News & Comment

Organoid technologies offer unique insights into the biological processes of the tissues they mimic and are being developed at a rapid pace. Here, we introduce a Collection of content from across the Nature Journals, outlining recent progress and challenges in the organoid field.

Current advances in biotechnology open up unprecedented possibilities to transform human tissues into complex, valuable tissue products, such as organoids. Here, we propose consent for governance as a leading paradigm for the derivation, storage and use of complex human tissue products to ensure adjustment to changing ethical requirements.

Five years ago Nature Cell Biology removed word limits from Methods sections to enhance the detailed description of how experiments are designed, performed and analysed. Here, we revisit our policies that promote full transparency of methodological reporting and the reproducibility of the findings we publish.

Recent surveys have linked academia and PhD studies to a risk of experiencing mental health issues. Despite the lack of extensive data, the negative impact of the stresses of lab life should not be underestimated, and PhD students and research trainees should be supported.

Günter Blobel, recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, died on 18 February 2018 aged 81. He was among the greatest scientists of the twentieth century, whose seminal work on intracellular protein transport and localization revolutionized cell biology.

Autophagy is a cellular degradation and recycling process with complex roles in health and disease and emerging relevance to translational research. In this issue, we launch a Series of commissioned articles that will discuss recent advances and outstanding questions driving this rapidly expanding and diverse field.

A strong relationship between mentor and mentee is a crucial part of the training and professional development of scientists. Here, we discuss the means of successful mentorship and debunk some myths surrounding mentoring.