“Knowing the known is knowledge, knowing the unknown is wisdom.”

-Dr. P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar

We are pleased to present the first issue of Exploration of Medicine (EM). Clinical medicine is changing rapidly as the information pipeline from genetics and the plethora of omics (genome, transcriptome, methylome, proteome, metabolome) fused with systems biology is transforming and increasing the volume of discovery from traditional sciences such as physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and immunology [1–4]. These findings continuously engender new ideas and approaches to improve diagnosis, identify new categories of disease, uncover new treatment targets, test novel treatments and ultimately ease the burden on patients. We recognize the growing awareness that multiple biological pathways underlie most common diseases. Conversely, clinically distinct disorders may share genetic vulnerabilities, molecular mechanisms and risk factors. Thus, we aspire to integrate scientific content from experimental, computational, clinical and epidemiological research that can collectively transform the practice of clinical medicine from “one size fits all” to personalized approaches for classifying and treating disease.

Yet, why another journal when the field is flooded with hundreds of online open access journals? The reasons are simple. In addition to being online, peer reviewed, and a source of new information, EM will have state-of-the-art electronic review and publication, a quick turnaround time from submission to publication, a rigorous and transparent peer review process, and meticulous production. Reference linking to cited papers will increase usage and make the journal more attractive in an increasingly competitive environment. EM is an international journal that will provide a platform for advances in health care/clinical practices, patient-oriented studies, and basic medical research spanning a wide range of disciplines. Thus, this journal is aimed at a wide audience of medical researchers and healthcare professionals. Additionally we will feature timely reviews of rapidly advancing fields and special thematic issues covering a particular specialty or multi-disciplinary topic.

To ensure this process we have gathered a prestigious international group of Associate Editors each of whom will be responsible for managing the review process of papers pertaining to their medical and scientific discipline. The journal will comprise 16 sections (disciplines) including cardiovascular medicine and hematology; endocrinology and metabolism; gastroenterology and hepatology; genetics, genomics and computational biomedicine; lifespan medicine (pediatrics, adult internal medicine, and geriatrics); microbiology, immunology and infectious disease; neuroscience and neuropsychiatric disorders; oncology and cancer biology; ophthalmology and otolaryngology; preventive medicine and public health; pulmonary medicine and critical care; radiology, nuclear medicine and imaging; regenerative medicine; rheumatology and inflammation; urology and nephrology; and women’s health. We realize that establishing a viable scholarly journal takes time and effort. We cannot succeed without the understanding and support of a committed editorial board and talented editorial staff. Many outstanding researchers have joined the editorial board of the journal that we expect to grow and become increasingly diverse. Their advice and assistance are gratefully acknowledged. The editors and referees make an indispensable contribution by reviewing and evaluating submissions. We encourage you to join us in this enterprise by submitting manuscripts and participating in manuscript reviews. We also welcome applications to join our editorial board. Truly, there is hard work ahead for us, but I do hope that EM will be one of the many stars on the publishing market, shining as brightly as possible.

“Scientific facts are often described in textbooks as if they just sort of exist, like nickels someone picked up on the street. But science at the cutting edge, conducted by sharp minds probing deep into nature, is not about self-evident facts. It is about mystery and not knowing. It is about taking huge risks.”

-Richard Preston