On 4th May, the Biochemical Journal China Editorial Office is officially established at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Biochemical Journal is a prestigious journal with a long history of scientific publishing and knowledge dissemination. It is published by Portland Press and was established in 1906. It covers various aspects of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and is highly recognized by life science scientists throughout the world. In the latest data released by ISI (2009 Journal Citation Reports ？ Thomson Reuters) the Biochemical Journal's Impact Factor has increased to 5.155. The aims of the office are to raise the visibility of BJ in China; to increase the representation of Chinese scientists on BJ Editorial Boards and Advisory Panels; and to encourage Chinese authors to submit their articles to Biochemical Journal.

 During the opening ceremony, Professor Tao Xu, IBP director welcomed all the scientists and friends from China and introduced distinguished guests including Peter Shepherd, BJ Chair, three members from the Portland Press: Pauline Starley, Acting Group head of Publishing, Kerry Cole, Head of Marketing and Sales, and Adam Marshall, Group Head, Marketing & Customer Services, and Lin Huo, BJ China Office editorial administrator. Professor Xu pointed out that it was a good time  bringing BJ into China since the scientific research in China is on a fast developmental path, just like its economic growth. It is a far-sighted decision for BJ to set up an editorial office in China and to provide a wider platform to satisfy the publishing needs of Chinese researchers. Authors may choose from as many as nine Knowledge Environments (Cell, ChemBio, Disease, Energy, Gene, Metabolism, Plant, Signal, and Structure) to publish their discoveries and connect with the scientific community. Mr. Peter Shepherd expressed that BJ recognizes the excellence of scientific research in China and the new office is dedicated to providing more support for Chinese authors.

 The opening of the office was followed with a mini-symposium hosted by Professor Tao Xu. During the symposium, researchers including Prof. Sarah Perrett from IBP, Prof. Hong Zhang from National Institute of Biological Sciences, Prof. Yeguang Chen from Tsinghua University and Prof. Peter Sheperd from University of Auckland gave a series of excellent talks.