Baby breaths: Honoring Kurt Albertine and his contributions to respiratory research in young mammals and to The Anatomical Record.

Abstract

In January 2021, Kurt Albertine, PhD, stepped down as the Editor of The Anatomical Record after 15 years of dedicated service. As Editor-In-Chief, he oversaw incredible growth, expanded scope, and increased impact of the journal. At the same time, he directed an active research lab in neonatal pulmonary biology at the University of Utah, with an exceptional track record of mentoring students, fellows, clinicians, and junior faculty. This special issue of The Anatomical Record honors Kurt's contributions to the journal, as well as to the fields of respiratory anatomy, physiology, and neonatology. Several of the invited papers were contributed by Kurt's collaborators and former trainees who cover topics related to neonatal lamb development, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, postnatal lung pathology, respiratory physiology, and the relationship of anatomy to function. Additional papers relating to Kurt's passion for dinosaur anatomy and human embryonic anatomy based on the Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos and Fetuses. Kurt's tireless enthusiasm for the journal and devotion to the field are reflected in the papers in this special issue in his honor. His tenure at the journal was transformative and provided a foundation for continued growth and impact in anatomical sciences research from dinosaurs to clinical applications in humans. We celebrate Kurt's accomplishments and broader impact on anatomical sciences in this Special Issue of The Anatomical Record.