Dial M for Molecular

When Ken Harden, Chair of the ASPET Board of Publications Trustees, called to ask me to chair the editorial board for a new ASPET journal, I knew I would be facing a number of challenges. But I never imagined that one of the biggest hurdles would lie in selecting a name for the new publication. All who were involved with the decision to initiate a new publication readily agreed on its purpose and format: The heart of the journal would consist of pithy, cutting-edge scientific reviews by the most outstanding leaders in the field. Over time, the journal would cover all the varied aspects of pharmacology, including projections of new directions and coverage of scientific controversies. This scientific core would be combined with interesting features and articles addressing all aspects of the profession of pharmacology, including industrial and academic perspectives. In short, we aspired to a journal that would serve to define the discipline of pharmacology—and therein lay our first controversy.

From the inception of the concept of a new journal, many titles were suggested. The original working title (obviously the work of a committee) was Drugs, Molecules, and Biology. Other ideas ranged from Foxglove to Crosstalk, from Prism to Perspectives in Pharmacology. Morpheus, Crucible, Paracelsus, Updates in Pharmacological Sciences, and Inspirations were also on the list. At one point there were a total of eighty-four possibilities. Some of these were just plain boring, some were obscure, and others didn't obviously relate to pharmacology.

It was our newly hired Editor, Harry Smith, who finally came up with something distinctive. Harry came to us with substantial experience as an Editor. After receiving a PhD in biochemistry and postdoctoral research experience, Harry decided to take his writing skills and scientific interests to another level and pursue a career as a scientific writer and editor of scientific journals. Shortly after joining ASPET and after listening to a long conversation about possible journal names, Harry made his suggestion: MOLECULAR IN(TER)VENTIONS.

My first reaction to this suggestion was elation. At last, a unique and catchy title. I thought molecular interventions was a perfect definition of pharmacology. What is pharmacology if not the study of molecules and their exploitation as interventions to alter biological function? Neurotransmitters—the very domain of neuropharmacologists—are aptly described as the molecules that intervene at synaptic junctions so that nerve impulses can be relayed. Cell receptors—a basic concern of nearly all pharmacological disciplines—can be defined as the molecules that intervene between the extracellular and intracellular milieus so that extracellular signals can be translated into changes in cell function.

Furthermore, embedded in the word interventions, and adding to its own meaning, is inventions, emphasizing the promise of therapeutic application, also an essential part of pharmacology. This seemed to me a journal name that was unique and eye-catching, capturing the essence of pharmacology with multiple layers of meaning.

But I hadn't considered how words can be hijacked, taking on specific meanings and emotional contents, not necessarily related to the words themselves. In fact, objections were raised to both words in the title. Molecular was the first word to raise hackles. Would the journal only include molecular pharmacology? Would the casual browser whose interests might not include a molecular approach hesitate to open the journal? I was strongly warned to give this careful thought, and I soon found myself referring, only half jokingly, to “the ‘M’ word” in the presence of my skeptical colleagues.

As an integrative pharmacologist, I was at first surprised by the honest concerns that I encountered regarding our prospective title. It had never occurred to me that the use of the word molecular might be interpreted as an attempt either to exclude studies of whole organisms or to stress a particular aspect of pharmacology. Our intent in establishing a new publication is indeed just the opposite—namely, to reflect the entire range of pharmacological approaches, from reductionist genetic approaches to an integrated understanding of the impact of molecules on the whole organism. In fact, I believe that this essential aspect of our discipline, this scientific breadth, is what attracted many of us to pharmacology in the first place.

The second word of our new title, interventions, was also met with cynicism. Some felt that the word brought a connotation to the title that was “too clinical.” Did we intend to focus on “applied,” as opposed to “basic,” pharmacology? Would the casual reader be confused? Again, we countered, the concept of therapeutics is at the heart of pharmacology. In fact, one could claim that, without the therapeutic aspect, it is hard to distinguish pharmacology from other disciplines, such as physiology.

The discussions that arose around the search for our title strike at many of the controversies that presently confront pharmacology—and we fully intend to explore these in the coming issues of MOLECULAR IN(TER)VENTIONS. Indeed, the name of the journal is not what will matter in the long run. What matters now and will continue to matter is the journal's content, which, in turn, will give the only true meaning to the journal name.

We have assembled a strong and varied Editorial Advisory Board that will guide the journal's mission in exploring the many facets of pharmacology. We hope to earn the readership of every pharmacologist, whether in industry, academia, government, or elsewhere, by presenting science that spans all aspects of our discipline. We will also include a variety of features covering aspects of professional life, such as interviews with outstanding researchers from pharmacology and related disciplines, articles focusing on career, and reviews of those cultural media that seek to speak to or about scientists. Within all of our contributions, we will place a premium on critical thought, presented in clear and engaging text, and supported by compelling graphic components.

Thus, we would like to welcome you to MOLECULAR IN(TER)VENTIONS. Our goal is no less than to define the discipline of pharmacology by exploring its many manifestations. We look forward to the participation of all our readers in this endeavor.

MOLECULAR IN(TER)VENTIONS welcomes reader comments.

E-mail: mi{at}aspet.org

• © American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Theraputics 2001