Birthdays and anniversaries are usually times of joy and celebration, as well as a time to look back to see where we have been and forward to where we are going. On this first birthday of Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, we have a great deal to celebrate. Professor Peter Barnes, 1 year ago, introduced the new baby by predicting that “Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine will provide a distillation of some of the key discoveries in the field, alongside interpretations by experts in the field, so that the clinical significance of new discoveries is clearly explained and the research put into an understandable context … (it) plans to address the need for up-to-date information that covers the whole spectrum of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, international experts will make this information assessable to respiratory specialists and interpret some of the new data so that they are relevant to clinical practice” Citation[1]. By all accounts, the journal has met and exceeded these predictions.
In our first year, Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine has covered the diversity of clinical and basic research that is pulmonary medicine today. These reviews have been written by expert physicians, scientists, educators and pharmacologists, demonstrating the highly interdisciplinary nature of pulmonary medicine. Topics have included all aspects of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, sleep-disordered breathing, occupational and environmental contributions to lung disease, advances in the treatment of pulmonary infections, lung cancer and respiratory critical care. From the most comprehensive of clinical reviews to the deepest exploration of the fundamental science behind the molecular biology of lung disease, each of these reviews has highlighted the key papers and integrated these key papers into a clear and comprehensive whole. These peer-reviewed articles by international leaders uniquely include structured commentaries, a five-year visionary perspective and key issues as bullet points summarizing the article. The authors have provided an in-depth and clear evaluation of the pertinent literature; they have also provided their own expert opinion, often and deliberately speculative, as to the meaning of these data and their clinical implications. We are fortunate to have had contributions from a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of respiratory medicine. It is these reviews that have made Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine the indispensable source for state-of-the-art information on the science and clinical application of discoveries pertinent to the care of those with respiratory disease.
In addition, Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine has published reports from international meetings, profiles of new medications, industry perspectives, assessment of new technology and a summary of important news. I have especially enjoyed three features of the journal: Perspectives, Key Paper Evaluations and Special Reports. Perspective articles are similar to the reviews mentioned, but focus on more controversial aspects of respiratory medicine. The authors are encouraged to be speculative, forward looking and highly opinionated to represent a personal perspective. Key Paper Evaluations and Special Reports summarize a specific, often rapidly developing or niche area.
I am sure Professor Barnes is delighted to see that his prediction has come to pass. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine has become the indispensable reading for academic respiratory clinicians and scientists. I am very much looking forward to the terrific two’s.
We also welcome unsolicited article proposals. If you are interested, please provide a brief summary together with a working title and author contact details for consideration by the editorial board.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Reference
- Barnes PJ. Introducing Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine. Expert. Rev. Resp. Med.1, 1–2 (2007).