Genes & Diseases: Moving molecular and translational medicine forward

Abstract

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Genes & Diseases, a peer-reviewed international journal that aims to facilitate a rapid dissemination and exchange of scientific advances about human diseases between basic science investigators and physicians worldwide. Genes & Diseases focuses on publishing investigations on the molecular bases and experimental therapeutics of human diseases. Human medicine is undoubtedly a rapidly evolving field. The journal’s emphasis is placed on hypothesis-driven, mechanistic studies relevant to the pathogenesis and/or experimental therapeutics of human diseases. Thus, Genes & Diseases has a broad scope in basic and translational biomedical research related to molecular biology, molecular genetics, cell biology, and experimental medicine. The current publication formats include full length research article, review article, short communication, correspondence, perspectives, commentary, views on news, and research watch. As Genes & Diseases is devoted to publishing articles pertaining in the broad context to human diseases, our goal is to make the journal into one of the preeminent repositories of knowledge and platforms for basic and translational research in medicine. The peer review process will match knowledgeable reviewers with submitted manuscripts to produce high quality articles of interest and scientific merit. We are guided by the conviction that the ultimate goal of biomedical research is to prevent and treat human diseases. Thus, the highest priority will be given to publishing studies that may significantly advance human health. We are experiencing an era of rapid change and transformation in human medicine, driven mostly by new technological advances. Since the completion of the human genome sequencing project in the early 2000’s, next-generation sequencing technologies and the big data era have emerged, and have had a major impact on understanding the pathogenesis and developing innovative therapeutics for human diseases. Next-generation sequencing-based analyses not only offer unprecedented opportunities to unravel the molecular bases of human diseases, but also to move personalized medicine closer to reality than ever before. The recent development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology should further enable us to generate individual derived iPS cells to model disease development, to study organ genesis, to develop new therapeutic strategies, and to repair damaged tissues or organs through regenerative medicine. It is exciting to behold the medical field entering a golden age of applications of bench findings to create dramatic clinical improvements in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of human diseases. Genes & Diseases will leverage findings from basic and translational research, as well as innovative methods and technologies in biomedical sciences, which should ultimately lead to the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as effective preventive measures, for human diseases. Our hope is that Genes & Diseases will provide high quality and stimulating papers with cutting-edge information for both physicians and basic science investigators. We are proud to present our distinguished Editorial Board consisting of experts from the basic and medical research communities worldwide (see below). We wish to extend our gratitude to both the members of the Editorial Board and the Editorial Office staff, as they are the backbone of this scientific endeavor and have graciously given their time and effort to ensure the successful launch of Genes & Diseases. We couldn’t envision starting this journal without the support and professionalism of these established investigators interested in this fascinating field of biomedical research and wishing to make our journal a success. We also want to thank our contributors for sharing their research, as well as knowledge and expertise, to generate this inaugural issue of Genes & Diseases. Please enjoy this inaugural issue. We hope you will consider Genes & Diseases when deciding where to submit your next paper. We are confident that with your support and participation, Genes & Diseases will become an outstanding forum for the presentation of molecular and translational medical research.