JAFES: Advancing Endocrine Research in the ASEAN region

The Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies (JAFES) is for member countries of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies (AFES): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and newest member, Myanmar. Conceived in 1981, the journal was first published in 1982 by the Indonesian Society of Endocrinology (ISE), and carried through in 1997 by the Malaysian Endocrinology and Metabolism Society (MEMS). Beginning 2010, the privilege and responsibility of publishing JAFES was handed over to the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (PSEM).

The Philippine team, with the full support of AFES, is undertaking the challenge of transforming JAFES into a self-sustaining, peer-reviewed, English language journal in print and on-line, publishing high quality research work from its South East Asian members as well as international experts on Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Essential to this new editorial approach is a streamlined review process, with invited peer reviewers in the region and experts from the United States, Europe and Australia. Careful and timely publications will lead to it being Medline-indexed and accessible to the international medical community. We are setting our sights on re-launching JAFES as a high quality medical journal, publishing on a biannual basis, and included in the Index Medicus and PubMed databases of the US National Library of Medicine, World Health Organization (WHO) Global and Regional Index Medicus; searchable via Entrez and similar search engines. By the time you get your copy of this first issue, a fully functional website is already up and running.

The new JAFES shall be the endocrine window between the ASEAN region and the world. It aims to promote the exchange of knowledge, to encourage research initiatives, to facilitate collaborative research, and to publish key findings in a timely and focused manner that is in the best interest of endocrine patients and professionals in the ASEAN region. It stands by its byline: to advance endocrine research in the ASEAN region.

The journal will feature relevant articles addressing the issues and concerns of the AFES, including peer-reviewed original work, case reports, and clinical case seminars with expert inputs for challenging cases, invited clinical reviews, clinical controversies, disease updates, and images in endocrinology, as its regular sections. An interesting feature will be Images of Asia, to inspire the reader with the region's cultural and scenic spots. The journal will also highlight particular issue themes such as clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and consensus statements which we hope, will lead to a better understanding of endocrine diseases, with implications for diagnosis and management that are specific to the region. Looking to North America and Europe for inspiration, the new JAFES shall be guided by practice recommendations based on research pointing out specific characteristics that are pertinent to ASEAN populations.

This first issue focuses on diabetes, as we review country-specific guidelines from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Succeeding issues will cover obesity, lipid disorders and peripheral arterial disease, to name a few.

It is my pleasure and honor to introduce the team; firstly, my Vice Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Cecile Jimeno, a board member of the PSEM. The international pool of Associate Editors include Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus (Philippines), Dr. Dyah Purnamasari (Indonesia), Dr. Wan Nazaimoon Wan Mohamed (Malaysia), Dr. Lim Su Chi (Singapore), Dr. Chaicharn Deerochanawong (Thailand), Dr. Nguyen Thy Khue (Vietnam), and Dr. Mya Thandar (Myanmar).

The Editorial Board consists of a group of researchers and critical thinkers from various related specialties within the region.

The copy editing team is led by Dr. Patricia Gatbonton, a PSEM Past President, and editor of HealthNews, a magazine of the Manila Times, ably assisted by Drs. Aimee Andag-Silva, Elaine Cunanan and Ma. Cecille Añonuevo-Cruz. The graphics and informatics technology team organizing the website (www.asean-endocrinejournal.org) are Drs. Mia Fojas and Iris Thiele Isip-Tan. Thanks to my able and hardworking Editorial Assistant, Dr. Amado Tandoc III and our secretary, Ms. Melissa Tandoc, RN. Special thanks to my Managing Editor, Dr. Roberto Mirasol, a Past President of the PSEM and AFES, for his dedication to detail in setting up JAFES in the Philippines.

I also extend my heartfelt appreciation for the inspiration and guidance of our esteemed Editorial Advisers: Dr. Marita Reyes, former Chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP), and current Chair of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board; Dr. Jose Ma. Avila, Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine national science journal Acta Medica Philippina; and my husband Benito Pacheco, Ph.D., Civil engineering Professor at the University of the Philippines and former Managing Editor of the Philippine Collegian. Much of the startup support has been provided by the PSEM, its Officers and Board Members; the PSEM Secretariat, and AFES member countries through its presidents and partners from industry.

This first issue of the new JAFES will define the direction for JAFES in the coming years. I welcome everyone's input and comments as this team looks forward to years of advancing the research and enhancing the understanding of endocrine diseases, for the benefit of patients in the ASEAN region. Please email me at epaz-pacheco@asean-endocrinejournal.org.