To New Beginnings...

It is an honour to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the official journal of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, India. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for the distinguished legacy created by my predecessors, whose dedication has positioned the journal as an important platform for education, research, and professional discourse within our speciality.

Nuclear Medicine stands at a transformative juncture, and we, as part of the Indian Nuclear Medicine community, are witnessing it every day. The rapid expansion of molecular imaging, hybrid technologies, and radionuclide therapy— particularly the growing impact of theranostics—has reshaped both diagnostic pathways and therapeutic decision-making. As a speciality, we are increasingly integrated into multidisciplinary patient care, and our scholarly output must reflect this clinical relevance, scientific rigour, and translational impact. Today, we are active stakeholders in multi-disciplinary clinics, tumour boards and panel discussions, and hence our responsibility as ‘Physicians’ has become all the more important.

In the Indian context, Nuclear Medicine practice encompasses a wide spectrum—from high-volume tertiary centres to resource-constrained settings—offering unique opportunities for clinically meaningful research. The journal will continue to encourage submissions that address region-specific challenges, indigenous innovations, and pragmatic clinical workflows, while adhering to international standards of methodology, reporting, and ethics. Our goal is to ensure that research originating from India and similar healthcare environments contributes confidently to global Nuclear Medicine literature.

Change is inevitable in any journal that seeks continued relevance and excellence, and thoughtful evolution— grounded in established academic values—will guide our editorial direction. With this vision, we are transitioning to a new publishing partner, Scientific Scholars, to further strengthen the journal’s production quality, visibility, and global reach. In addition, Dr Ranadheer and Dr Nishikant have proposed the introduction of two new sections— Continuing Medical Education (CME) Articles and Image Challenge—aimed at enhancing educational value, reader engagement, and practical learning for the Nuclear Medicine community.

As Editor-in-Chief, my foremost priorities will be to strengthen the quality and transparency of the peer-review process, promote timely editorial decisions, and uphold the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. We will actively support original research, well-designed clinical trials, technical notes, guidelines, consensus documents, and state-of-the-art reviews that inform daily practice and future directions of the speciality.

Looking ahead, the journal will focus on:

• Molecular imaging and hybrid modalities (PET/CT, PET/MR, SPECT/CT)

• Radionuclide therapy and theranostic, including emerging radiopharmaceuticals

• Translational and dosimetry-based research

• Standardisation of protocols and reporting

• Multidisciplinary collaboration with oncology, endocrinology, cardiology, and allied specialities

• Capacity-building and academic mentorship for early-career Nuclear Medicine professionals

A society journal thrives through collective ownership. I invite clinicians, physicists, radiochemists, technologists, and trainees to actively engage with the journal—as authors, reviewers, and readers. Through collaborative effort, we can strengthen this platform to reflect both the maturity of Nuclear Medicine in India and its growing influence on the international stage.

I look forward to working with the editorial board and society members as we guide the journal into its next phase of growth, relevance, and academic excellence.