Thank you to our 2021 reviewers

Abstract

As 2021 draws to a close I suspect few of us could have foreseen the past year. In the early part of the year, as COVID-19 vaccination gathered pace, like many, I was hopeful that we would be seeing coronavirus in the rear-view mirror by the end of the year ― only then to find ourselves in the midst of another wave of cases.

Despite all the headwinds of coronavirus and the impact of working from home, Veterinary Evidence has continued to flourish, publishing more papers this year than last. Published papers have covered an amazing range of different topics, illustrating not just the wide diversity of questions that are being answered, but the depth and breadth of the team of reviewers that give their time to extend veterinary knowledge, supported by a dedicated group of assistant editors and staff at the journal who coordinate activity, ensure standards, and continue to develop the journal.

As a journal, Veterinary Evidence is maturing with two of the main focuses this year being to further develop our internal journal systems ― which has allowed us to apply for membership of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) ― and work towards improving the discoverability and accessibility of our published papers. In order to achieve this, the team is working hard to redesign our current website and fulfil the criteria for inclusion in other citation databases beyond CAB Abstracts, such as Medline.

We have been delighted this year to expand our Editorial Board ensuring, as the journal grows, we have the necessary range of skills on the Board to maintain high quality, effective reviews delivered in a timely manner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our reviewers and everyone who has served on the Board this year for their tireless efforts on behalf of Veterinary Evidence – without your support the journal could not exist. This year the Board has had three online meetings, more than ever before, which have been essential in helping develop the strategy for Veterinary Evidence over the coming years, expanding the influence and reach of the journal with various strategic initiatives. Other key areas have included developing our policy on standard terminology, looking at the best ways to ensure Knowledge Summaries remain current and working towards making editorial decisions as consistent as possible.

And finally… a huge thank you to everyone who works for and supports Veterinary Evidence, wishing you all a safe and productive 2022.