This year, the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) (National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition) celebrates 75 years of existence. Since its foundation in 1945, this internationally recognized Mexican health institution has fulfilled the purposes and principles under which it was created: preserve the health of the society, educate health professionals at a level of excellence with dedication and enthusiasm, and develop clinical and biomedical research programs. Concurrently, the Revista de Investigación Clínica –Clinical and Translational Investigation– (RIC) celebrates its 73^rd anniversary of uninterrupted publication.

To commemorate the occasion and as part of the celebration of the 75^th anniversary of the INCMNSZ, the present thematic issue of the RIC was carefully planned to include contributions that reflect the development of both the INCMNSZ and the RIC. This issue begins with a brief journey through the history of the Institute, written by its Director General, which narrates how this health institution has evolved to meet the highest standards of excellence in medicine, education, and research. This Editorial is followed by an in-depth review on the history of the RIC, prepared by current and past editors, and how this publication has evolved to be currently recognized as the official journal of the Mexican National Institutes of Health. Some details on the history and highlight articles published in the journal are also included in two reviews written by former editors, a Perspective prepared by the current editors, and an anecdotal letter to the Editor, all narrating how the publication policies of the RIC and metrics have changed throughout the years. Of particular interest is the Letter to the Editor recounting the first allogeneic stem cells transplant in Mexico, performed in 1960 by an outstanding hematologist trained at the National Institute of Nutrition (one of the former names of the INCMNSZ).

Several perspectives on distinct health issues are also included in this issue. These articles were prepared by internationally recognized experts in their corresponding fields, all trained at the INCMNSZ and currently working as scientists either at this institute or in other institutions of national and international prestige for their scientific work. Here, we would like to apologize for not including additional contributions from other outstanding scientists of the INCMNSZ; this was not possible due to space constrains for this thematic issue of the RIC.

We thank the Organizing Committee (Remembrance Group) for the Celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the INCMNSZ for including the RIC as part of this commemoration, and to the authors for their willingness to participate in this issue and for providing their contributions on time. We would like to dedicate this thematic issue to all those pioneering founders, physicians, scientists, and staff of the INCMNSZ, who paved the way for the success of this great institution.