A New Chapter for the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology: Farewell and Welcome

Abstract

A decision has been made that, going forward, the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology will be led by an academic Editor-in-Chief. Accordingly, after 6 years in this role, the time has come for me to step down and to say goodbye.

The Year 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered by many primarily for the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, although it was also a year of significant change in many other respects.

It was during this exceptional period that I accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology. I was immediately confronted with the far-reaching effects of the pandemic. The publishing office in Weinheim closed, and from 1 day to the next, all employees transitioned to working exclusively from home. Communication became entirely screen-based, making it particularly challenging to establish new professional relationships and to maintain existing ones. Conferences were canceled or, where possible, held in digital format. This situation continued into 2021, including the annual Euro Fed Lipid conference, which also took place virtually. On that occasion, I gave a presentation on open access publishing—an unusual experience, as the absence of visible participants made it feel, in many ways, as though one were speaking into a vacuum.

It was not until later that I had the opportunity to meet members of the Euro Fed Lipid Board in person and to represent the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology at conferences.

The European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology is an outstanding journal within the field of lipid research—remarkably broad in scope yet clearly defined in its focus. Its breadth lies in the wide range of scientific disciplines it encompasses, from chemistry to the life sciences. Its focus is equally distinctive, as all contributions are united by a common emphasis on lipids, fats, and oils. Another key feature of the journal is its role as an interface between academia and industry—or, in other words, its focus on potential applications. I had the opportunity to experience this connection between academia and industry at the 13th Workshop on Fats and Oils as Renewable Feedstock for the Chemical Industry (Dortmund, Germany, June 8–10, 2026). As with previous events, the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology will publish a special issue. Authors who publish in the journal can be confident that their work will be visible to and recognized by the relevant scientific community.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have accompanied me throughout this journey with the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology: Euro Fed Lipid; the editors, who dedicate so much commitment and expertise to the journal; the authors, without whom no journal could exist; the reviewers, who devote considerable time and care to the critical evaluation of submitted manuscripts; and, finally, the readers, whose engagement with the published work continually reminds us of the topics and questions most relevant to the field.

Although I will no longer serve as Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Lipid Science & Technology, I will continue in my role as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Food Biochemistry and will also take on the position of Deputy Editor for ChemFoodChem, which was launched this year. I hope that our paths may cross again at future conferences.

In closing, I would like to warmly welcome Marc Pignitter as the new Editor-in-Chief. I wish him, together with the editorial team and the editorial board, every success for the future.

Sincerely yours,

Prisca-Maryla Henheik

Editor-in-Chief, European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology

Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany

It is a great honor and privilege to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology (EJLST). I would like to sincerely thank my predecessor, Dr. Prisca-Maryla Henheik, for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the journal and the lipid community. Under her guidance, EJLST has continued to strengthen its reputation as an important platform for lipid research spanning food, health, technology, and analytical sciences.

As I take on this new responsibility, I would like to briefly introduce myself and share my vision for the future of the journal.

I am Professor of Analytical Food Chemistry and Food Development at the University of Vienna, Austria. My scientific journey began with a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Graz, followed by a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and research stays in the United States and Australia. Throughout my career, I have worked at the interface of food science, analytical chemistry, lipid oxidation, and health research.

My research aims to promote sustainable practices in food production and valorization of agricultural by-products, improve the stability and biofunctionality of foods, and increase our understanding of the health implications of dietary oxidized lipids. Over the years, my work has focused on four interconnected areas: food and health, food development, food processing, and the valorization of food industry side streams. In particular, I have been fascinated by the role of lipids as both essential nutrients and bioactive molecules that influence food quality, human health, and sustainability.

I have been actively involved in the European lipid community for many years through both Euro Fed Lipid and the German Society for Fat Science (DGF). These organizations have played an important role in fostering scientific exchange, collaboration, and innovation across disciplines. EJLST serves as the official scientific journal of Euro Fed Lipid and occupies a unique position within this vibrant international network.

EJLST has a strong legacy within the lipid community. My goal is not to change its identity but to sharpen and strengthen its profile so that it becomes an even more attractive destination for high-quality lipid research with clear scientific relevance and practical impact.

The journal will continue to embrace the full breadth of lipid science. With a major focus on health-related topics with applied aspects, EJLST will continue to welcome contributions in food science and technology, biomedical science including clinical and preclinical research, nutrition, animal science, plant and microbial lipids, (bio)chemistry, oleochemistry, biotechnology, processing, physical chemistry, and analytics including lipidomics.

Methodological innovation will remain an important pillar of the journal, particularly when new analytical approaches enable novel biological, nutritional, technological or mechanistic insights. We will continue to encourage both methodological and application-oriented studies that advance the field.

A key priority for the coming years will be strengthening engagement with the global lipid community. Together with our Editorial Board, I aim to attract outstanding contributions from established researchers as well as the next generation of scientists. We will continue successful initiatives such as Special Issues and conference-linked thematic collections while expanding opportunities for invited reviews on emerging topics of broad interest.

I am particularly committed to increasing the visibility of early-career researchers. To support this goal, we will introduce initiatives such as Editor's Choice articles, enhanced promotion of outstanding publications, and annual awards recognizing the best original research article and best review published in EJLST.

As a special invitation, I encourage researchers across all areas of lipid science to consider EJLST as a home for their most innovative work. Reviews and original research articles submitted by the end of 2026 will be eligible for selection as the EJLST Best Review and Best Paper of 2026, which will receive special recognition and promotion by the journal.

Science advances through collaboration, curiosity, and the exchange of ideas. I look forward to working closely with our authors, reviewers, readers, Editorial Board members, Euro Fed Lipid, and the broader international lipid community to further strengthen EJLST as a leading platform for lipid research.

I warmly invite you to join us on this journey and to contribute your best science to EJLST.

Marc Pignitter

Editor-in-Chief, European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology

Professor of Analytical Food Chemistry and Food Development

University of Vienna, Austria