Clinical Nutrition Research, the official journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Nutrition, celebrates its inaugural issue as of July, 2012. There has been a dearth of research in this field for some time. With the new law designed to implement proper nutrition policy, which went into effect on March 27, 2012, application of solid science-based nutrition knowledge in the establishment of nutrition policy has been specifically emphasized. Moreover, the legislation requires that the "Certified Clinical Dietitian" complete an extensive education program focused on clinical nutrition and become proficient in the collection and interpretation of data. The primary goal of the Journal is to encourage clinical nutrition research and multidisciplinary communication, which will eventually lead to the accumulation of solid evidence in this field.

As the number of people in the world living with health problems has increased, considerable attention has begun to be paid to the concept of quality of life. The "World Health Statistics 2012," published by the World Health Organization, indicates that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a major health challenge in the 21st century, accounting for 63% of global deaths in 2008. Possible explanations for the current prevalence of NCDs include increased energy intake, decreased physical activity, and the rapid increase in the number of middle-aged and older adults due to our extended life expectancy. In this context, national health expenditures have become a global economic burden, and a public discussion of ways to reduce health care costs has become imperative. Correspondingly, the prevention and control of NCDs through nutrition intervention, particularly in low-income countries, has become a major component of public health policy.

The members of the Korean Society of Clinical Nutrition are key players in the effort to establish guidelines for patient care as well as public health policies. Launching of the official Journal will open a new chapter for evidence-based nutritional practices and better communication among nutrition professionals, research scientists, and practitioners in medicine, nursing, and pharmacology. The scope of the Journal includes original research contributing to the greater understanding of clinical and human nutrition based on nutrition interventions, the elaboration of methodology in nutrition assessment and nutrition education, and the improvement of public health through community nutrition studies. We also look forward to publishing review articles and case reports that will expand the range of knowledge within a particular field.

Although the Journal's advent may be tardy, considering the far-reaching implications of its subject matter, we have no doubt that it will grow at a rapid pace. We particularly anticipate sharing knowledge generated by the nutrition teams of hospitals and clinics. The complementary relationship between university laboratories and hospitals will enable the proper application of basic nutritional science to patient care. We hope this Journal can serve as a communication channel for this long-awaited interaction.