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President’s Message: Our Journal’s Distinctive Role in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Research

Last year, Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, ASTCT’s journal, celebrated its 30th year serving the profession. This milestone caused me to reflect on what the journal has meant to the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapies, and why it continues to matter.

I have had the privilege of serving as an associate editor since 2018. I joined because I believed in the importance of a journal that reflects the full scope of our work, from basic science through clinical care, and that is shaped by the professionals engaged in that work every day. That perspective has only deepened over time.

At its core, the journal is one of the primary ways ASTCT advances the study and practice of hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapies. It brings together emerging research, clinical best practices, and lessons learned in a way that directly informs how we care for patients and how the field continues to evolve.

The connection between research and clinical is a part of what has kept me involved in the journal. Over the years, I have contributed to dozens of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy articles, because I believe what I have discovered deserves replication so we can do better for our patients. And in turn, I have found important insights in the journal’s pages over the years that I have applied to my clinical practice.

This kind of engagement is not unique to me. Professionals across our field play an important role in ASTCT’s mission when they submit articles. Through sharing research findings, clinical insights, and innovative approaches, authors contribute to the growth and advancement of our work while helping peers navigate evolving scientific and clinical challenges.

That collective contribution is built on a strong foundation. The journal began in 1995, when Dr. Richard J. O’Reilly and Dr. Karl Blume were charged by the ASTCT Board (then ASBMT) to develop a journal dedicated to HCT. Its purpose was to report the best basic, translational, and clinical research while providing a forum for communicating progress in this evolving scientific and medical discipline. Dr. O’Reilly’s wonderful overview in the December 2025 issue offers an account of that history and the field’s evolution.

Since 2001, Robert Korngold, PhD, has served as the journal’s editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, together with his associate editors and editorial board, the journal has been developed with consistency and rigor into a leading, internationally recognized resource. As Dr. Korngold prepares to retire, we will soon name a new editor-in-chief. Join me in recognizing him for his steady leadership and commitment to quality, which have shaped the journal over the past 25 years. I am personally grateful for this tremendous service and commitment.

Have you submitted to the journal recently? I urge you to consider it as the home for your next discovery, and to encourage new investigators to do the same.

The journal supports a range of content types:

• Regular manuscripts presenting original, well-organized research of importance to the field
• Research communications offering concise reports of significant findings
• Review articles providing thorough and detailed perspectives on topics of broad interest
• Clinical reviews focused on therapy, diagnosis, and practical clinical issues
• Editorials and letters supporting interpretation and scholarly dialogue
• Reflections sharing experiences, resilience, and lessons from practice
• Video abstracts communicating key findings in a clear, accessible format

There is no minimum length for full manuscripts, allowing high-quality work to be evaluated on its merit. Rapid review is also now available for manuscripts considered elsewhere that fall within the scope of our journal. Learn more about this new offering in our guide for authors.

Publishing in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy allows professionals to shape standards, best practices, and emerging priorities while ensuring the journal remains current and grounded in real-world practice.

I encourage you to continue engaging with the journal, both as readers and as contributors, as we look ahead to the next chapter of the field.

Margy MacMillan, MD, MSc, FRCPC