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A Future Vision for PLOS Computational Biology

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A Future Vision for PLOS Computational Biology Editorial A Future Vision for PLOS Computational Biology Ruth Nussinov1,2* 1 Basic Science Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America, 2 Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel With much trepidation I accepted the relevance. As Editor-in-Chief I will do my PLOS Computational Biology is broad; it great honor and responsibility of becom- best to have PLOS Computational Biology addresses diverse biological problems. We ing Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Computational continue these traditions. look forward to further expanding its Biology. I am fully aware of how hard it will Computational biology is often per- scope through the inclusion of outstanding be to step into the shoes of Philip Bourne, ceived as a single field; this however is methods and resource papers, opening up the Editor-in-Chief of the journal for the not the case. Like experimental biology, significant new research directions while last seven years, since it was founded by computational biology is enormously retaining and enhancing the strong scien- him, Steven Brenner, and Michael Eisen. broad; the only distinction from experi- tific merit of PLOS Computational Biology We are all deeply appreciative and mental biology is the means. This has publications. We further plan on improv- thankful to Phil for his unique role; and disadvantages and advantages: the main ing the pace of submissions processing. we are grateful that he will be continuing disadvantage is that conclusions based on PLOS Computational Biology is recognized by his association with the journal in the computations are often treated by biolo- the community as the premier journal in future in the role of Founding Editor-in- gists as less conclusive than those based on computational biology. We will strive to Chief, aiding and inspiring us and the experiments; the main advantages are that continue in this tradition. PLOS Computational Biology community. As computations allow researchers to analyze PLOS Computational Biology is tightly a Deputy Editor-in-Chief, I became aware vast amounts of data and make testable associated with the International Society of the true family relationship in the broad predications, and they allow researchers to of Computational Biology (ISCB). We PLOS organization and of the devoted address problems that current experimen- cherish and will continue fostering this and gifted editorial force so nicely fostered tal methods may not be able to treat. The association. The Society, its meetings, and by Phil in PLOS Computational Biology. high quality of papers published in PLOS the journal all have a common goal: These played a crucial role in helping Computational Biology indicates that the enhancing and promoting excellence in me decide to accept the invitation to apparent disadvantage is not necessarily computational biology. Outstanding re- become Editor-in-Chief. there. While they may still need further search with clear biological relevance, I am deeply committed to the underlying experimental and computational valida- which leads to fundamental new insights principle of free public access to scientific tion, conclusions based on rigorous com- into important biological problems, is the information. In particular, what is truly putations applied to carefully assembled hallmark of future contributions by our unique and special about PLOS Computational and curated data, which are backed up by community to biology. As the Editor-in- Biology is that it fulfills this mission while available experimental results, can be as Chief I shall do my utmost to achieve these maintaining the highest standards of scien- reliable, insightful, and biologically signif- goals. tific rigor, originality, and clear biological icant as those based on experiments. Citation: Nussinov R (2012) A Future Vision for PLOS Computational Biology. PLoS Comput Biol 8(10): e1002727. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002727 Published October 4, 2012 Copyright: ß 2012 Ruth Nussinov. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: The author received no specific funding for writing this article. Competing Interests: The author has declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: [email protected] Ruth Nussinov is Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Computational Biology. PLOS Computational Biology | www.ploscompbiol.org 1 October 2012 | Volume 8 | Issue 10 | e1002727.
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