Neurology® Open Access: Welcoming a New Member of the Neurology® Family of Journals

Neurology® was the first American journal devoted exclusively to clinical neurology. It began as a bimonthly publication, and its first issue, published in January 1951, included an editorial, 2 research articles, several topical reviews, an article describing a clinical diagnostic observation, a report of a clinical pathologic conference from Boston City Hospital, and 4 book reviews. Over the next decades, as the output of clinical research and interest in the practice of neurology expanded, the journal increased the number of articles that it published and the frequency of publication. In addition, to meet the needs of different academic and clinical communities, the American Academy of Neurology has launched other journals, and the Neurology® family now includes 4 “spoke” journals, Neurology® Clinical Practice (NCP), Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, Neurology® Genetics, and Neurology® Education, each with a well-defined scope and targeted to a specific audience. Neurology® and NCP are hybrid journals and publish content online and in print; the others are online-only, fully open access journals. Yet, there is still a need for a trusted venue for high-quality research studies that because of scope or space constraints cannot be published in the existing Neurology® family of journals. Ideally, this venue should be in an open access format that complies with funder mandates, aligns with researcher preference, and is convenient for readers to freely access from anywhere in the world. To meet this need, we are launching Neurology® Open Access (NOA).

Neurology® Open Access is an open access peer-reviewed online journal whose mission is to publish high-quality, peer-reviewed original articles that advance patient care for people with neurologic disorders. The inaugural editor is Amy Kunchok, MBBS, PhD, a neurologist with clinical and research interests in neuroimmunology and a broad background in internal medicine and general neurology. NOA will have a broad scope and publish original research articles, scholarly reviews, and study protocols in all areas of clinical neurology and the clinical neurosciences. Studies with a clear research question that addresses issues of interest to neurologists or people with neurologic disorders, robust methodology, and transparent reporting are suitable for NOA. Articles will be published online as soon as they are accepted and copyedited and then compiled into an online issue quarterly. NOA's first papers were posted in early January 2025, and the first issue will be compiled for the official launch during the AAN annual meeting in San Diego in April. The journal is accepting direct submissions.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Neurology® Open Access and look forward to your contributions to this new journal. We believe that it will provide a valuable resource to the neurology community as a comprehensive and dynamic platform for novel clinical research, innovative methodologies, and insights that influence patient care. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to advancing the field of neurology.