Editorial introductions.

Abstract

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology was launched in 1985. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of gastroenterology is divided into 12 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Chantal HoussetChantal HoussetChantal Housset is Professor of Cell Biology at Sorbone Université, Paris, France, since 2000. She is Course Director of molecular and cellular biology at Sorbonne Université Medical School & Life Science Department. She is Hepatologist in the Reference Center for Inflammatory Biliary Diseases and Auto-immune Hepatitis, in Saint-Antoine Hospital, and of the Rare Liver Disease National Network (FILFOIE). She is the Head of an INSERM-Sorbonne Université Laboratory of translational research on metabolic and biliary diseases of the liver in Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Paris. Dr Housset is member of the University National Council (CNU) in Cell Biology. She published 193 articles. Her main scientific contributions relate to the pathophysiology of bile secretion and biliary diseases, the progression of metabolic and biliary diseases towards fibrosis, the origins and functions of myofibroblasts in the liver. Don C. RockeyDon C. RockeyDr Don Rockey completed internship, residency, chief residency, and fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, USA. He is currently Director of the Medical University of South Carolina Digestive Disease Center. He has active, basic and clinical research interests in liver disease. His basic research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of fibrosis and portal hypertension. His laboratory initially demonstrated that a key player, the hepatic stellate cell, exhibits a contractile phenotype and transforms to a myofibroblast. Further, following liver injury, stellate cells not only produce increases quantities of extracellular matrix, but also exhibit exaggerated contractility, constrict liver sinusoids, and contribute to increased intrahepatic vascular resistance typical of portal hypertension. Dr Rockey also has an active clinical research program, focused on clinical management problems in gastrointestinal bleeding, drug induced liver injury, and chronic liver diseases including complications of portal hypertension. Dr Rockey and colleagues have published some 300 peer reviewed original scientific papers and over 100 editorials, reviews, and book chapters. He has served as a mentor for over 125 trainees, including students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty members - the vast majority of whom have pursued or who are pursuing careers in academic medicine. He has had a number of editorial responsibilities, including as Associate Editor for Hepatology, Liver International, and the Journal of Investigative Medicine, and has served on multiple NIH and other study sections, and editorial boards.