BMC Infectious Diseases has always prided itself on the hepatitis research it publishes, from epidemiology studies in underreported locations such as Iraq  and Libya, as well as more global studies. In addition we have been working closely with conferences to publish supplements on this subject, such as the recent proceedings of the Second Workshop of the Regional Study Group on HCV in the Calabria Region.

In recognition of this growing area of the journal we are delighted to announce our expansion to include a new section dedicated to manuscripts reporting research into hepatitis and co-infections. Authors will be able to submit directly to this section and readers will be able to search directly for research in this field.

This new  hepatitis and co-infections section will be overseen by Dr Jean-Claude Desenclos, currently the Scientific Director at the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS). After medical studies at Lille University in France, Dr Desenclos moved to work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), both at their central headquarters, and on humanitarian missions in the field. Following this he moved to the Epidemic Intelligence Service program at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before moving back to France and joining the Réseau National de Santé Publique (French National Public Health Network), later the InVS.

We aim to continue publishing valuable research in this area, and are very pleased to welcome Dr Desenclos as the latest addition to our team of expert Section Editors. Our hope is that one day, treatment for hepatitis will be so successful that research into the disease may no longer be necessary. For the time being however, we will continue to work closely with our Editorial Board to bring you the latest developments in the field.