There are six monthly journals that carry the Nature name. The evidence suggests that all have managed to establish for themselves significant areas of top-quality publishing territory. That takes insight, enthusiasm and unrelenting effort by all involved.

The launch of the seventh Nature journal, Nature Immunology, has required no less. Readers will be able to judge the results for themselves on 28 June, when the first issue (dated July) goes live on the web at http://immunology.nature.com. As much as any other biological discipline, immunology is not only thriving but also being greatly stimulated by new developments elsewhere: genomics, informatic technologies such as microarrays, and, increasingly, computer modelling. And yet tackling the fundamental questions about the human immune system is as intellectually challenging as ever. The new journal is well set to convey this sense of excitement and to be at the forefront of such developments.

Nature's enthusiasm for publishing superb immunology will continue unabated: we wish to publish papers that are outstanding in their fundamental significance and broad interest, conveying their significance beyond the immunology community. The editorial relationship between the new journal and Nature itself is no different from that of the others. Publishing decisions are made by Nature Immunology's own staff on the basis of referees' comments: there is no consultation with Nature on individual papers, nor vice versa. In that sense the journals are independent. However, if Nature decides that an excellent paper lacks the broader significance we seek but would still be outstanding within the field of immunology, we will offer to the authors to pass the referees' comments on to Nature Immunology so as to save the authors effort and time.

Welcome to a significant new development for immunologists!