https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3388-6659
Editorial Board, Associate Editors, and Dear Readers,
It is a great delight, honor, and privilege to take over the position of Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of this iconic journal, HEMOGLOBIN, at this time. It is apropos to briefly review the current state of the journal in the context of its mission and vision as enunciated by the founding EIC, Dr. Titus H.J. Huisman, in the editorial that accompanied the maiden issue in 1976. He stated that the journal would “publish papers describing new data obtained from research on human and non-human hemoglobins (Hbs) and on hemoglobinopathies and related conditions.” He elaborated that “emphasis would be placed on papers on normal or modified human Hbs, new Hb variants, structure-function relationships, physicochemical characteristics of normal and abnormal Hbs, physiological properties of the Hbs, biosynthetic analyses, methodology, and perhaps, others. Communications dealing with clinical aspects of abnormal Hbs, the thalassemias, interactions of the various forms of thalassemias with other Hbs, and new therapeutic approaches will also be included.” Furthermore, he envisioned that “genetic aspects of the hemoglobinopathies, which include, among others, family and population studies will also find a place in HEMOGLOBIN.”
The time Dr. Huisman wrote those words coincided with the availability of new analytical technologies, especially chromatography, spectroscopy, and others, while recombinant DNA technology was still in its infancy. Thus, there was a spate of discoveries of new Hb variants. Indeed, in the first three volumes of the journal (1976–1979), 58.0% of all published manuscripts were reports of new Hb variants, while reports of new α- and β-thalassemia (α- and β-thal) mutations accounted for 10.5%. Papers with a general, epidemiological, or clinical emphasis on sickle cell disease or thalassemia were 2.8 and 2.1%, respectively. The pattern of publications has kept pace with advances in technology, especially in molecular biology. Hence, in the immediate past three volumes (2020–2022), reports of new Hb variants accounted for 18.8% of all publications, while new α- and β-thal mutations were 33.0%; sickle and thalassemia papers were 12.5% and 15.2%, respectively.
With the indefatigable efforts of the two successive EICs, Drs. Abdullah Kutlar and Henri Wajcman, supported by a formidable editorial board and associate editors, not to mention the backing of the publishers (Taylor and Francis), HEMOGLOBIN remains in a healthy and competitive state. Indeed, the journal metrics are quite impressive: 6 days average from submission to first decision, 25 days average from submission to first post-review decision, 17 days average from acceptance to online publication, and a 36.0% acceptance rate (https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=journalMetrics&journalCode=ihem20). Since the journal is so specialized and the readership is therefore limited, it is not surprising that the impact factor is not higher than it currently is. This is an issue that should and will be addressed. However, the readership, as judged by the rate of article downloads, has been growing steadily.
I am, indeed, very excited to take over as EIC at this time when there is a resurgence of global interest in hemoglobinopathies, especially with the advent of novel therapeutic modalities including biological agents, stem cell transplantation, and gene therapy. There are also technological advances in molecular biology with the deployment of next-generation sequencing (NGS), which is making throughput and extensive genomic investigations more readily accessible. This will no doubt facilitate genetic epidemiology and phenotype-genotype studies on a large scale. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly being applied to clinical studies in Hb disorders, where the phenotype is dependent on diverse genetic and environmental modifiers. HEMOGLOBIN will be available to researchers in these fields to publish their work. We shall also consider publications on the other related conditions, which have impacts on the qualitative and/or quantitative properties of Hb. These include disorders of the red blood cell membrane, enzymes, and other molecules within the red blood cell.
I wish to pay homage to my immediate predecessor, Dr. Henri Wajcman who has steered the journal so successfully since 1998 and introduced many innovations. On behalf of the Editorial Board, I wish him the very best in his future endeavors. I wish to also pay tribute to Mrs. Marianne F.H. Carver, who is leaving her role as Editorial Assistant, a position she has effectively held since she started working for Dr. Huisman in 1978. She embodies the ethos of the journal and set a very high standard with her meticulous editing skills. She will be sorely missed; she has the best wishes of the Editorial Board and publishing team.
When I worked with Dr. Huisman in the early 1990s, he would tell me that he wished we had met when we were both younger and wondered how much we would have accomplished together. Now that I am taking over as EIC, I feel honored to follow in his footsteps and I feel we are still working together. I intend to be faithful to his vision and I hope he would be proud of my stewardship.