Prof Richard Gerraty

A new online, peer-reviewed, open access journal, BMJ Neurology Open has been launched in a joint venture by the publishers of the BMJ and the Australia and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN).

Edited by Professor Richard Gerraty, a stroke neurologist and Professor of Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne, the journal aims to cover research in all areas of clinical neurology and neuroscience and will operate a fast submission and review process with continuous publication online.

“It is my ambition that this journal will publish original research, reviews, protocols, and viewpoints, that will be insightful and significant to the field of neurology,” said Professor Gerraty.

“By doing this, I know that this new, open access journal will be recognised as a trusted resource and held in high esteem by all health professionals working in the field of neurology.”

Professor Gerraty said BMJ Neurology Open will have a particular focus on addressing common neurological diseases and their treatment and implementation studies which look at how neurological advances can be brought to the patients who need them.

Former ANZAN president Professor Matthew Kiernan, who is editor-in-chief- of the new journal’s sister publication, Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry said there was room for an open access journal for neurology research.

“As someone who has extensive experience in research excellence and academic leadership nationally and internationally, I am confident that this new, open access journal will provide the most relevant and innovative information to all health professionals who work within any field related to clinical neurology and neuroscience.”

The new journal is co-owned by the BMJ, whose parent company is the British Medical Association (BMA).