In human genetics we are experiencing a time of rapid change and development, driven mostly by new technological advances. Two years after the completion of the human genome sequencing in 2003, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies emerged and had a great impact on human genetics. Conventional exon-by-exon Sanger sequencing for the analysis of genetic disorders can be replaced by NGS-based analysis. Whole-exome sequencing is now possible at a cost similar to the Sanger sequencing of a single gene. We can even expect to see whole-genome sequencing for US$1000 (the $1000 genome project) this year. We also celebrated Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s award of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his great achievement in developing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. We can potentially make any type of cells from patient-derived iPS cells for disease-based experiments and even therapeutic strategies for disease treatments.

In this new era of human genetics, I am excited to be taking over as Editor-in-Chief from Professor Katsushi Tokunaga on January 1, 2014. The Journal of Human Genetics (JHG) has become truly international, publishing papers from all over the world (including countries from Africa, Europe, Oceania, North and South America, and Asia); and I am grateful for Prof. Tokunaga’s tremendous efforts in guiding JHG to this point and its position as one of the leading international journals on human genetics. My mission is to promote JHG as a key title in the field, publishing high-quality papers covering a wide of aspects of human genetics: medical genetics, human genome analysis, genetic analysis of Mendelian to multifactorial diseases and cancers, human evolution, population genetics, animal models of human diseases and behavior, gene therapy and new technologies for human genetic analysis. My hope is that JHG will continue to provide high-quality and stimulating papers with cutting-edge information for both clinicians and basic researchers.

To ensure the prosperity and continued growth of JHG, I have invited new associate editors and editorial board members to join the journal, and would like to express my sincere gratitude to all editorial board members for their great contribution. I would also like to invite scientists and clinicians from all over the world to submit their manuscripts to JHG and help to further create and define the new science of human genetics.