A new platform for new promises in hematology

Tao Cheng

Editor-in-Chief, Blood Science, Professor of Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, Director, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Scientific Director, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

Blood system is unique among all the systems and organs in the body.Measurable changes in blood not only reflect blood disorders (including genetic blood diseases, acquired bone marrow failure, and hematological malignancies) but also indicate pathological conditions of many other nonhematological diseases(e.g.,infectious diseases,autoimmune diseases,diabetes,vascular diseases, and solid tumors).Studies on basic, translational,and clinical hematology will certainly improve our current medical practice and bring more cures for blood diseases as well as other relevant diseases.Given the unprecedentedly advancing technologies such as single cell genomics, gene editing, big data science,and drug development,new developments in hematology and related areas are anticipated to rise more rapidly than others.Therefore,there is an urgent need for new publication channels in the field of hematology.This demand is more appealing in Asia because there are very few English hematology journals in Asia.In particular, China has continuingly invested in science and technology since a decade ago and new scientific discoveries are booming as also exemplified in hematology research.However,a continuous growth of scientific discoveries is encountering the space limit and imbalanced distribution of current international journals.As a consequence, many quality papers cannot be published timely.

Blood Science (www.bloodscience.org) is an international single-blind,peer-reviewed,open access journal that publishes original research,reviews,and news in the field of clinical and experimental hematology; it covers the topics on molecular biology, physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical applications of blood cells or noncellular blood components.The central goal of this journal is to provide a platform for researchers to present their new discoveries,and to be a forum for the discussion on important issues in the field.One philosophy of Blood Science is to be complementary to other existing journals to promote blood science and medicine, and ultimately benefit the patients.Blood Science is affiliated with Chinese Association for Blood Sciences (CABS), which includes the largest and best young investigators in hematology (more basic researchers) in China.A group of internationally renowned outstanding investigators from different countries in hematology have been assembled in the editorial board of Blood Science.I am privileged to serve as the founding editor-in-chief for Blood Science.With active participation from the board members as well as other colleagues around the world and hard work by the journal professional staff, Blood Science will serve as a unique public domain for exchanging the new advances and introducing hot topics in hematology in a timely manner.With the right timing(天时),right location(地利),and right people (人和), I am optimistic about the success of Blood Science ahead!