This special issue of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry good source of information in this regard. contains original research papers as well as invited reviews We wish to thank all of the contributors for their help and dedicated, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the in­ cooperation. We also wish to thank Mrs. Verona Kuhle for auguration of the Heart Research Group in Beriin-Buch that her secretarial help. We are grateful to Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla, today forms a part there ofthe Max Delbriick Center for Mo­ Editor-in-Chief of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry for his lecular Medicine, to Professor Albert Wollenberger, founder interest and encouragement, and for agreeing to publish this of the Heart Research Group and for 21 years its head. issue in honor of Albert Wollenberger. The papers in this issue are written by researchers work­ ing in the field of cardiovascular research who together with ERNST-GEORG KRAUSE and ROLAND VETTER Albert Wollenberger share the belief that an integrative ap­ Max Delbriick Center for Molecular Medicine plication of advances in molecular and cellular biology will Robert-Rossle-StraBe 10 lead to new concepts for treatment and prevention of cardio­ 13122 Beriin-Buch vascular diseases. We hope that this special will serve as a Gennany ALBERT WOLLENBERGER, Professor, Ph. D. (Harvard), Dr. Sc. Med. (Berlin) The dedication is accorded to Prof.