ChemMedChem's Editorial Team Discusses the Journal's Success
Journal Interview, August 2010
According to a recent analysis of Essential Science IndicatorsSM from Thomson Reuters, the journal ChemMedChem is having a growing impact in the field of Pharmacology & Toxicology.
Its current record in this field includes 605 papers cited a total of 2,118 times from its founding in 2005 to April 30, 2010.
ChemMedChem was named as a New Entrant in Pharmacology & Toxicology in April 2010.
Did you expect ChemMedChem to become highly cited, or is this surprising to you?
Frankly, as "quality first" is our motto, we weren't surprised, and of course, we're very pleased with its success. Our goal from the outset has been to make ChemMedChem a high-quality journal that publishes the very best in medicinal chemistry research. A combination of great support from our Editorial Board, particularly our chairmen Professors Giorgio Tarzia and Rainer Metternich, and hard work has gotten the journal to where it is now in a relatively short timeframe.
How would you account for the increased citation rate of ChemMedChem?
"Basic science underpins all interdisciplinary research, and one cannot discuss the further evaluation and improvement of a biologically active agent without citing its initial disclosure, invariably by medicinal chemists."
The most prominent reason is probably critical and informed peer review. Thorough critique of submitted manuscripts is the cornerstone to any high-quality scientific journal, and we strive to ensure that referee reports are gathered quickly and that our decisions are based on balanced and fair assessments.
Our referees dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to reviewing manuscripts, and we cannot thank them enough. Because referees are also authors, there seems to be an ever-increasing appreciation for efficiency in peer review by the referees themselves.
Rapid publication time is thus one of the ways in which ChemMedChem stands out: 50% of our manuscripts are published online within 70 days of original submission. As more people in the research community have become aware of our efficiency and high quality, our submissions have climbed. Therefore, we have to be quite selective toward the papers we accept. This in turn has contributed to our citation rate.
Was there a change in policy or editorial direction that might account for this?
Not a change as such, as we are quite a young journal, but certainly we can credit it to the way the journal is set up. ChemMedChem is co-owned by ChemPubSoc Europe, an association of 14 European chemical societies, and published by Wiley-VCH, with a dedicated, full-time editorial team that manages the manuscripts through the whole process: from peer review to publication.
All of the editorial staff members are Ph.D. chemists with research experience in medicinal chemistry. In addition to this, the Editorial Board is heavily involved in the peer-review process, both in terms of referee selection and manuscript evaluation.
What historical factors have contributed to the success of ChemMedChem?
ChemMedChem was founded in 2005 in conjunction with the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Italian Chemical Society (SCI). In fact, the SCI ceased publication of their own journal, Il Farmaco, to make room for ChemMedChem. In that way, with the support of two of the world’s leading countries in medicinal and pharmaceutical research, ChemMedChem was well placed to become a top journal in the field.
Have there been specific developments in the fields served by ChemMedChem that may have contributed?
From the outset, ChemMedChem has attempted to offer a forum for all medicinal chemistry research in the broadest sense. Too often is the field seen through the narrow eyes of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. As the field has developed and diversified, we too have published an increasingly diverse spectrum of topics, and we will continue to do so.
What, in your view, is this journal's main significance or contribution in the field of Pharmacology & Toxicology?
"...ChemMedChem has attempted to offer a forum for all medicinal chemistry research in the broadest sense."
As a medicinal chemistry journal, it is unsurprising to find that we are heavily cited by researchers in the field of Pharmacology & Toxicology. Basic science underpins all interdisciplinary research, and one cannot discuss the further evaluation and improvement of a biologically active agent without citing its initial disclosure, invariably by medicinal chemists.
How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next few years?
The present shift from classic SAR studies to more innovative research in medicinal chemistry, for example in vaccine development or personalized therapy, will undoubtedly continue. While small molecules remain the mainstay of the field, interdisciplinary collaborations in new areas, such as biologics, will broaden its reach.
What role do you see for your journal?
ChemMedChem will continue to strive for excellence and seek to publish cutting-edge research in medicinal chemistry. As the field evolves, so will our journal.
ChemMedChem
Dr. Natalia Ortúzar, Deputy Editor
Dr. Scott D. Williams, Senior Associate Editor
Wiley-VCH, publishers, on behalf of ChemPubSoc Europe
ChemMedChem's MOST CURRENT MOST-CITED PAPER IN ESSENTIAL SCIENCE INDICATORS:
Kratz F, et al., "Prodrug strategies in anticancer chemotherapy," ChemMedChem 3(1): 20-53, January 2008, with 52 cites. Source: Essential Science Indicators from Thomson Reuters.
KEYWORDS: MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, PEER REVIEW PROCESS, RAPID PUBLICATION TIME, PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP STUDIES, VACCINE DEVELOPMENT, PERSONALIZED THERAPY, SMALL MOLECULES, BIOLOGICS.
Citing URL: http://sciencewatch.com/inter/jou/2010/10julChemMedChem/