Biomedical Sciences Blog

eLife, the new funder–researcher collaboration and forthcoming journal for the best in life and biomedical science, has announced the reviewing editors who will help deliver on its promise of an editorial process to better serve science and scientists.

 

First announced in summer 2011, eLife is a researcher-led initiative for the very best in science and science communication. Backed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Max Planck Society, and the Wellcome Trust, the initiative’s first aim is to publish an open-access journal for the most important discoveries that is also a platform for experimentation and showcasing innovation in research communication.

The Board of Reviewing Editors (BRE) is the body of scientists who will work with the Senior Editors to realise eLife’s commitment to fast, fair, and constructive editorial decision-making. Like the Senior Editors, who were announced in November, the 175-member BRE represents the wide array of disciplines targeted for the eLife journal – from human genetics and neuroscience to biophysics and epidemiology.

A key goal for eLife is to improve the publishing process by offering quick initial decisions, clear guidance to authors, and shorter times to publication. Core elements of eLife’s enhanced approach include having reviewers and editors consult to form a consolidated view of their comments, limiting requests for revision, and publishing the decision letter alongside the accepted article.

“For me, eLife’s top selling point is the quick turnaround,” said Joaquin Espinosa, associate professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. “Junior and early career scientists are on a tenure clock. They can’t afford to wait a year or more to get their key discoveries published.” Espinosa is a member of the eLife Board of Reviewing Editors, which is detailed along with the Senior Editors, editorial objectives, and more on the Web site at elifesciences.org.

“Everyone wants to know if eLife will deliver on our commitment to publish the world’s most influential and significant research,” added Randy Schekman, eLife’s Editor-in-Chief. “We believe the involvement of scientists of this caliber as senior and reviewing editors is another clear sign of that commitment. Prepare your papers now.”

eLife will open for submissions soon. To learn more and stay informed, visit elifesciences.org.

 

Tokyo, August 6, 2012 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”; Tokyo:4503; President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka) announced that it decided to close Urogenix, Inc. (“Urogenix”, Durham, NC, President: Shuuichi Tawara), an Astellas subsidiary, which is a research facility focusing on drug discovery in the field of urology. The closure will be completed by the end of December 2012. Urogenix currently employees thirteen scientists and staff.

In March 2006, Astellas acquired this research facility from Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Since then, Urogenix has evaluated the clinical potential of urological development candidates especially in the area of lower urinary tract disorders. Urology continues to be one of Astellas’ five focus therapeutic areas and upon this decision, Astellas will transfer research functions at Urogenix to Astellas’ Tsukuba Research Center in Japan.

The decision to transfer urology research activities to Japan will strengthen the company’s commitment to optimizing its research and development resource allocation.