From January 1, 2025, the journal will be moved under the global publisher Springer Nature—a global leader in scientific publishing and a pioneer in open research (i.e., transparency, openness, data verification, and reproducibility). Open research also helps to promote collaboration between different scientific disciplines and is an integral part of a healthy research culture and environment. This transition represents more than just a change in the publication platform—it signifies a monumental step toward enhancing the journal’s accessibility, visibility, and impact in the ever-evolving landscape of biomedical research. Under the umbrella of Springer Nature, Bratislava Medical Journal is poised to amplify its role as a hub for rigorous research and knowledge dissemination. However, the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, owns the Bratislava Medical Journal.

The new cover of the journal aims to highlight the journal's long tradition and connection with the city of Bratislava. The cover features a copper engraving by an unknown author depicting Bratislava in the eighteenth century—a view from the south (Fig. 2). The copper engraving was probably made between 1760 and 1790. We want to thank Bratislava City Gallery for providing us with a high-quality copy of this artwork, which we can, thanks to permission, use on the cover of the Bratislava Medical Journal.

Fig. 2

Bratislava in the eighteenth century, a view from the south (copper engraving, archive of the Bratislava City Gallery)

Thanks to Springer Nature, a completely new next-generation online editorial system called Snapp has also been launched. Snapp is easy to use and is designed to meet the needs of the entire scientific community—our manuscript authors, editors, and reviewers. We consider this move forward to be the right one. This is confirmed by the fact that in the first month of the online editorial system (November 2024), we received for review more than 300 new manuscripts from all over the world. The content published in Bratislava Medical Journal is reviewed by at least two experts—reviewers, and we also use plagiarism detection software—both steps are the basic standard of all modern scientific journals.

What does this mean for our authors and readers? Our partnership with Springer Nature offers numerous advantages:

1.

Enhanced reach: Articles published in Bratislava Medical Journal will now reach a broader audience through Springer Nature’s vast distribution network,

2.

Increased impact: Enhanced indexing and visibility will provide a more significant platform for authors to share their findings and influence global healthcare,

3.

Streamlined submission: An improved submission system will ensure an efficient, author-friendly process.

The international editorial board includes experts from all continents of the world, including world-class institutions such as Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (USA), University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (USA), Vanderbilt University in Nashville (USA), University of Wisconsin (USA), Universidad de Chile (Chile), University of Melbourne (Australia), University of Auckland (New Zealand), University of Cape Town (Republic of South Africa), or Shanghai University (China). One of our members currently serves as the chair of the Clinical and Veterinary Science section of the Academia Europaea, a leading European academic organization. The international editorial board also includes prominent experts from European universities such as the University of Turku (Finland), University of Thessaloniki (Greece), Ankara University (Turkey), Universidad de Granada (Spain), Friedrich-Alexander-University (Germany), University of Tübingen (Germany), Medical University of Vienna (Austria), Medical University of Graz (Austria), Semmelweis University (Hungary) as well as from Czech medical faculties in towns Prague, Brno, Olomouc, and Hradec Králové. All members of the Editorial Board are very active in science and publishing. Additionally, handling editors are among the most scientifically active experts at our Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava. This guarantees a high professional and scientific level throughout the review process.

Bratislava Medical Journal will continue to focus on publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research while adhering to the highest ethical and academic standards. We invite researchers, clinicians, and academicians worldwide to join us on this exciting new pathway. Together, we can advance biomedical science and contribute to improving global health.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our editorial team, reviewers, authors, and readers who have supported Bratislava Medical Journal through the decades. Your trust and contributions are the pillars of our success. Here’s to a future filled with groundbreaking discoveries, impactful collaborations, and continued excellence!

Warm regards,

Juraj Payer and Ivan Varga

Co-Editors in Chief of the Bratislava Medical Journal

Martin Kužma, Michal Mego and Boris Mravec

Deputy Editors-in-Chief of the Bratislava Medical Journal