Medical Hypotheses: Volume 182 to Volume 185
Certainly, here is an overview of Medical Hypotheses, emphasizing its unique role in the world of scientific publishing:
Medical Hypotheses: A Sanctuary for Radical Ideas in Medicine
Mission and Historical Background:
- Founder: The late Dr. David Horrobin
- Launch Date: January-February 1975
- Objective: To provide a platform for novel, even radical, ideas and theories in medicine and related biomedical sciences.
- Guiding Philosophy: “Medical Hypotheses will publish papers which describe theories, ideas which have a great deal of observational support and some hypotheses where experimental support is yet fragmentary.” – Dr. David Horrobin
Format and Style:
- Standard Scientific Form: Papers adopt a conventional scientific style, structure, and referencing system.
- Bridge to Mainstream: Serves as a bridge between cutting-edge theories and mainstream medical and scientific discourse.
Review Process:
- Editorial Review: Manuscripts are reviewed by the Editor and external peer reviewers.
- Review Criteria: Focus on premise, originality, and plausibility of the hypotheses.
- Reviewer Guidelines: Reviewers are fully aware of the Aims and Scope of the journal and assess manuscripts accordingly.
Publication Details:
- Frequency: 12 issues per year, published monthly.
Who Should Read?:
Researchers, clinicians, and academics interested in theoretical aspects of medicine, including those with unconventional or radical ideas that need rigorous scientific scrutiny.
Why is it Unique?:
- Open-minded Consideration: Gives speculative or radical hypotheses the open-minded consideration that most conventional journals would not offer.
- Debate and Diversity: Encourages intellectual diversity and debate, essential elements of the scientific process.
- Gatekeeper for Novel Ideas: Offers an initial platform for innovative ideas to be critiqued and tested, before they enter mainstream scientific dialogue.
By fulfilling its unique role, Medical Hypotheses acts as a sanctuary for unexplored theories and ideas, fostering an environment where innovative scientific thinking can be documented, debated, and critiqued, thereby contributing to the advancement of medicine and biomedical sciences.