The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine focuses on human biology and diseases, as well as animal and in vitro studies that help understand the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases affecting the respiratory system and critically ill patients. Papers primarily based on cellular and molecular biology are published in the companion journal, the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. The journal also seeks to publish clinical trials and outstanding review articles in various formats related to areas of interest. State-of-the-art reviews are comprehensive papers that cover a broad field, bridging foundational research to bedside applications. Shorter reviews are published from the perspectives of critical care or pulmonary medicine, focusing on more limited areas and providing consensus on the care of specific processes. Concise clinical reviews offer evidence-based literature syntheses on topics of fundamental importance to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine practice. Images that provide advances or unusual contributions to the field are published in the form of 'Images in Lung, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Science.'