Message From the Editor: Transformative Research

Most studies are natural extensions of prior work: measured, incremental advances that either confirm or refute previous research or that extend it in an obvious way. These incremental studies are essential to the advancement of science. Every new discovery must be validated to confirm that it is correct. Furthermore, a finding in isolation may have little value without fleshing out the implications. Investigators are often drawn to performing incremental studies because the methods are tested and results are more predictable. From the investigator’s perspective, the risk in doing an incremental study is much lower. Thus, safe and incremental studies naturally dominate the literature…