Notes from the Editors

At the recent Board Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico the Advisory Board and Associate Editors of the Journal discussed implementing a new structure for the contents page of the Journal. Papers will be assigned to one of two sections, a section addressing translational research or a section addressing more basic radiation biology studies. This is being done to emphasize to the reader that the focus of the Journal is on both these areas of research. This new structure is being implemented starting in this issue of the Journal. We are taking our definition of translational research from Wikipedia - “Translational research is scientific research that facilitates the translation of findings from basic science to practical applications that enhance human health and well-being.” Authors are welcome to indicate if they wish their manuscripts to be specifically included in one of these two sections but this will not be required nor will the Editors necessarily be bound by such requests.

In looking back on the previous year, we would like to recognize our Guest Editors for three special issues: Drs Hooshang Nikjoo and Eva Forssell-Aronsson for the special issue (Volume 88, Issues 1–2) publishing papers presented at the International Workshop on Monte Carlo Computational Methods in Radiation Track Structure held in Stockholm, Sweden, Drs. Munira Kadhim and Carmel Mothersill and Ken Raj for the special issue (Volume 88, Issue 10) on Bystander Effects and the DoReMi Stem Cell and DNA Damage Workshop in Oxford, UK, and Drs. Ekkehard Pomplun and Ralf Kriehuber for the special issue (Volume 88, Issue 12) publishing papers presented at the 7^th Auger Symposium at the Forschungszentrum in Jülich, Germany.

We remind our readers that last year, the Journal started publishing accepted manuscripts under the Just Accepted format. Just Accepted manuscripts are papers published online in their final submitted format within two days of acceptance, allowing early access to these manuscripts. These manuscripts still undergo copy editing and typesetting for the print issue and following authors’ corrections will replace the Just Accepted version as Early Online manuscripts. A further reminder that ethics in publishing is a serious issue and the Journal and Publisher are members of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and we follow their guidelines in supporting integrity in publishing. These guidelines can be accessed at www.publicationethics.org.

We encourage our readers to continue to submit information on upcoming meetings that would be of interest to our readers that can be included in our Diary of Events. Also, we now have a Twitter account (@IntJRadBiol) and an active LinkedIn and Facebook page and we encourage our readers to suggest ideas, have discussions and stay connected with us.

The editors are sad to report that one of our valued Associate Editors, Dr Mike Robbins, passed away recently. An obituary will be published in the journal at a later date.