Neuroendo Celebrate | Why Journal of Neuroendocrinology was created
To mark a key turning point for both the British Society for Neuroendocrinology (BSN) and our official journal, Journal of Neuroendocrinology (JNE ) this year, 2026, we are sharing the story of our Society and Journal with a series of Neuroendo Celebrate blogs charting their origins and journey through to the present day. In this blog, we take you back to the very beginnings of JNE with quotes from the Editors-in-Chief at the time.
Following the success of the British Neuroendocrine Group's first annual meeting, as the BSN was then known, a journal for the field was suggested. At the time Neuroendocrinology was the only specialist journal and its editorial board were overwhelmingly based in North America. In contrast, the BSN (BNG at the time) was seeking to create a high-quality journal with international editors.
“…it was always important to the Journal that it was truly representative of the international neuroendocrinology community, and the editorial board reflected this... the BSN have always recognised that this profit was derived from international research activities, and they have strived to support members from all over the world.”
- Dave Grattan, Editor-in-Chief, 2009-2014
In March 1998, Journal of Neuroendocrinology was established as a Society-owned journal with Stafford Lightman as the first Editor-in-Chief and Oxford University Press as the publisher.
“One of our absolute demands was that the BNG [now BSN] would own the journal…[as this meant] we were in a good position to insist on a good return to the BSN.”
- Stafford Lightman, JNE’s first Editor-in-Chief, 1989-1996
When the first issue appeared in January 1989, the Journal “exuded quality and confidence”, in the words of Gareth Leng. Beautifully printed on glossy paper with a strong editorial board the journal began to bring in an income to the Society.
“It was the commitment of the whole membership of the BNG to support the Journal that ensured the publishing contract, enabled it to survive the first hard years, and ultimately ensured its success.”
– Gareth Leng, Editor-in-Chief, 1996-2003
“It was tough sometimes but I had a very talented and enthusiastic editorial board who were incredibly supportive and helped to attract good papers and reviews …the annual board meetings I introduced were always well attended, productive and great fun – many ideas were hatched at these meetings to ensure the Journal maintained its position as the leading journal in field...”
- Julia Buckingham, Editor-in-Chief, 2004-2008
Since that first issue, the Journal is now in its 38th year of publishing monthly issues with articles spanning all areas of neuroendocrinology, from biological clocks, energy and fluid homeostasis, reproduction, growth and development as well as stress, and, more recently, clinical and translational research. The success of the Journal has always enabled the British Society for Neuroendocrinology to invest in the next generation of neuroendocrinologists through grants, supporting the BSN annual meeting and the quadrennial International Congress of Neuroendofrinology, and a range of other activities.
“Increased sales meant increased income for the British Society of Neuroendocrinology, enabling the Society to invest in the next generation of neuroendocrinologists by funding vacation studentships, grants, bursaries for young researchers to attend international meetings etc. – as an editor, what greater reward could there be than that?”
- Julia Buckingham, Editor-in-Chief, 2004-2008
In a future blog we will expand on what the Journal has achieved for the Society and the field of neuroendocrinology since its beginnings, while always remaining true to its core value:
“I wanted to build the kind of Journal that I would always want to publish in, and have been grateful ever since to my successors for succeeding in that. This Journal is precious; owned by our community, run by our community for our community. May it be so for the next thirty years!”
- Gareth Leng, Editor-in-Chief, 1996-2003
For an in-depth account of the Journal's origins, read Gareth Leng's account.
