Clinical and Translational Imaging: reviews in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging

Abstract

Clinical and Translational Imaging is the new official organ of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (AIMN). This association, long committed to consistently raising the standard and impact of its scientific publications, and feeling that the time is ripe for a qualitative leap forward, is embarking on this exciting project strengthened by the support and experience of a prestigious partner, Springer, whose vision and priorities are very much in line with its own. Clinical and Translational Imaging is an international peer-reviewed journal specifically devoted to review articles on translational and clinical imaging in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The journal aims to offer this fast-evolving field a new perspective and a new kind of publication. Indeed, the intention, in launching this journal, is not to compete with existing ones, but rather to complement them. Traditional imaging journals tend to devote most of their space to original scientific papers, but these, by definition, often present highly specific and sometimes controversial data and, therefore, fail to convey a clear message to the more clinically oriented reader. These valuable data urgently need to be translated, compiled and delivered to the reader in a readily comprehensible and applicable format, thereby increasing their diffusion and impact. Furthermore, the increasingly large volume of scientific papers published in the field of imaging has created a real need for a more systematic appreciation and overview of the different currents of thought and future directions that are stemming from specific research findings, and thus for in-depth critical reviews that provide methodologically sound and clinically useful analyses of these data. In short, Clinical and Translational Imaging intends, through its targeted review articles, to draw attention to on going efforts to translate basic science into clinical application. To this end, our policy is to publish papers that present, in a descriptive manner, evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and best practices, but we will also be looking for papers that are visionary and anticipate new developments, including policy recommendations designed to advance the field of medical imaging worldwide. The journal will welcome timely and updated summaries on clinical practice and translational research and clinical applications of approved and experimental radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic use. Papers dealing with advanced preclinical evidence in the fields of physics, dosimetry, radiation biology and radiopharmacy with relevance to upcoming applications in human subjects are also within the scope of the journal. Thanks to the support of expert peer-reviewers and a distinguished editorial board, which includes internationally renowned experts, Clinical and Translational Imaging is expected to rapidly establish itself as a valuable, authoritative and selective reference tool. The journal will appear bimonthly and will be made available through Springer’s online platform SpringerLink, thereby guaranteeing articles rapid international exposure. All manuscripts will undergo the rigorous peer-review process that is required by any international journal aiming to furnish a reliable body of research data and knowledge. The editorial board has decided to publish a limited number of monographic issues, each of which will have a guest editor or editors and feature contributions from invited authors. These invited papers will be peerreviewed. G. Lucignani (&) Universita degli Studi di Milano, A.O. San Paolo, Milan, Italy e-mail: giovanni.lucignani@unimi.it