Dear Editor :

Congratulations for taking reigns of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences official journal Annals of Neurosciences as an Editor. When I first met you during December 2008 XXVI annual Indian Academy of Sciences meeting at Kochi, Kerala and subsequent correspondence I was very much impressed with your commitment, enthusiasm and hard work to reinforce the Annals of Neurosciences by infusing new blood to take the journal to new heights.

I agree that Indian scientists should submit their quality research work to Indian journals to increase the impact factor. This is a sacrifice in the beginning years to strengthen the foundation of the journal. I have seen enthusiastic bright young researchers who want to share their research among their peers and graciously take the positive feedback during the discussions at the December 2008 academy meeting. We need to encourage these youngsters by dedicating few pages of the journal (Journal club) to share their views and opinions on a recently published work (In neuroscience/biology journals such as Nature Medicine; Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Biological Chemistry etc.). This will make them part of the neuroscience community, have fresh look in their own perspective and boost their morale. I am positive most of my young colleagues will agree with this idea and would like to contribute and share their opinions. On the same lines readers can post comments or critique on a published article- eletter to the editor (in Annals which may corroborate another independent group's work, sometimes brought up issues that reviewers might have overlooked). Happy to note the future issues will carry these sections. I do this on regular basis and immensely benefited from the responses and at times leads to collaborations.

I agree, if you intend to providing honorarium to reviewers for their contributions as far as sufficient funds are allocated for this purpose. At the same time the articles should go through rigorous reviewing which should be the top priority in order to make the journal more visible and survive in this rapid age of neuroscience. But in some special situations, facilities and infrastructure issues may limit one's abilities to meet the standards and we should keep that in mind how that will hamper the reviewing process or comments/criticism on the papers submitted by the Indian counter parts. This is by no means I am undermining the quality of Indian science, but to cover the possible scenarios. The enhanced funding from Indian government can surpass this barrier and of course good work automatically attracts endowments.

Having an international editorial board will certainly help achieving these goals. The team of experts you are announcing as international editorial board are giants in their field and we will be fortunate to have these esteemed members shape up the journal with their constant advice and suggestions.

An independent website and a publisher will be a good idea just like Society for Neuroscience/ Journal of Neuroscience; International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN)/Journal of Neurochemistry; American Society for Neurochemistry/ASN Neuro; IBRO/Neuroscience. Few things such as sending the contents of the journal articles in upcoming issues to neuroscientists; advertising available job positions (post-doc and faculty position) will make the journal visible also.

Congratulations for becoming the Editor of Annals of Neurosciences and I appreciate your untiring efforts to improve the quality of the journal.

Cheers,