Announcements
20 May 2024
Biomedicines Webinar | Emerging Trends in Pathophysiology and Therapy of COVID-19, 4 June 2024
Although the worst of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic is behind us, many questions and issues persist. Systemic manifestations due to COVID-19 infections and long COVID continue to emerge in multiple countries. There are a few new USA FDA-approved vaccines available in addition to the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson ones, but vaccine effectiveness and immunologic memory appear to be limited in most patients. Therapies are available and should be incorporated into treatment plans for COVID-19 patients. Although the focus of these therapies is on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, orally delivered medications are now administered by health care providers.
This webinar will present discussions on these issues, as well as emerging trends, to understand COVID-19 infections and transmissibility more fully.
Date: 4 June 2024 at 5:00 CEST | 11:00 a.m. EDT | 11:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 828 4947 7200
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar Announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Biomedicines-14
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.
Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Feel free to still register, and we will inform you when the recording is available.
Register now for free!
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
Time in EDT |
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Prof. Dr. Jon Suzuki |
5:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. |
11:00 a.m.–11:30 p.m. |
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Dr. Rosalinda Sorrentino |
5:30 p.m.–5:50 p.m. |
11:30 a.m.–11:50 p.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Stefano D’Errico |
5:50 p.m.–6:10 p.m. |
11:50 p.m.–12:10 p.m. |
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Dr. Mariana D’Alessandro |
6:10 p.m.–6:20 p.m. |
12:10 p.m.–12:20 p.m. |
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Dr. Sara Gangi |
6:20 p.m.–6:30 p.m. |
12:20 p.m.–12:30 p.m. |
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Q&A Session |
6:30 p.m.–6:45 p.m. |
12:30 p.m.–12:45 p.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Jon Suzuki Closing of Webinar |
6:45 p.m.–6:50 p.m. |
12:45 p.m.–12:50 p.m. |
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Jon Suzuki (Chair), 1University of Maryland, USA, 2University of Washington, USA, 3Nova Southeastern University, USA, 4Temple University, USA;
- Rosalinda Sorrentino, University of Salerno, Italy;
- Stefano D’Errico, University of Trieste, Italy;
- Miriana D’Alessandro, University of Siena, Italy;
- Sara Gangi, University of Siena, Italy.
Relevant Special Issue:
“Emerging Trends in Pathophysiology and Therapy of COVID-19”
Guest Editors: Dr. Jon Suzuki and Dr. Miriam Ting
17 May 2024
Tu Youyou Award—Open for Nominations
16 May 2024
MDPI Romania Author Training Academic Events in April
MDPI Romania sponsored four events over the month of April, contributing author training sessions to each event.
The NutriSciLabs 2024 conference was held at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy on 12 April 2024. Organized by the Association of Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy Studies, the conference aimed to enhance students’ academic writing and research skills, and bolster their confidence in participating in the academic world. Ioana Paunescu, journal relations specialist for MDPI Romania, led the training session. Paunescu first outlined MDPI’s history and core values, then explained academic writing techniques, ethics, and similarity percentages. The presentation covered the entire editorial process, highlighting the amount of attention paid to details throughout manuscript processing. Paunescu also discussed common errors that authors make while writing, and how to avoid such errors.
On 13 April 2024, the NextGEN 2.0 Student Conference took place at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. NextGen Healthcare organized this event with the university’s European Students’ Society to discuss European and international current affairs. MDPI Romania contributed an author training session called Steps of the Publication Process. Irina Codruta Zaharia, journal relations specialist, began the session with a general introduction of MDPI before diving into different article types, different layout formats, possible journals to submit to, the MDPI submission checklist, and the MDPI editorial process. By explaining the fundamentals of writing and publishing academic papers, Zaharia imparted valuable industry knowledge to the curious minds present. Participants were eager to engage with Zaharia in the subsequent Q&A session.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the International Conference “Students for Students” has long been a gathering place for undergraduate and postgraduate students of all nationalities to present their work and exchange ideas with each other. This year’s conference was held on 18 April 2024, with MDPI Romania contributing an author training session called The World of Open Access. Key speakers included Dr. Norbert Kiss from MDPI Romania and Prof. Dragos Horvath from Strasbourg University. Dr. Kiss discussed the history of open access, differences between open access publishing and traditional publishing, and implications for open access in the future. Attendees expressed keen interest in the subject, approaching Dr. Kiss with questions about academic publishing as well as his career trajectory.
Most recently, on 26 April 2024, MDPI Romania sponsored the National Symposium of Students from Geology and Geophysics Faculties. The AAPG Students Chapter at the Babes-Bolyai University organized this event as an opportunity for geology students from all Romanian universities to present their work and confer with other researchers. Dr. Kiss gave his lecture The World of Open Access at this event as well.
MDPI is thankful to all the participants, speakers, and organizers who attended these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.
13 May 2024
Meet Us at the 34th CCS Congress, 15–18 June 2024, Guangzhou, China
2 May 2024
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #11 - 2023 Annual Report, MDPI Awards, STM
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
2023 Annual Report
This is an exciting time of year at MDPI, as we have just released our annual report 2023, recapping the past year and sharing the progress and changes that took place during it.
