oa Editorial: [Advances in Stem Cell Reseach and Therapy]

This issue of Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy marks the beginning of the fifth year for the journal. The mission of the journal is to keep our readership current with original and review articles that cover the whole spectrum of stem cell research and therapy. The field of stem cells is very different now as it was just 5 years ago. It is interesting to note the new concepts and technologies that have emerged since the journal published its first issue in 2006. For example, the definition of “pluripotency” was a hotly debated topic a few years back, and a consensus panel arrived at a new set of stem cell definitions in late 2007. Induced pluripotent stem cells were described in rats in 2006 and in humans in 2007. The creation of human embryonic stem cell lines without sacrificing the embryo was first described in 2008. Last year has seen a change in stem cell policy in the US, where federal funds can now be used for human embryonic stem cell research, but not for the creation of new stem cell lines. The journal has stayed at the forefront of the field by publishing relevant articles that clearly define the new trends and directions of stem cell research and therapy. The editorial board members and the journal editorial staff continuously to work hard and are responsible for making this journal a success, and we are thankful for all their efforts. As this issue gets published and we are getting ready for another volume, new trends in the field of stem cells are sure to emerge. All of us at the journal are looking forward to a new year filled with discovery and continued progress in the field, and we are thankful that we can share these advances with our readers.