A few years ago, I was asked by the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Council to coin a motto for the ESPE website. My proposal which eventually was unanimously accepted and still stands out on the ESPE homepage was: ‘improving care of children with endocrine diseases by promoting knowledge and research'. Thinking about this Editorial aimed at introducing my view of the scope of Hormone Research in Paediatrics, this motto has immediately come to my mind as the most appropriate definition of what I consider the Journal's mission. Since its foundation in 1970 as ‘Hormones' by M. Marois, the Journal has been successfully run by a series of outstanding pediatric endocrinologists such as Jurg Girard, who changed the title to ‘Hormone Research', Michael Ranke, and finally Paul Czernichow, who has recently introduced the title of ‘Hormone Research in Paediatrics' to focus the interest of authors and readers on this flourishing and fascinating field of research. The legacy left by my predecessors and especially by Paul Czernichow, who has given a tremendous boost to the worldwide reputation of the Journal, is extremely challenging. Nevertheless, I am convinced that a journal is a dynamic tool of knowledge, primarily made by the readers who actively contribute not only with their submissions but also with comments and suggestions. I strongly encourage you to directly contact me or any Associate Editor whenever you have proposals for improving the quality and circulation of our Journal ([email protected] or [email protected]). You will find a few typographical changes in this first issue of 2014 which I hope will make the cover more attractive and the table of contents more easily readable. A small step forward toward an easier usability of the papers will be the open access to the article selected as the Editor's Choice, besides the already open access to the Minireviews. Hormone Research in Paediatrics wants to be an instrument in your hands to keep you up to date, refine scientific and clinical skills, and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge to ‘improve care of children with endocrine diseases'. The Publisher, the Editorial Board, the Associate Editors and I look forward to having you join us on the road ahead.

Prof. Stefano Cianfarani

Editor-in-Chief

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