Abstract
It is with a heavy heart that I am stepping down as the Editor in Chief of Viral Immunology after serving the journal for almost 14 years. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with such a professional publishing team, and I am proud of all that has been achieved during my tenure. In addition to overseeing the publishing of many high-quality articles, I have spearheaded several important changes in the journal. These include an increase in the number of yearly issues from 6 to 10, the inclusion of cover art on every issue, and the publishing of numerous special issues that focus on topics of high significance. Two special issues that I am especially proud of focus on veterinary and clinical vaccines that were published in 2018. Furthermore, the recent Festschrift on Peter Doherty and the special issue on B cells are outstanding. Thus, I believe that the journal is gathering strength, and I am confident that this momentum will lead the journal to ever greater prominence. In this regard, I wish my successor, Dr Rodney Russell (Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada), every success as he executes his vision to bring new ideas and innovations to the journal. I will look forward to reading future issues under his leadership.
As I leave the journal, the world is facing a major crisis as it grapples with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The scientific community is working feverishly on understanding the biology of the virus, the host response, and a variety of countermeasures. Thus, the need for a journal that specifically addresses the host response to viral infections is greater than ever. Indeed, the journal is being swamped with submissions on this urgent topic, and Dr Russell is already planning a special issue on the topic. This will be an opportunity for Dr Russell to impart his unique stamp on the journal.
There is an army of people involved in every issue of the journal, and I owe a deep debt of gratitude to each and every one of them. First and foremost, I thank the publishing team helmed by Mary Ann Liebert. It is a pleasure to work with such a professional team who strove at all times to make my job easy. In particular, I would like to thank Karen Cloud-Hansen, who has assisted me in managing the journal for most of my tenure. Karen's efficiency and attention to detail have made my editorship of the journal a rewarding experience. I would also like to thank Vicki Cohn, Chief Editorial Officer, for her unwavering support over the years, and Carol Shoshkes Reiss for her editorial mentorship. There are many other highly competent individuals at Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. that I have worked with over the years. I thank them all and will miss working with them.
The journal has benefited from an outstanding editorial board that reads like a who's who of the viral immunology field. I thank them all for their dedication to the journal and their help and guidance over the years. I also thank all of the authors who submitted articles to the journal and the enormous army of reviewers who worked tirelessly to ensure the quality of the articles published. Finally, I want to say a special thank you to all of the scientists who stepped up to serve as editors for special issues in the journal. Their work in compiling and editing these issues is especially appreciated.
Change is always good for a journal, and the time is right for a new editor to take the reins. I will watch enthusiastically as the journal gathers strength over the coming years. Goodbye and good luck.