Editorial J Mol Genet Med (August 2005), 1(1), 1-1 doi: jmgm Published online: 19 August 2005 Full Text: (pdf ~100kb) Showcasing the developing world Emily Howman Email: ehowman@yahoo.com © Copyright The Author ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are delighted to launch the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine. This provides an opportunity to showcase biomedical research from the developing world and the health issues affecting these regions. The aim of the journal is to make science from all areas of the globe freely accessible via open access publishing. A vast number of journals are published monthly but a large percentage is only available by subscription and many libraries in developing nations cannot afford the institutional fees. The costs of publishing an article can be prohibitive for struggling laboratories that have to decide whether to invest in reagents or paper. Budget constraints also prevent researchers from attending large European or US meetings to showcase their work and the scientific community as a whole loses out; valuable data generated by smaller academic laboratories in developing countries is not shared. The global scientific community can be brought closer together through web-based communications and open-access publishing provides inexpensive worldwide exposure and publicity of the work which may not be made available otherwise. This approach has been endorsed by both the Wellcome Trust (UK) and the National Institute of Health ( US). We hope that publishing in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine will increase awareness of studies in developing countries and foster collaborations with better funded European and US research communities. The pharmaceutical industry is already thriving in developing nations due to low production and clinical trial costs. India is the fourth largest producer of pharmaceuticals in the world and multinationals such as GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Novartis have set up laboratories in China. Science and technology drives economic growth so supporting grass roots research and cultivating collaborations should provide new opportunities for scientists and slow the mass migration of talent from these regions. Understanding the molecular and genetic basis of disease is paramount in developing defences against them. We invite submissions from all areas of molecular and genetic medicine but the Journal will give particular consideration to studies focussing on the health-related issues of developing nations such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, and microbial disease. The first issue of the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine includes articles on malaria, cardiac disease, and cancer. We hope this will be both a useful resource and outlet for you and we look forward to receiving submissions from you in the future. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Privacy | Disclaimer |