Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the two most prominent chronic inflammatory lung diseases, and their prevalences are still increasing. Although both diseases are associated with genetic and environmental factors, their precise etiologies are still unclear. Recent advances in biology and medicine have introduced new technologies to study the genetics and function of resident cells of the lungs, and the data demonstrate a much broader range of impact than previously envisaged. The function of resident cells of the lung may be crucial to fully understand the pathology of asthma and COPD. Knowledge and understanding of these cells will lead to the development of better animal models, more successful therapies, and novel tools to characterize these clinical conditions and provide better care to patients.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the molecular pathology underlying asthma and COPD, the development of strategies to treat these conditions, and the evaluation of outcomes. We are interested in articles describing the new modalities for clinical characterization and measuring outcomes from treatment trials, advances in molecular genetics and molecular diagnostics, new insights and hypotheses to understand remodeling and inflammation, new animal models, current concepts in the treatment of asthma and COPD using novel strategies, novel drug targets, and so forth. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Recent developments in understanding the pathologies and/or etiologies of asthma and COPD
• Advances in the genetics of asthma and/or COPD
• Latest technologies for clinical evaluation and measuring outcomes
• The role of resident lung cells in inflammation in asthma and COPD
• The role of resident lung cells in remodeling of lung tissue
• The role of modifiers (drugs and other therapies) in asthma and COPD
• Recent advances in drug delivery

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ja/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: