Editorial

New Frontiers in Stem Cell Reseach and Therapy This issue of Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy, the first in 2009, marks the beginning of the fourth year for the journal. The journal originated with a mission of providing comprehensive reviews and original work related to the emerging field of stem cells. Looking back at the articles published over the last three years, one can see the trends of the field, and more importantly, in many instances, the published articles predicted trends in terms of new research directions and areas of therapeutic inquiry. The editorial board members, leaders in their respective fields, and the journal editorial staff have made the success of this journal possible, and they deserve a special thanks for all their efforts over the last three years. This issue provides a wide repertoire of excellent reviews and original work. The contribution of native organ stem cells and stem cells from the surrounding tissues for organ repair is the main focus of the article by Bussolati et al., where the kidney is specifically discussed. The control of stemness, a very complex area, is the topic of an overview by Noriko et al. The intersection of the multidisciplinary science of stem cells and personalized medicine is discussed by Heinrich et al., and then described clinically in a very important paper by Jager et al., regarding the use of a bone marrow concentrate for bone defect treatments in ten patients. The list of articles published in this issue is even too long to describe individually, but the varied topics, including the alternative strategies for the derivation of stem cells, the use of stem cells for gene therapy and cardiac disease, and the role of stem cells in immunological disease, are all relevant subjects that are critical to our understanding of stem cells in general and the future of our health. I hope you will enjoy reading this excellent issue as much the editorial office has enjoyed preparing it.