William Mayo expressed hope in the initial publication of the Archives of Surgery that it would provide an opportunity for the publication of original articles pertaining to research and investigation in those subjects that lay the foundation for sound surgical progress.1 Since that original mission statement, our scientific knowledge base has grown immensely, and its functional half-life has become progressively shorter. There has been an explosion of biomedical research since World War II. Scientific investigations are now a standard part of modern surgery. Technical advancements are constantly revitalizing our discipline. In concert with these changes, the Archives will revisit and raise its standards and publication goals as a recognized biomedical journal.
Much of the surgical research, initially occurring at the organ level (transplantation), has now shifted to the cellular and subcellular levels. Surgical laboratories are deeply involved in fundamental cell biology and its application to sepsis, oncology, and genetics.