Editorial

Abstract

On behalf of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (JPharmSci®) editorial team, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Pär Matsson (University of Gothenburg), Dr. Tommy B. Andersson (AstraZeneca Gothenburg), Professor William N. Charman (Monash University), Professor Kim Brouwer (University of North Carolina), Professor Yuichi Sugiyama (Riken University), and Professor Christel A.S. Bergström (Uppsala University) for their assistance in soliciting and selecting papers for the Per Artursson Dedicated Issue of JPharmSci®. These guest editors did an exceptional job in assisting the editors and editor-in-chief to select those papers that contained the most original and most significant findings for inclusion in this dedicated issue. A very special thanks to Professor Bergström for serving as the Lead Guest Editor and coordinating the development and finalization of the issue with fellow guest editors and the editorial office. As a consequence of the guest editors’ efforts, this dedicated issue of JPharmSci® contains a total of 56 papers, including 1 editorial, 1 general commentary, 4 special topic commentaries, 1 minireview, 2 reviews, 45 research articles, 1 note, and 1 lessons learned. The collection of articles in this issue is a fitting tribute to the contributions of Professor Artursson to the advancement of the pharmaceutical sciences particularly in the study of a broad range of research that impacts drug delivery at the cellular and molecular level, and specifically on the oral drug delivery of drugs and formulations. The large numbers of high quality of manuscripts submitted to the journal for this dedicated JPharmSci® issue is entirely reflective of the very positive nature of responses the guest editors received from their invitations to Professor Artursson's former graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scientists, research collaborators, colleagues and friends. Clearly, the response is also indicative of the high esteem in which Professor Artursson is held amongst not only students and colleagues but scientists around the world for his contributions as an educator and researcher. A general commentary co-authored by Professor Matsson, Professor Pawel Baranczewski (Uppsala University), Professor Kathleen M. Giacomini (University of California San Francisco), Dr. Andersson, Dr. Johan Palm (Astrazeneca Gothenburg), Professor Charman, and Professor Bergström in this issue summarizes his personal background and his professional journey as researcher in the pharmaceutical sciences. By their observations, Professor Artursson is notable as a pharmaceutical scientist who followed his research interests and curiosities across multiple disciplines to explore “molecular and mechanistic approaches to intestinal absorption, cellular disposition, and exposure-efficacy relationships of pharmaceutical drugs.” In his career Professor Artursson investigated and advanced our understandings of oral drug delivery issues including dissolution, solubility, permeability, and absorption assessment of drugs and formulations; cell biology and cells versus tissue models for delineating transport and clearance of drugs; computational predictions and systems biology tools for physiology-based pharmacokinetics; proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics in the drug delivery field; advanced drug delivery techniques to facilitate permeation and/or uptake across cellular barriers; and models for drug absorption and disposition in the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, we congratulate Professor Artursson and we are extremely proud to present our readers with an outstanding collection of articles in this dedicated issue. The Per Artursson Dedicated Issue of JPharmSci® is a compelling and lasting substantiation of the very significant and impactful contributions of Professor Artursson to the pharmaceutical sciences. Unquestionably, also an affirmation for recognizing Professor Per Artursson as one of the “TRUE GIANTS” in the pharmaceutical sciences.