International Spinal Cord Society Newsletter

News from the Editor

It has now been one year and a half since the Editorial Office of the ISCoS journal Spinal Cord has been taken over by Professor Wyndaele from Dr Lee Illis as Editor in Chief. It has been a period of some reform and also of learning the business.

Facts and figures about the Journal:

• The Impact Factor of the Journal has increased from 1.067 in 2005 to 1.791 - an increase of 0.724.
• 344 articles were submitted to Spinal Cord in 2006, compared with 326 articles in 2005. During the first nine months of 2007 223 manuscripts were submitted.
• Authors are informed of a first decision on their article on average within 23 days of submission. The number of days from receipt to final decision during the first nine months of 2007 is 32.
• The average rejection rate was 63% in 2006, 58% in 2005. During the first nine months of 2007 the rejection rate was 57 %.
• Page budget 2007: 816 pages. Increase of 10% as of 2008, ie 898 pages.
• At the beginning of this year a new Editorial Board was composed. Next to the General Board Editorial an Emeritus Board was created to help in the editorial and reviewing process.

Also an Editorial Page has been introduced in each issue to discuss items related to publications in that issue and to give a short introduction overview of what the reader can find in the issue:

• Every two year ISCoS organizes the Spinal Cord Prize. For the Spinal Cord Prize 2007 there were four submissions. Together with the Chair of the Scientific Committee the manuscript of Dr BB Lee Spinal-injured neuropathic bladder antisepsis (SINBA) trial was awarded the prize which consisted of an engraved Silver Medal, a certificate and a cheque for £500 from the Publishers of Spinal Cord. The prize was handed over to Dr Lee by the Editor at the ISCoS Annual Scientific Meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland.

  The next Spinal Cord Prize Closing date is fixed at 28th February 2009. The Prize will be awarded at the meeting in Florence, October 2009. Further details and requirements for participating can be found on the Society's website.

  The editorial office is always looking for good reviewers. Do not hesitate to submit possible candidates.

We want to thank those who have contributed so far in giving the Spinal Cord Journal the scientific value, the interest and the ease to read the International Voice of the Spinal Cord should have.

Prof J J Wyndaele

Editor