Looking back on 10 years as Editor of Acta Dermato-Venereologica (ADV), I am pleased to say that the journal’s impact factor is steadily increasing and is now almost 2.0 (Fig. 1), and that our economy remains strong after 3 years without a commercial publisher. In 2008 the number of submissions increased to almost 400, the majority of papers being of high quality (approximately 50% are eventually accepted for publication). To avoid queuing of accepted papers, the page volume was increased to 656 in 2008. Another success story is our collaboration with the International Forum for the Study of Itch (ISFI) and the European Society of Dermatology and Psychology, both of which have selected ADV as their official journal. Of much longer duration is our joint venture with Forum for Nordic Dermatology and Venereology. None of these positive developments could have happened without the devoted help of the editorial office (led by Mrs Agneta Andersson) and the invaluable advice of our Section Editors and Board members; I thank them all for making ADV what it is today.

Fig. 1. Impact factor for Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2001–2007.

Planning for the future, the ADV editorial office recently held a 2-day meeting in Uppsala for all Section Editors and Advisory Board members (Fig. 2). This meeting also included a symposium entitled “Progress in Dermatology” at which five distinguished international participants presented their latest research news to a group of Swedish dermatologists gathering for the 300th anniversary of the Uppsala University Hospital. To read about their lecture, see a short extract in Forum for Nordic Dermatology and Venereology 2008; 13: 139–140.

Fig. 2. Some of the participants from the Section Editors/Advisary Board: Anna-Maria Andersson (Editorial Assistant), Håkan Mobacken, Jouni Uitto, Jonathan Rees, Elke Weisshaar, Kristian Thestrup-Pedersen, Agneta Andersson (Editorial Manager), Annamari Ranki, Tilo Biedermann, Torbjörn Egelrud, Anders Vahlquist, Harald Moi and Earl Carstens. Participants not appearing in the photo: Irene Leigh, Gil Yosipovitch, Timo Reunala and Jacek Szepietowski.

The editorial meeting focused, among many other things, on whether or not ADV should remain open to papers coming from all areas of Dermatology and Venereology, rather than creating a niche of its own. The opinion was in favour of keeping a broad policy. Examples of other matters discussed were: how to attract more and better papers; suitable topics for invited review articles; various means of speeding up the review process; and the pros and cons of moving more rapidly towards open access.

One of the decisions taken at the Board meeting was to recruit two new Sections Editors for Skin tumours (Melanoma and naevi) and Dermatosurgery (Clinical case reports), respectively. I am very happy to announce that Prof. Wilma Bergman, Leiden, and Dr Lisa Naysmith, Glasgow, have accepted these positions as Sections Editors from 2009. Professor Bergman is a distinguished scientist in the field of skin cancer and Dr Naysmith is a consultant in dermatology with long experience of various surgical procedures. Welcome on Board!

Strengthened by all these changes, I am sure that ADV will happily survive both its 90th birthday next year and its centennial in 2020.

Uppsala, January 2009

Anders Vahlquist

Editor-in-Chief