EDITORIAL
January 2000!


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At this auspicious time, it is important for us as a Journal to consider where we have been and where we are going. It has become broadly recognized in the last 35 years that the lung is more than a simple bellows involved in gas exchange. It has complex functions regulated by its constituent cells that range from producing surfactant to providing an exquisite immune surveillance mechanism to guard against infection. In the 10 years since its inception, the Journal has become the major authoritative source on the current findings of the molecular and cellular aspects of the normal function of cells and components of the respiratory system. During this growth period, the Journal has published on all aspects of lung cellular and molecular physiology including gas exchange and metabolic control at the cellular level; intracellular signaling; gene expression; cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions; cell motility; secretory mechanisms; membrane function; surfactant; matrix components; mucus and lining materials; lung defenses; macrophage function; transport of salt, water and protein; development and differentiation of the respiratory system; and the cellular responses of the lung to the environment. The Journal has provided extensive coverage of these areas by publishing original research on all of these topics. As a result, it has carved out a niche among those who call themselves "pulmonary investigators" and, also importantly, among those with less secular research interests. We wish to continue in this tradition and thank Gene Rannels for his outstanding leadership over the last six years. Simply put, the Journal remains committed to publishing the best and most original research in lung biology and pathobiology.

There will be some changes, however, that we think will lead to even further improvements. The Journal is poised to expand in this modern era of biology, which will include completion of the human genome project, by considering papers in the broadly classified area of genomics. The Journal will also consider papers in integrative lung biology that expand our understanding of how cells function in an integrated unit. The intent here is to provide a view of the world that goes beyond the reductionist approach. We believe that the integrative aspects of lung biology (such as the use of genetically altered animal models) has a great deal to teach us about the functions of specific lung cells and molecules. The Journal will also solicit from time to time manuscripts in focused areas of special interest and importance. These manuscripts will receive an expedited review and will be published under a separate heading to emphasize their importance to the field. They will be accompanied by a commentary intended to highlight the particular work and provide a perspective on the research area.

In the coming year, we are committed to expediting the review process. We think we have the means of achieving this long-sought-after goal. Authors will be able to electronically submit their manuscripts, and, moreover, reviewers will be able to provide reviews to the editors with the click of a button. We believe that this will help decrease the duration of the review process and expedite publication of your manuscripts without compromising the fairness and thoroughness of the review. These means have been developed by the American Physiological Society so that your work can be published while it remains topical.

The coming years hold great promise for lung research, and the Journal intends to be a major disseminator of the most current and important information. Powerful methodologies have become available to probe the functions of cells and molecules in their most intimate details and to provide a description of how the lung functions as an integrated unit that is more than the sum of its components. Thus at this critical juncture of many impending transformations in biology, we would like to see the Journal become the major "voice" of lung research. We would like you to consider this as your Journal because in the final analysis, its strength and vitality will reflect your research efforts and your contributions. For our part, we are committed to making the Journal the best venue for publication of your most original research so that your work will have the broadest and most expeditious exposure.

Asrar B. Malik, Editor
Michael A. Matthay,
Ivan F. McMurtry,
Bruce R. Pit,
Paul T. Schumacker,
Richard D. Ye, Associate Editors
American Journal of Physiology-
Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
January 2000, Volume 278 (22)


Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 278(1):L1-L2
0002-9513/00 $5.00 Copyright © 2000 the American Physiological Society




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