Taking JNACC Forward: Honoring the Legacy and Embracing the Future

It is with a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude that I step into the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care (JNACC). As we celebrate 12 years since the inception of this journal, I feel privileged to inherit a platform built on vision, perseverance, and scholarly integrity. An academic endeavor that has grown in both relevance and reach, the journey of JNACC is closely intertwined with the mission of the Indian Society of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care (ISNACC). Since its founding in 1999 and subsequent registration as a society in 2001, ISNACC has championed the cause of neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care in India, across the Asian region, and beyond. The launch of JNACC in 2013 and the publication of the first issue in 2014 marked a pivotal moment in this journey, offering a dedicated space for the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed work relevant to our subspecialty. Noteworthy to mention in this context is the academic guidance of founders and senior members of the ISNACC, Prof. Harihar Dash, former Chief of Neurosciences Center at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Prof. G. S. Umamaheswara Rao, former Head of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, and Late Prof. Vinod Kumar Grover, former Head of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Over the years, under the stewardship of previous Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Parmod Kumar Bithal, and with the tireless support of contributors, reviewers, and the editorial board, JNACC has steadily grown into a respected voice in the field of anesthesia for neurosciences. It has reflected the challenges, innovations, and achievements of our field, serving both as a chronicle of progress and a platform for academic discourse. I have been fortunate to be involved in the growth story of JNACC since its inception, first as a planner and subsequently as a contributor, reviewer, and Executive Editor. As I assume the new role of Editor-in-Chief, my focus is on building on this strong foundation and leading the journal into its next phase of growth. We aim to further strengthen the scientific rigor of our publications through robust peer review and editorial standards, promoting translational and multidisciplinary research that bridges the operating room, intensive care unit, and basic neurosciences. We will also focus on encouraging contributions from early-career professionals and underrepresented regions, enhancing visibility and indexing, upholding ethical publishing practices, and promoting transparency and open access to knowledge, striving to make JNACC a go-to journal not only in India but also in the global anesthesia as well as neuroscience communities.

While JNACC has made commendable strides in its 12-year journey, we are mindful of the importance of broader visibility and discoverability of the work published in our journal. One of our current priorities is to resolve outstanding issues related to indexing with PubMed Central (PMC). We recognize that visibility in global databases, such as PMC, significantly enhances the reach and citation of scientific work. We are actively engaging with all necessary stakeholders, including technical teams, publishers, and regulatory bodies, to align our processes with PMC's evolving standards. Ensuring compliance with metadata formatting, open-access policies, and publication consistency is a complex yet essential task. We are committed to this process and optimistic about restoring and securing permanent indexing in the near future. We are also working toward increasing the frequency and regularity of publication, with a focus on timely peer review and editorial processing. Thematic issues in emerging areas, such as pediatric and neonatal neuroanesthesia, perioperative brain health and cognitive outcomes, anesthesia and neurointervention, and artificial intelligence in neurocritical care, are being planned to reflect the evolving landscape of the field. Furthermore, JNACC aims to establish a more substantial international footprint by inviting global experts to contribute, serve on the editorial board, and collaborate on multicenter studies. At the same time, we will continue to emphasize regionally relevant content, highlighting innovations, challenges, and solutions applicable to resource-constrained settings in line with the ethos of the ISNACC.

With the increasing involvement of young neuroanesthesiologists and neurointensivists, we will also be launching author mentorship initiatives, writing workshops, and special sections for early-career researchers. There will be a separate focus on improving the quality of peer review by conducting dedicated workshops for reviewers, with a special emphasis on editorial expectations during the annual scientific meetings of the ISNACC. Clinical groups will be established under the auspices of the ISNACC, focusing on a specific area of interest to encourage multicenter clinical trials involving Institutes of National Importance and major private medical institutions. The vision is to make JNACC not just a journal but a scholarly ecosystem that nurtures academic growth, clinical excellence, and interdisciplinary dialogue.

As we look ahead, I invite you, our readers, researchers, and practitioners, to engage with us more actively by submitting your research work, sharing your perspectives, and reviewing with integrity, thereby helping us shape the future of this journal. Together, let us continue to elevate the standards of care and scholarship in neuroanesthesiology and neurocritical care. Once again, I extend my sincere thanks to my predecessor for his leadership, to ISNACC for its continued support, and to the wider perioperative neurosciences' community for entrusting JNACC with your science and your stories.

 

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Disclosure(s)

Girija Prasad Rath, MD, DM, is the President-Elect of the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) and Registrar of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
18. Juli 2025