Letter from the Editors

Authors: Jennifer L Hall Nabil Dib

Publish Date: 2009/04/22

Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages: 225-226

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Abstract

Recognizing the need for a bold new step in publishing that directly addressed the mission of improving the care of patients with cardiovascular disease we forged a relationship with Springer to start a new journal JCTR in 2008 We are pleased to announce that Sir Magdi Yacoub has now joined us as consulting senior editor His worldwide humanitarian efforts to decrease heart disease through research and patient care are a living example of JCTR’s missionTranslational research is now a common term It is a goal of the National Institute of Health This Journal serves to help define the process We continuously seek original articles review articles and methodological articles on the definitions roadblocks and solutions that define the steps in translational research As editors we have started with a working definition of translational as “discovery development proof and promotion”The editorial team’s priority is to publish basic insights and discoveries from the research lab and clinic with timely updates on the development of new therapies proceeding through FDA approval We also seek articles that effectively communicate and elucidate the process of development Because the process of developing new targets through FDA approval is vitally important to the health of our communities and is not well understood by many research scientists highlighting FDA approval will be an ongoing focusIn this issue we highlight translational elements of cardiovascular devices A review by Daniel Tang and colleagues provides an overview of the history patient selection and timing of ventricular assist devices Pay close attention to the table in their article it offers a clear picture of the current FDA approved and investigational assist devices their characteristics and their manufacturers Two articles from FDA staff Eric Chen and Francesca Dolcimascolo share the regulators’ perspectives on cardiovascular devices Readers may find these articles particularly helpful Finally a review by Ranjit John Andrew Boyle Frank Pagani and Leslie Miller highlight physiologic and pathologic changes in patients with ventricular assist devices These authors are leaders in clinical trials with ventricular assist devices Collectively these articles meet our goal of shedding clinical insight and FDA perspective into the current updates in cardiovascular assist devicesArticles on cellular molecular and genetic mechanisms that may influence heart function and mortality round out the issue The Pyles et al article offers a glimpse of a rich 25 year old registry the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium which holds critical pieces of information on how genetics may influence response to treatment Two original articles that share timely new discoveries in preclinical models for a beta 2 agonist Clenbuterol which has been used successfully in conjunction with a left ventricular assist device to reverse end stage heart failure in humans round out the issueImproving care of patients with cardiovascular disease includes defining developing and promoting research Translating research into clinical practice demands the best research and clinical practices JCTR serves a niche by publishing original high quality research from the initial stages of discovery through development to the bedside Translating research into clinical practice also requires the education of clinicians scientists and patients In JCTR you will find educational articles on best practices and workshops that permit readers to improve the care of patients It is our goal to continue to define new ground in publishing

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