Pediatric Discovery: Opportunities and challenges in pediatric medicine

• DOI: 10.1002/pdi3.4
• Publication Date: 2023-05-30T11:55:15Z
• Authors: Qiu Li; Yaolong Chen; Tong‐Chuan He
• Keywords: Specialty; Hippocratic Oath

We are excited about launching the new open access journal, Pediatric Discovery, which aims to promote and advance health well-being of infants, children, adolescents by disseminating cutting-edge discoveries knowledge all aspects pediatric medicine. This journal will serve as an essential platform for illuminating basic, translational, clinical that impact development. Pediatrics, a medicine specialty, focuses on medical care management from birth up age 18.1 However, American Academy Pediatrics recommended people seek through 21 in 1960s eliminated upper limit 2017,2 based rationale transition adult should be specific patient needs, not arbitrary number. The term pediatrics was first introduced English 1859 German physician, Dr. Abraham Jacobi (1830–1919), who became dedicated pediatrician world is known father pediatrics. Nonetheless, child-specific problems, such childhood epilepsy, rashes, premature births, meningitis, were described Hippocratic Corpus fifth century B.C., well Greek philosophers physicians Celsus, Soranus Ephesus, Aretaeus, Galen, Oribasius fourth centuries A.D.3 Some early publications specifically focusing children's concerns appeared between 1790s 1920s. has now emerged major branch science encompasses broad spectrum physical, mental, social care, ranging preventive diagnosis treatment acute chronic diseases. field been evolving at unprecedented pace due advances our understanding human diseases genome, cell organ levels. overall goals reduce rates infant child deaths, control spread infectious diseases, healthy lifestyles long disease-free life, help improve lives children with conditions. practitioners also involved prevention, diagnosis, developmental delays disorders, behavioral functional disabilities, stresses, mental including depression anxiety disorders. different many ways because physiologically adult. As result, congenital defects, genetic variance, development-related disorders great concern pediatricians. Children simply miniature adults. A child's immature developing physiology must taken into account when considering symptoms, prescribing medications, diagnosing illnesses. In particular, greatly impacts pharmacokinetic properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination) medications children. Certain legal issues further complicate delivery since minors and, most jurisdictions, cannot make decisions themselves. Thus, related guardianship, privacy, responsibility informed consent need considered every procedure, although more recent studies indicate teens capable making their own 12 or 13.4 For past few decades, biomedical research have significantly improved adolescents. fact, Cheng et al., open-ended survey professionals, identified seven achievements occurred 4 decades: preventing life-saving immunizations, reducing sudden death Back Sleep campaign, finding cure lymphoblastic leukemia, improving respiratory function infants surfactant therapy, HIV transmission mother infant, increasing life expectancy sickle anemia cystic fibrosis, saving car seats seat belts.5 Furthermore, same group predicted next medicine, include effective immunizations prevent emerging persistent promising immunotherapy treat cancers, novel genomic predict, prevent, extensive lifelong data identify fetal origins disease allow interventions, better social-environmental influences biology individual population health, quality improvements establish safe efficient systems worldwide, implementation dissemination poverty global scale.6 While it difficult predict any scientific discovery, these usually driven seminal insights unexpected directions, undoubtedly true we extraordinary time innovative technologies. believe edge exciting initiatives adults they become. sciences exploding continuing expand horizons. Innovative technologies interdisciplinary approaches areas genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, pharmacogenomics, epigenetics, metabolomics, nanosystems, bioinformatics allowed us conquer numerous challenges efficiently than ever before, leading faster translation observations bench bedside vice versa. It therefore imperative rapidly disseminated professionals care. Discovery timely valuable publishing propagating important state-of-the-art may fundamentally affect adolescent health. this era abundance availability vast array information technology, positioned strive toward communication education community regarding practical meaning milestones achieved general, particular. ultimate goal voice researchers communicate observations, lead future interventions prevention Through partnership John Wiley & Sons, Inc., submission review process seamless creating central editorial office receive manuscripts around world. paperless decrease turn-around without compromising even-handedness process. encourage scientists disciplines submit best and/or work raise standing journal. efforts set stage progress evolves ensure forefront research. key aspect its commitment evidence-based, recognize critical role plays outcomes systematic reviews practice guidelines, provide solid foundation evidence-based synthesizing available expert consensus. contribute development high-quality guidelines use rigorous methodologies creation, ensuring highest standard patients. Although overseen National Clinical Research Center Child Health Disorders China, Children's Hospital Chongqing Medical University, serves academic professional communities across disciplines. meet expectations depend assistance support overcome ultimately Last but least, founding Editors-in-Chief, honored grateful trust placed opportunity represent Discovery. Data sharing applicable article no datasets generated analyzed during current study.