Mechanisms of Ageing and Development is a multidisciplinary journal for the publication of original research, theoretical and review articles, directed towards the illumination of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the process of ageing and development in biological systems, including man. Articles in all basic research areas relevant to the above are welcomed, but those describing age, developmental and other time-dependent changes without reference to their origins or effects on other levels of structure and function will not generally be accepted. Clinical case histories and reports on psychological and social influences on the biological processes of ageing do not fall within the scope of the journal. As the average human life expectancy has increased, so too has the impact of ageing and age-related disease on our society. Ageing research is now the focus of thousands of laboratories that include leaders in the areas of genetics, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and behaviour. Ageing Research Reviews (ARR) covers the trends in this field. It is designed to fill a large void, namely, a source for critical reviews and viewpoints on emerging findings on mechanisms of ageing and age-related disease. Rapid advances in understanding of mechanisms that control cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival are leading to new insight into the regulation of ageing. From telomerase to stem cells to energy and oxyradical metabolism, this is an exciting new era in the multidisciplinary field of ageing research. The cellular and molecular underpinnings of manipulations that extend lifespan, such as caloric restriction, are being identified and novel approaches for preventing age-related diseases are being developed. ARR publishes articles on focussed topics selected from the broad field of ageing research, with an emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms of the ageing process and age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. Applications of basic ageing research to lifespan extension and disease prevention are also covered in this journal.