Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), will change from a semimonthly to weekly schedule effective with the January 1, 2009, issue.
Blood publishes original articles describing novel and precedent-setting laboratory, translational, and clinical investigations in the field of hematology and related areas of research. Editorial content also includes Inside Blood, succinct summaries of cutting-edge research; focused topical reviews; and clinically focused "How I Treat" articles from respected leaders in clinical hematology worldwide.
Most importantly, the shift of the journal to weekly publication will get research to members more quickly. Chair of Journals Committee Joel Anne Chasis, MD, said that the schedule change will provide several additional benefits for members and subscribers, including increased portability of the print journal due to more convenient size, greater visibility for ongoing and new content features, enhanced content, and distribution of a weekly e-Table of Contents.
Blood's Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Dunbar, MD, notes that the journal will increase the solicitation and publication of Review articles, Perspectives, and "How I Treat" articles to ensure sufficient material of interest to the Blood readership. The number of primary research articles will remain stable. The entire table of contents will be reorganized as of the January 1 issue to better reflect the balance of articles being published and to help readers find articles of interest more easily.
With a weekly publication schedule, an almost-immediate online prepublication, and a seven-week average time from acceptance to print publication, Blood will deliver high quality content that leads the world in reporting basic and clinically relevant hematology research.
