We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Otero-Espinar has been appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Drug Delivery and Controlled Release” Section in Pharmaceutics (ISSN: 1999-4923). With an extensive background in scientific research and publishing, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this prestigious role.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Otero-Espinar is a pharmacist and a pharmaceutical scientist at the Faculty of Pharmacy, at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He is a member of the Institute of Materials (iMATUS) and the Health Research Institute (IDIS) of Santiago de Compostela. His scientific endeavors primarily focus on biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmaceutical technology. He specializes in the development of drug-controlled release systems for various routes of administration, including oral, parenteral, dermal, ophthalmic, and others. Additionally, he works on the development of release systems for biological drugs and their physicochemical, biopharmaceutical, and pharmacokinetic characterization.

He is a Fellow of the Spanish Society of Industrial and Galenical Pharmacy (SEFIG), where he served as a Secretary and later, President. Additionally, he is a member of the Spanish–Portuguese CRS local chapter and various networks associated with controlled release and nanomedicine. Formerly, he has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Santiago de Compostela and, presently, coordinates the research group PARAQUASIL.

Throughout his career, he has actively engaged in projects and contracts with the pharmaceutical industry, accumulating substantial experience in technology transfer and knowledge dissemination to the public and private sector.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Otero-Espinar, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?
I have been involved in Pharmaceutics for several years, serving as a member of its Editorial Board. Pharmaceutics aligns closely with my scientific interests, and I have consistently encountered highly interesting and high-quality articles and papers that have supported my research endeavors.

2. What are your plans and vision for the journal?
I believe that Pharmaceutics should persist in publishing high-quality articles concerning pharmaceutical development, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology, and pharmacology. Specifically, the advancement of novel dosage forms and controlled drug release mechanisms should be prioritized. To this end, I intend to collaborate in attracting top scientists working in these fields to consider Pharmaceutics as a prime outlet for disseminating their research.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
New drug discovery is becoming progressively more expensive, thus highlighting the significant potential of specialized controlled release systems to enhance current treatments. Conversely, the emergence of new biological drugs has fundamentally altered the principles governing the design, formulation, and regulation of delivery systems for these molecules. This represents an emerging field necessitating a fresh perspective in research methodologies.

4. What do you think of the development of open access literature in the publishing field?
Open access publications have significantly broadened access to information for numerous scientists and laboratories, thereby facilitating the dissemination of knowledge. However, a challenge arises for scientists and organizations lacking the financial resources to afford open access publication fees. In such cases, the initiatives of certain journals to waive or reduce publication costs are greatly valued. It is also very important to maintain a high ethical standard of open access publications to ensure the quality and interest of researchers in this type of publication model.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Otero-Espinar as the Section Editor-in-Chief of “Drug Delivery and Controlled Release” and look forward to his contribution to the continued success of the journal.