No one involved in scientific research has to be told how quickly science moves these days. Keeping up in one’s own field remains a challenge despite the availability of digital tools to monitor the constantly changing scientific environment. From new applications of CRISPR technology to the myriad of advances in understanding the biology of the Corona virus, we all endeavor to maintain our connection with emerging ideas.

This is the rationale and foundation for the establishment of a new type of article, “Emerging Concepts”, that is being solicited for publication in Molecular Pharmacology. The first article in this category appears in the current issue (Zdenek et al., 2020). Fundamentally, we are encouraging the submission of articles relating to areas of biochemical and/or molecular biology that will inspire the scientific community to think about novel research directions at an early stage, rather than waiting for the accumulation of a critical mass of publications on particular topics. It is our goal to accelerate the development of novel ideas and promote research in directions that might not otherwise have been considered.

As the guidelines indicate, these articles will be relatively short, will not present data, and will not have the makeup of a traditional review. It is our hope that this type of article will prove to have significant short- and long-term impact on the scientific community and society.

• Copyright © 2020 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics