO reports seeks to re-assert the importance of the short-format article, carrying a single key message of ground-breaking significance" - Howy Jacobs
From January 2010, EMBO reports will reassert its commitment to short reports. Starting in the new year, the editors will apply a more rigorous editorial policy to select only those submissions that are suitable for a short-report format. We would like to encourage authors to start taking this into consideration immediately, in order to make the transition smoother.
Therefore, in addition to novelty, physiological/functional insight and general interest, manuscripts submitted to EMBO reports will need to strictly adhere to the following requirements: they should be no longer than 25,000 characters and should contain no more than 5 figures in the main text and 3 (genuinely) supplementary figures.
As Howy Jacobs explains in his editorial, Short is sweet: "Our philosophy is that science proceeds in steps. Each major conceptual advance towards a complete understanding—whether of a macromolecule, an organelle, the cell or the organism—should be documented properly, judged on its merits and made rapidly available for the community."
We hope that, like us, you value the importance of short-format articles. We would be delighted to be your first choice for the submission of short, single key message papers.
Together with Nature Publishing Group, Howy Jacobs and the editorial team at the European Molecular Biology Organization are proud to introduce a modern, accessible and fresh new look for the website. The combination of refined design and the latest web technologies creates an online presence true to the feel of the printed journal.
In line with our commitment to authors and readers to deliver high-quality science and insightful comment, the editors are able to highlight the latest content and draw readers' attention to the most interesting and/or exciting articles published by EMBO reports. The site will be updated with new highlights every two weeks, so be sure to check back regularly.
Of course, there are many more changes than can be listed here, so the editorial team encourage you to explore and find out for yourself. We think you will be pleasantly surprised !
If you have any feedback, please feel free to contact the editorial office.
This month EMBO reports says a fond farewell to Frank Gannon, our Senior Editor. Frank — in his former role as EMBO Executive Director — founded EMBO reports and steered it with energy, enthusiasm and insight for nearly ten years – and more than 100 issues. The EMBO reports editorial team thanks Frank for his support and dedication, both professional and personal.
With Frank's departure, we are delighted to introduce Howy Jacobs as our new Senior Editor. Howy is Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Tampere in Finland, where research in his lab is focused on mitochondria, covering a wide range of topics from the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial DNA replication to the roles that mitochondrial dysfunction have in both disease and ageing. Howy was also the recipient of the prestigious EU Descartes Prize for Research in 2004, reflecting the international impact of his work and his interest in all aspects of molecular and cellular biology.
For more on this change, see the editorial in our April issue from Frank, Howy and Hermann Bujard, EMBO Director.
