https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8636-1071
Hematologic disorders afflict patients all over the world. Hematologists manage patients with hematologic disorders in all continents. Innovative and creative research in hematologic conditions is conducted globally. At the same time, the disease and patient characteristics, the conditions in which hematologists practice and conduct research, and the resource availability and practices, all vary greatly from country to country and from region to region. However, much of the information that is generated through research and practice in many parts of the world, particularly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is not currently widely available in the medical literature. The research and other contributions to the understanding and management of hematologic conditions that comes from these areas has a different focus, is frequently conducted with alternative methods based on their patient characteristics and available resources, and often addresses different problems. Yet, it is equally impactful and can help improve the lives of many patients all over the world, particularly those that share similar life and health care resource conditions. The understanding of the need to provide a space for the dissemination of all this knowledge and innovation coming from LMICs was the genesis of Blood Global Hematology. With this first issue we launch what we hope will be a very valuable space for hematologic research with a global scope, and a source of knowledge regarding populations and approaches emerging from every corner of the world.
Blood Global Hematology will publish articles that come from LMICs or relate to hematologic conditions in LMICs. We will also accept manuscripts that address hematologic conditions in populations anywhere in the world that are underrepresented in the medical literature. There are different types of manuscripts that are acceptable for evaluation and eventual publication. These include original research, whether clinical, translational, or basic; case series describing approaches and results from specific populations; exceptional case reports that describe unique patients that provide novel data that contribute to the understanding of the biology or treatment of a certain hematologic condition; clinical guidelines and consensus statements developed specifically for a country or, preferably, a region that vary from published recommendations in a significant way because of the characteristics of the population, the resources, or other variables; population health and epidemiologic studies that describe the characteristics of the population with a given hematologic condition in a defined part of the world that may be different than what is described in reports from other regions; and descriptions of care delivery systems that optimize resources. We also welcome review articles of topics of interest to the global hematologic community, summarizing the latest available literature and scientific evidence and with a focus on underrepresented populations and/or LMIC populations. Another type of article to be published in Blood Global Hematology is what we are calling “A Global View.” These are commissioned articles that present the perspective of the author on a given topic of interest for the global hematology community.
Blood Global Hematology is an open access journal. This allows hematologists all over the world to be able to access the information published that could be relevant to their own practice and research. Initially, issues will be published quarterly, but articles will be available online promptly once accepted as “First Edition” and final, copyedited articles will be available online as soon as they complete the production process. We recognize that costs are frequently a limiting factor in being able to publish in medical journals, particularly for investigators in LMICs. To minimize this limitation, Blood Global Hematology does not have a submission fee. For articles that are accepted, the publication fee will be reduced proportional to the financial condition of the country of residence of the corresponding author based on data published by the World Bank. Details on this framework, including the specific discount provided to each country, can be found on the journal website. Blood Global Hematology is a journal from the Blood family of journals; thus, it requires rigorous peer review for all articles, including those that are commissioned. One other limitation we have seen in most scientific journals is that there is minimal representation of investigators from LMICs in the editorial teams. To address this issue, we have constituted an editorial team of 6 associate editors from various LMICs representing different areas of the world. The editorial board is also constituted overwhelmingly by investigators from these countries. We believe this not only makes the journal more representative of the global hematologic community but also allows for better understanding of the issues faced by investigators in various countries and regions and will help stimulate submissions from colleagues from all regions of the world.
The American Society of Hematology has an extensive portfolio of global initiatives working on supporting education, research, and patient care all over the world. Blood Global Hematology is an extension of this growing global effort. We believe that by providing a space for hematologists and researchers all over the world to a quality journal focused on hematology and with a global view, we all benefit and learn. We hope you enjoy reading the great hematologic research being conducted globally and that you will consider submitting your own research focused on global issues to Blood Global Hematology.
