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The article focuses on the launch of "Open Medicine," an online-only general medical journal. It notes the benefits of the medical journal to Canadian researchers in terms of scientific productivity. It describes the journal as open-access, which creates opportunities for knowledge dissemination that are not provided by traditional publishing models. The advantages of open-access journals compared with the traditional periodicals are also discussed.

The article focuses on a policy requiring investigators to give information about trial design into a clinical trials registry before the onset of patient enrollment initiated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) in 2005. It notes the growth in the International Clinic Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP) of the World Health Organization (WHO). It cites the efforts of ICMJE and WHO to increase public trust in medical science.

The article focuses on changes in the format to be made to the periodical "Canadian Medical Association Journal" (CMAJ).

The author reflects on the need for pharmaceutical regulators and the Health Canada to create an open debate in their progressive licensing. He urges the government to create a transparent and patient-centered regulatory system that ensures drug safety and effectiveness. He cites the advantages and disadvantages of progressive drug licensing. He suggests that the government should invite the Canadian Academies of Science or the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences as blue-ribbon panel that would advise the Parliament on reform.

The article focuses on the organ donation policies and programs in Canada. It stresses the need for a national registry and mechanism for allocating organs to ensure equal access. It recommends a debate on the adoption of a new societal paradigm in which organ donation is viewed as a civic responsibility. It suggests to the Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health to place on their agenda a motion to reconstitute the existing Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation as a national organ donation oversight agency.

The author reflects on the budget earmarked for the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research federal program announced by Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. About $195 million of the budget for the program will be allocated for a competition to establish Centres of Excellence while $50 million is for the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He notes the lack of scientific peer review to determine whether the distribution of $105 million in seven institutes were warranted.

The author discusses his reasons for becoming Editor-in-Chief of the "Canadian Medical Association Journal." The author had never envisioned to belong to the premier medical journal. However, the journal's professionalism and the devotion of the staff encourage him to apply for the post. The author mentions his ideas and plans for the journal.