Foreword

Thomas Rösch

Dear readers, authors and friends of Endoscopy,

With 2011 well underway, it is my pleasure to announce that several colleagues have accepted the invitation to join the Co-Editorship in order to cater to the ever-growing demands of the journal.

Thierry Ponchon, who has been a staunch supporter and close associate for the past years, will now act as Co-Editor-in-Chief and is joined by Peter Siersema (The Netherlands) in this position. Michael Bretthauer, Mario Dinis-Ribeiro and Andrea May who became Co-Editors at the beginning of the year will be joined by Raf Bisschops (Belgium), Michael Bourke (Australia) and René Laugier (France).

I would also like to take the opportunity to say how delighted we were at our recent impact factor increase from 5,545 to 6,096. Endoscopy now holds rank 6 in the category gastroenterology/hepatology and is number one in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Together with our new colleagues, we look forward to exploring avenues to further develop the journal. We are also very aware that the quality and stability of Endoscopy rely on the dedication of our authors, our reviewers, and our readers, and I would like to thank you all for continuing support.

Thomas Rösch
Editor-in-Chief

Thierry Ponchon is the head of the hepatogastroenterology unit, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France. His main interests are diagnostic (screening) and therapeutic endoscopy, clinical research in endoscopy, and therapeutic application of ultrasound.

Peter D. Siersema is professor of gastroenterology and director of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. His rearch interests include premalignant changes in the GI tract (Barrett's esophagus), digestive oncology and therapeutic endoscopy.

Raf Bisschops is associate professor at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and associate head at the Department of Gastroenterology at the University Hospitals Leuven. His research focuses on advanced endoscopic imaging techniques and endoscopic treatment of early neoplastic lesions.

Michael Bourke is the director of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. He has broad clinical and research interests in endoscopy including ERCP, colonoscopy and endoscopic resection for advanced mucosal neoplasia and early cancer throughout the GI tract.

René Laugier is professor of gastroenterology at Marseilles University. His main fields of interest are digestive physiology and patho-physiology of the pancreas and bilio-pancreatic diagnosis and therapy.