Abstract
After a period of thorough discussions and in depth preparations for a journal associated with United European Gastroenterology (UEG), we are happy and proud to present to you the first issue of the United European Gastroenterology Journal (UEG Journal). We are aware of the ever-expanding number of scientific journals and web-based sources of information in our field, but we are convinced that there is a need for this journal: a high-quality publication of clinically relevant scientific information in the field of Gastroenterology in the broad sense, with a close link to UEG. The table of content of this first issue, with its broad variety of high-level clinically relevant articles, is a good illustration of the scope and direction the journal wants to pursue.
It is our ambition to develop the UEG Journal into a prime journal, with a leading status amongst researchers, clinicians and the industry. The journal will focus on clinical and human research in gastroenterology in the broad sense, which includes liver disease, biliopancreatic disease, gastrointestinal endoscopy, digestive oncology, gastrointestinal surgery, pediatric gastroenterology, nutrition and primary care aspects of gastrointestinal disease, amongst others. The journal welcomes original studies, meta-analyses or reviews on epidemiological, pathophysiological, pharmacological aspects of gastrointestinal disorders and on their diagnosis, management and outcomes. We look forward to publishing clinical trials, clinical practice guidelines and consensus documents; especially at the European level the UEG journal should be the obvious forum. We will commission and publish high-quality postgraduate teaching and excellent stat-of-the-art reviews, in line with UEG’s important role in providing postgraduate and scientific education. The journal will also publish basic research with clinical or pathophysiological implications. The key factor in deciding whether or not to accept submitted work in the journal will be the evaluation of the scientific quality and content, through a peer-review process.
Success of a new journal depends on many factors, and builds on help from many different angles. The strong support and commitment from both the UEG Executive Committee and the UEG Editorial Office provide the journal with an indispensable head-start. We are very fortunate to interact with a highly dedicated and professional team from our publisher, SAGE, the largest independent biomedical publisher. The associate editors, recruited internationally based on their complementary skills and knowledge are a dynamic and enthusiastic team, with an established track record as clinical researchers. Together with the editorial board, composed of internationally leading researchers in the field of gastroenterology in the broad sense, they will shape and guard the high scientific level of journal content.
The most indispensable factor in the road to success for a journal are the authors. We would like to invite you, clinical and basic scientists in our field, from inside and outside Europe, to submit your interesting findings to this journal. The UEG journal will be published bi-monthly and has a lot to offer to candidate authors. In line with the quality standards we aim for, we will provide a rapid turnover of submitted articles, with a time-to-decision of less than 2 weeks. Selected schemes and pathway figures will benefit from redrawing by a professional medical illustrator with whom the journal teamed up. The full content of the journal will be made available to all delegates of UEG week, thereby creating a readership base of more than 14000 registered participants at the 20th UEGW in Amsterdam last October. The journal will be both made freely accessible through PubMed Central and searchable on PubMed at the earliest opportunity. In addition, to authors the UEG Journal will offer a fair peer-review process, swift decision making and, in case of acceptance, rapid online publication and high visibility and accessibility of your work by your colleagues and peers. Finally, there are currently no page charges for accepted papers.
We hope you will enjoy this first issue of the UEG journal and we are convinced that with your submission of high quality contributions this Journal will soon be recognized as an important Journal in what we feel is one of the most interesting and exciting areas in Medicine, Gastroenterology.