%0 Journal Article
%T Introducing Annals of Surgical Innovation and Research
%A Ronald Matteotti
%A Michel Gagner
%A James Becker
%J Annals of Surgical Innovation and Research
%D 2007
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1750-1164-1-1
%X Open access provides an unparalleled opportunity to present information to specialists and the public. The online appearance of Annals of Surgical Innovation and Research (ASIR) allows the immediate publication of accepted articles and the presentation of large amounts of data, multimedia files and supplemental information.But do we really need another journal in the field of medicine?Yes we do, because this open access journal will be accessible to everyone, and not just those with access to a library with a subscription. As such, ASIR will help to increase public interest in, and support of, research. Many major founders, such as the NIH and the Wellcome Trust, now have policies to encourage grant holders to release their research to the public as soon as possible after publication [2-4]. These policies are likely to be replicated by other major founders, especially following the recommendations of the UK House of Commons Committee [5].A country's economy will not influence its researchers' ability to access articles in ASIR, because resource-poor countries (and institutions) will be able to read the same material as wealthier ones [6]).Our ambitious aim is to function as an ideal bridge to close the gap between the revolution in surgical innovations and research, especially in minimal invasive surgical technology, and to help surgeons at the front line of patient care. The journal tries to centralize new knowledge in one forum to give a quick and comprehensive review over new innovations and relevant research. The scope of the journal is to advance the quickly developing field of new surgical techniques and innovations in a more and more technically demanding field. It offers an opportunity to publish large datasets, large numbers of illustrations and even movies, and therefore to act as the primary source for surgical innovations to be used by clinicians and researchers.We recognize the need for a dynamic forum that fosters the exchange of ideas across the entir
%U http://www.asir-journal.com/content/1/1/1