The end of our tenure as co-editors of Neuropsychopharmacology is an occasion for reflection on our efforts and the future of the journal, and a chance to offer unsolicited advice to Bob Lenox and his able group of field editors. It is also a time to reflect again on the contribution of Roland Ciaranello who was co-editor with Herb Meltzer for over a year before his untimely death. Neuropsychopharmacology was a major part of his life. He greatly stimulated the flow of important basic research papers to the journal.

Neuropsychopharmacology was conceived to be the premier journal bringing together the best of basic and clinical research in our field, just as the ACNP does in its annual meeting. There are few fields of medicine where transfer of information from the bench to the bedside is so important and so demonstrably leads to more efficient and effective research at all levels. There are also few fields of medicine which must have the latest information from such a wide range of disciplines to inform its investigators. Being up to date about the key development at the level of genes, molecules, cells, tissues, organs and organisms, based upon chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, imaging behavior, epidemiology and statistics is essential if one is to formulate and test the novel hypotheses which move our field forward.

Neuropsychopharmacology has steadily obtained a leadership position in the publication of this wide spectrum of scientific knowledge, both original investigations and key reviews. The articles published in Neuropsychopharmacology steadily moved up the ranks of citations in both basic and clinical neuropsychopharmacology to near top positions in both areas. For this Chris Gillin, the first editor, and we can feel justly proud. This has happened despite ever increasing competition from other journals. Clearly Bob Lenox and his editorial team should continue to revitalize the format of the journal and enhance the rate at which articles are adjudicated. We are sure they are up to the task and are greatly impressed with the changes that Bob has already initiated, with more sure to come. The vitality of our science ensures that there will be important science coming from the field, a significant part of it from members of the ACNP. Neuropsychopharmacology should be ever more attractive as the journal to publish those papers. All of us who care about the ACNP and this journal will want to help the new editorial board in the continuing effort to make this the premier journal in our field. In this regard, we are convinced that the surest way to move the journal to the next stage in its evolution will be a firm commitment by the new board to publish only the most meritorious contributions and to resist the temptation to accept technically acceptable but essentially unimportant work. Originally, scientific quality and importance should be the key drivers in the editorial decision process. Low to medium scientific priority should be seen as perfectly reasonable grounds for rejection of otherwise “acceptable” manuscripts. We are convinced steadfast adherence to these principles will continue to separate our journal from others in the field.

On a personal note, it has been a great privilege for us to have been co-editors of Neuropsychopharmacology . We wish to thank the many authors who have submitted their research to the journal and to the reviewers who have helped us to make the hard choices. We also wish to thank the many people at Elsevier who have made our work enjoyable and much less burdensome than it otherwise might be. We look forward to becoming avid readers of the new research that will have been selected by our successors.