Introduction-Standing on each other’s shoulders

In his book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas S. Kuhn proposed that “scientific knowledge advances by periodic paradigm shifts rather than solely progressing in a linear and continuous way, and that these paradigm shifts open up new approaches to understanding what scientists would never have considered valid before; that the notion of scientific truth, at any given moment, cannot be established solely by objective criteria but is defined by a consensus of a scientific community.” (1) Such has been the progress in pediatric research, a paradigm shift followed by a new understanding of disease pathophysiology leading to advances in diagnosis and intervention. With a few exceptions, no one researcher makes the discovery that changes everything about the way a disease is treated. Even if there are no giants involved, investigators stand on the shoulders of each other and do studies that confirm, slightly change, or perhaps even radically reverse existing beliefs. Studies are repeated and adjusted, and we are always uncovering a new detail. Often, a single researcher is credited with a great triumph, but this seminal discovery is due to an entire architecture of investigators who devote years to increasing our knowledge of health, illness and treatment.

That is why, in this 50th Anniversary Review issue, we would like to remember, congratulate, and thank everyone who has been involved in Pediatric Research. To all the researchers, authors, statisticians, editors, and reviewers—to the doctors, nurses, children, their parents, and communities—wholehearted thanks are due. Because of you, this journal has thrived and published hundreds of papers since 1967, less than a year after the Society for Pediatric Research officially adopted the Declaration of Helsinki.

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