Endocrines: A Passion for Endocrinology, Five Years on

Endocrines was launched five years ago with a clear goal: to offer an open, rigorous, and inclusive forum for research spanning basic, translational, and clinical endocrinology and metabolism. As outlined in my inaugural editorial, the journal set out to promote rapid scientific exchange while remaining accessible to a global research community [1].

As we mark this five-year anniversary, an important milestone deserves recognition. Endocrines has now been indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science. This achievement reflects the growing visibility and credibility of the work published in the journal and confirms its position within the international endocrine research landscape.

The journal’s early years have coincided with a period of profound change for endocrinology and diabetes research. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped clinical care and accelerated the integration of telemedicine into everyday practice [2]. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and continuous glucose monitoring have enhanced our ability to analyze real-world metabolic data, paving the way for more personalized clinical decision-making [3]. Automated insulin delivery systems have continued to evolve, reducing the daily burden of diabetes management across a range of care settings [4].

Therapeutic innovation has been equally striking. Incretin-based therapies have transformed the treatment of obesity and diabetes, achieving levels of weight loss that were previously difficult to attain with pharmacological approaches alone. The STEP 1 trial demonstrated the efficacy of once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in individuals with overweight or obesity [5], while the SURMOUNT-1 trial showed sustained weight reduction with tirzepatide [6]. In December 2025, the World Health Organization issued its first guideline recommending GLP-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity, formally recognizing obesity as a chronic disease while also drawing attention to persistent challenges related to access and equity [7].

Meaningful progress has also been made in thyroid disease management. The 2023 European Thyroid Association guidelines emphasized more individualized and cost-effective strategies for evaluating thyroid nodules [8], and the 2025 American Thyroid Association guidelines updated recommendations for the management of differentiated thyroid cancer [9].

Within this rapidly evolving scientific context, Endocrines has developed a distinct editorial identity. Special Issues and clearly defined journal sections have played a central role in encouraging focused scientific discussion and highlighting emerging areas of research. Several Special Issues curated in collaboration with early-career editors have ranked among the most successful within MDPI, both in terms of engagement and scientific impact.

The journal’s progress has been made possible by the sustained efforts of its Academic Editors, reviewers, authors, and the MDPI editorial team. Their dedication has ensured scientific rigor and editorial consistency during a period of significant change in scholarly publishing.

What Comes Next?

Indexing in Scopus and Web of Science marks not an endpoint, but the beginning of a new phase for Endocrines. Looking ahead, the journal will continue to prioritize research that advances endocrine science and improves patient care, expanding high-impact Special Issues, further refining journal sections with dedicated Section Editors-in-Chief, and upholding rigorous standards of peer review and publication ethics, always guided by the journal’s founding mission [1].

To everyone who has contributed to Endocrines over the past five years, authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, thank you. This milestone reflects a truly collective effort, and the years ahead will build on this shared foundation.