We are pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Buyong Ma as the new Editor-in-Chief of BioChem (ISSN: 2673-6411).

Name: Prof. Dr. Buyong Ma
Affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
Interests: computational chemistry and biology; computational immunology; protein–protein interaction; protein aggregation diseases; neurodegenerative disease; Alzheimer’s disease; cancer and inflammation; antigen

Prof. Dr. Buyong Ma is a Full Professor at the Shanghai Jiaotong University, China. His research interests mainly focus on (1) molecular mechanisms of action and drug design; (2) computational biology of cancer and immunology; (3) protein dynamics and function; and (4) antibody/antigen design and protein engineering and design. He has more than 220 scientific publications, which have received over 17000 citations (h-index 61 according to Scopus). He is a pioneer in the computational study of protein conformational dynamics and ligand interactions, protein interaction hot spots, and protein aggregation. He was also among the first to elucidate the structure and mechanism of protein amyloid formation.

We are confident that his vision and leadership will steer BioChem towards new heights of success.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Buyong Ma, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?
I have been serving as the Associate Editor of BioChem since its inception in 2021 and was actively involved in launching the journal. BioChem is an international and interdisciplinary open access journal that spans a wide array of fields, including molecular biology, cell biology, structural biology, nucleic acid biology, chemical biology, synthetic biology, disease biology, biophysics, and theoretical biochemistry. With the support of our strong editorial team, BioChem has successfully attracted and published numerous high-quality papers. Taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief presents an exciting opportunity to collaborate closely with the editorial team to further elevate BioChem's scientific impact and reputation.

2. What is your vision for the journal?
My vision for elevating BioChem's scientific impact and reputation is to attract contributions from researchers at top-tier institutions, as well as those deeply engaged in biochemistry-related teaching and applied research. I envision BioChem as not just a journal for publishing scientific findings, but as a platform that fosters the integration of diverse scientific fields, supports the development of young scientists, and advocates for scientific integrity.
In addition to traditional areas of biochemistry, such as molecular biology and cell biology, we aim to broaden our focus by introducing special issues in emerging and impactful fields, including structural biology, nucleic acid biology, chemical biology, synthetic biology, disease biology, and theoretical biochemistry. These initiatives will not only diversify our content but also position BioChem as a leading voice in advancing scientific dialogue and discovery in biochemistry and its related disciplines.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
As I mentioned during the announcement of BioChem's inception, the advances in biological sciences have fundamentally transformed our world and deepened our understanding of humanity. Progress, whether it involves a single biochemical reaction or systems-level biology, has always stemmed from interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse scientific fields. This principle holds especially true for the present and future study of biochemistry, which remains at the core of biological sciences.
Looking ahead, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into scientific research promises a paradigm shift in the field. AI's ability to analyze complex data, predict outcomes, and accelerate discoveries will undoubtedly redefine how we approach and study a wide range of biochemical topics. These advancements will open new avenues for exploration and innovation, shaping the future of research in profound ways.

4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access has undeniably transformed the publishing landscape by increasing accessibility, leading to higher impact and citation rates. It facilitates the faster dissemination of knowledge and fosters broader collaboration across disciplines and geographic regions. To fully realize the benefits of open access, the scientific community must work collectively to develop sustainable funding models, address equity concerns, and uphold the highest standards of peer review and editorial practices.

We wish Prof. Dr. Buyong Ma every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.