The journal, which represents BMJ’s first joint publishing venture in the People’s Republic of China, will be owned by the Chinese Stroke Association (CSA), but published by BMJ.
Stroke and Vascular Neurology will officially launch in February 2016, with Professor Yongjun Wang, of Tiantan Hospital in Beijing, as its editor in chief.
Stroke and Vascular Neurology will be the official journal of the CSA, one of China’s leading professional medical organisations. It will have a global focus, facilitated by an international editorial board, drawing on expertise from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
As such, it aims to become the leading peer reviewed journal for clinical stroke neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventionists, neurointensivists, those interested in inpatient neurological care (neurohospitalists), and basic neuroscientists worldwide.
Content will include original clinical and translational research, brief reports, protocols, interesting case studies, review articles and editorials. And the journal welcomes debate on controversial techniques, health policy, and social medicine, says the BMJ.
But key criteria for acceptance will be ethical and methodological rigour rather than novelty or relevance to any particular group.
Stroke and Vascular Neurology will issue quarterly, with the bulk of its content published in English. In common with BMJ’s other open access titles, says the company, it will operate a fast submission and review process, with continuous publication online, ensuring that up to date high quality research is rapidly available worldwide.
Stroke and Vascular Neurology will join BMJ’s extensive stable of specialist journals, which include the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Practical Neurology, and the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.
"The launch of Stroke and Vascular Neurology is a major development for BMJ and we're delighted and honoured that the Chinese Stroke Association have selected BMJ as their partner,” comments BMJ Publishing Director Peter Ashman.
“Following the opening of our office in Beijing, we see this partnership as an endorsement of BMJ's credentials as an important healthcare knowledge provider in China, whilst we can offer CSA the benefits of our reach and relationship as an integral part of the international medical community," he adds.
Editor in chief, Professor Yongjun Wang, said: “It’s our pleasure to cooperate with BMJ on this high quality journal. Stroke and Vascular Neurology will be the official English Journal for CSA and we aim not only to showcase the sophisticated research in stroke all over the world, but also to provide a platform for exchange among the excellent experts and scholars worldwide.”
He adds: “The journey may be long but the future is full of hope. We will work together to reduce stroke mortality, disability and its financial burden in China and the world.”