Prof. Dr. Hui Xu Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section “Toxicology” in Biology

Biology (ISSN 2079-7737) announces the appointment of Prof. Dr. Hui Xu (Ningbo University, China) as Section Editor-in-Chief (SEiC) of the “Toxicology” Section. Prof. Dr. Hui Xu has been the Associate Editor of the Section since 2024 and brings extensive editorial experience across toxicology and related disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Xu Hui is a professor at the School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University. His research centers on natural‑product pesticides and aquatic drugs, with a strong focus on the discovery, structural optimization, and mechanistic elucidation of plant‑derived bioactive compounds. His work integrates synthetic chemistry, bioassay, and toxicological approaches, contributing to the development of novel agrochemical and aquacultural agents with improved efficacy and safety profiles.

In his role as SEiC, Prof. Dr. Xu Hui will work with the Editorial Office and academic editors to support high-quality submissions and to further strengthen the “Toxicology” Section as an open forum for fundamental and translational research.

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

Modern toxicology and bioactive compound-based pesticide research currently face two core challenges. First, numerous natural bioactive molecules exhibit excellent inhibitory effects against agricultural pests and harmful organisms, but they generally suffer from structural instability, low bioavailability, and unclear target-action mechanisms. These inherent defects severely restrict their industrial transformation and large-scale practical application as green pesticides. Second, the functional verification and safety evaluation of novel bioactive pesticides lack systematic molecular-level theoretical support, making it difficult to achieve precise molecular design and efficient directional optimization. In terms of disciplinary innovations, the field has gradually formed a comprehensive and interdisciplinary technical framework to address these long-standing bottlenecks. Advanced structural biology approaches have been widely applied to resolve the spatial conformation of key toxicological target proteins, precisely revealing the binding interaction patterns between bioactive compounds and functional target loci. Combined with molecular toxicology and multi-omics strategies, researchers can systematically dissect the underlying inhibitory networks and toxicological mechanisms of natural bioactive molecules at the systemic and molecular levels. Most recently, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence technology has further promoted disciplinary development, enabling AI-assisted molecular docking, target prediction, and compound structural optimization. This innovative combination of structural resolution, multi-dimensional mechanistic dissection, and intelligent molecular modification has greatly accelerated the directional screening and iterative optimization of high-efficiency and low-toxicity pesticide candidates, providing robust theoretical and technical support for the innovative development and translational application of next-generation green agrochemicals.

Toxicology is currently undergoing rapid and transformative development driven by cross-disciplinary technological breakthroughs and growing global demands for biological and environmental safety. The overall research trend is shifting from traditional macroscopic toxic observation to molecular precision, multi-dimensional mechanism interpretation, and translational application. Modern toxicological research now integrates structural biology, multi-omics, computational chemistry, and molecular pharmacology to systematically clarify toxic action mechanisms, biological response pathways, and molecule-target interaction rules. Increasing attention is being paid to emerging toxic risks, the functional safety evaluation of bioactive compounds, and the precise development of targeted toxic intervention strategies, forming a diversified and interdisciplinary research system. For early career researchers, I believe it is essential to build a solid theoretical foundation covering general toxicology, molecular biology, and pharmacological principles. It is equally important to embrace interdisciplinary technologies and frontier analytical methods, rather than limiting research to a single discipline. Most importantly, young scholars should focus on key scientific and societal demands, carry out problem-driven innovative research, and balance basic mechanistic exploration and practical translational transformation to achieve sustainable academic growth in the field of toxicology.

What attracts me most about the journal Biology is its broad academic coverage, rigorous peer-review system, and open and inclusive academic atmosphere. As a high-quality open-access journal covering all life science disciplines, Biology provides a professional and high-standard academic exchange platform for fundamental and translational research across the entire field of toxicology. The “Toxicology” Section undertakes the important task of gathering frontier achievements in multiple toxicology branches, including environmental toxicology, molecular toxicology, pharmacological toxicology, and ecological toxicology, covering diverse research scenarios from basic molecular mechanism exploration to applied safety evaluation. I am willing to take on this role to further promote high-quality academic communication in the global toxicology community, assist in publishing innovative and rigorous research results on toxicological mechanisms, toxin prevention and control, and drug safety assessment, and contribute to the sustained and healthy development of the toxicology discipline and interdisciplinary life science research.

My vision for the “Toxicology” Section of Biology is to build a high-level, open, and influential academic platform that integrates fundamental toxicological research, technological innovation, and translational application. I aim to continuously expand the disciplinary breadth of the Section and highlight forward-looking, interdisciplinary toxicological studies that bridge basic mechanistic exploration and practical translational applications, focusing on emerging toxicological issues, bioactive molecule safety evaluation, and innovative toxicological intervention strategies. I will adhere to rigorous and standardized review standards, support high-quality original research and review articles with innovative perspectives and in-depth mechanistic exploration in the broad field of toxicology, and continuously strengthen the journal’s global academic influence in toxicological research. Ultimately, I aim to make the “Toxicology” Section a key window for displaying cutting-edge progress in global toxicology research and promoting international academic cooperation and interdisciplinary exchanges in life sciences.

Open access publishing has profoundly transformed the global academic publishing system and has become an irreversible mainstream trend in scientific communication. OA publishing eliminates traditional reading barriers, enabling researchers worldwide to freely access and cite cutting-edge scientific achievements, which greatly accelerates the dissemination and sharing of scientific knowledge and promotes global academic cooperation and disciplinary innovation. Meanwhile, the standardized development of OA journals also puts forward higher requirements for academic rigor, paper quality, and ethical norms. Although the APC model brings certain publishing costs, standardized institutional open access programs (IOAP) and various discount mechanisms have effectively alleviated the funding pressure on researchers and academic institutions. In the future, open access will further promote the popularization and transformation of scientific research achievements, and play an indispensable role in supporting the development of global life science and toxicology research.

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