Introducing Biological Perspectives

Abstract

In writing original research, scientists know the danger of overreaching or speculating too broadly about their results. In a field where advancement is by necessity an incremental and painstaking process, it is not often that we are allowed to take big leaps. However scientists also know that information by itself is of limited value; it is the interpretation and application of what we know that gives our data significance. To gain wisdom from our knowledge, we must sometimes look up from the minutiae to ponder the bigger picture. In short, what we are looking for is perspective. With this issue of The American Journal of Pathology, we take pleasure in presenting you with the first article in our new Biological Perspectives series. As the title of the series suggests, these articles are intended to provide a detailed perspective on critical issues in biomedical science. In keeping with the depth and diversity of our readership, Biological Perspectives will not be limited to any one discipline or field of study; however the central focus will remain on mechanisms of pathophysiological processes. In this issue, Dr. Irving Weissman and colleagues from Stanford University discuss what we can learn about tissue-specific stem cells, by revisiting the progress made from studies of hematopoietic stem cells (see page 338). It is our hope that Biological Perspectives, written by leading scientists in their field, will be extremely crisp in their writing style but dense in their knowledge base. Our intention is not to provide an encompassing review of what is known, but to ask and propose answers to the question, “Where do we go from here?” These articles will not simply be a reiteration of the published literature. Rather, Biological Perspectives will blend seminal data from the past with state-of-the-art research of the present, and provide the authors' vision for the future outcome of this newly gained knowledge, be it paradigm-shifting models or novel therapeutic strategies. Biological Perspectives will be accompanied by high-quality figures that will serve as stand-alone educational references, to further enhance the scholarly impact of these articles. To shepherd these endeavors, distinguished experimentalist Dr. Peter A. Ward joins the Editorship of The American Journal of Pathology as Special Associate Editor. Dr. Ward has a long history of highly significant contributions to the study of disease mechanisms, specifically in the area of molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory response. Dr. Ward will be asking colleagues across various disciplines to share not only what they know, but what they think. These authors will be given the unique opportunity to take our current knowledge and speculate on, perhaps even inspire, the future directions of research in their field. Similar to a MacArthur award, one cannot apply; one must be invited. In addition to Biological Perspectives, The American Journal of Pathology continues to solicit and publish traditional Review articles, which are informative and insightful in their own right. For authors wishing to prepare a Review article, submission details can be found in the Instructions to Authors (available online at http://www.amjpathol.org or by contacting the Editorial Office). We hope that you enjoy this series, that you gain newfound insight into the highlighted field, and that you find these ideas and information valuable in your own research program. The next Biological Perspectives article, due out this fall, will discuss alternative vascularization pathways in cancer. Future issues will include Biological Perspectives on the topics of inflammation, sepsis, and atherosclerosis, to name a few.