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
Reflecting on 2023, I can't help but think of the changes that have occurred not only at MDPI but also within our industry as a whole. In light of this, I’m reminded that change is the only constant, and that for a publishing enterprise that has experienced rapid growth, adapting to change becomes not only a necessity but also a catalyst for sustained success.
Looking back on the significant ground we covered in 2023, I am pleased to report that the year was marked by a rise in paper submissions, along with a range of initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top services to our scientists.
2023 Top-line MDPI Numbers
An important priority for 2023 was to strengthen our editorial policies. Despite a notable increase in the number of papers submitted from 603,000 to 655,000 (+8.6%), there was a decrease in the number of papers published from 303,000 to 285,000 (-5.9%), consistent with the overall trend in the scholarly publishing market. MDPI’s market share in gold open access articles published reached 17% in 2023 (according to Dimensions data).
2023 Open Access Numbers
For over two decades, MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020. This trajectory is deeply rooted in our history and reflects our unwavering commitment to, and vision for, an open future. This momentum continued in 2023, with 39% of the 4.16 million articles and reviews published as gold full-OA, 15% as gold hybrid-OA, 8% as bronze-OA, and 3% as green-OA, relative to 35% behind a paywall. In terms of gold OA (full or hybrid) articles and reviews published, MDPI leads the way in terms of total articles published in 2023.
MDPI is the trusted and preferred OA publisher for the scholarly community
However, in 2023, we saw a downward trend in publication numbers compared to 2022. This trend was also seen in total OA publications. While the number of submissions increased, the decline in MDPI publications can be attributed to several factors, such as improved scrutiny in our peer-review process, including the evaluation of content scope and higher rejection rates, and a post-pandemic decrease in research related to COVID-19 papers.
Download 2023 MDPI Annual Report.
Access 2023 Digital Report.
Impactful Research
Recognizing Scholars – MDPI Awards
MDPI is committed to empowering young researchers as they embark on their careers. In 2023, our journals hosted a total of 400 awards, receiving 8,839 applications and nominations. The evaluation committees selected 959 winners, with the total budget for these awards amounting to CHF 546,500.
For more information about MDPI awards, applications, and winners, please click here
The following awards recognize scholars and the impact of their research, including Young Investigator Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, and Travel Awards for junior researchers.
MDPI Awards – The following awards require an application or a nomination.
Young Investigator Award (CHF 1000–2000 for each winner)
This award acknowledges the achievements of young investigators in research areas relevant to the journal’s scope. Candidates must have received their PhD no more than 10 years prior to the award announcement date and must be nominated.
Best PhD Thesis Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
This award recognizes young scholars who have completed outstanding PhD theses in research areas relevant to the journal’s scope. It aims to encourage them to continue their excellent work and make further contributions to their field.
Travel Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
This award encourages junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences relevant to the journal’s scope, thereby increasing their impact.
Distinguished Scholars
Additionally, 220 awards were granted to the most distinguished authors and reviewers in our journals through Best Paper Awards and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. The following awards are selected by the editorial staff of the journal and do not require an application or a nomination. They exemplify the excellent contributions made by our authors, reviewers, and editors.
These awards exemplify the excellent contributions made by our authors, reviewers, and editors
Best Paper Award (CHF 200–500 for each winner)
This award is granted annually to highlight publications of high quality, scientific significance, and extensive influence.
Outstanding Reviewer Award (CHF 500 for partial winners)
This award is given annually to recognize reviewers who generously contribute their time to reviewing papers and demonstrate thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness in their reviews.
MDPI also offers awards for specific topics in various research fields:
Carbon Neutrality Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
Sponsored by MDPI journal Sustainability, this award recognizes applicants who have made exceptional academic or societal contributions to carbon neutrality, either in general or in relation to a specific carbon-neutrality-related issue.
Intelligent Manufacturing Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
Administered by MDPI journal Machines, this award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding academic or societal contributions to the field of intelligent manufacturing.
Granted: World Sustainability Awards
Inside MDPI
MDPI Opens Office in Seoul, Korea and Appoints Claude Seo as Office Manager
As CEO of the world’s leading OA publisher, I am pleased to announce the official opening of our Korean branch office. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide, improving on our position as a truly global publisher. This expansion represents more than just an increase in our physical footprint; it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible across the globe.
MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide, improving on our position as a truly global publisher
Claude Seo (MDPI Korea Office Manager, Seoul)
Claude Seo, who has over 15 years of experience in the academic publishing industry, has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office. The launch of our Seoul office allows us to better support the Korean scientific community and to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region.
Reflecting on his role, Claude shared that he is:
“Delighted to have been entrusted with this position within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating ourselves into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”
Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
Additionally, I am pleased to share that Sungkyunkwan University has joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDP’s online submission system for institutions and provides APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyunghee University, Chung-Ang University, and the Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.
Learn more about MDPI’s collaboration in Korea in my previous CEO Letter, in which I recap our visit to Seoul, South Korea.
Coming Together for Science
4th MMCS: Harnessing the Power of New Drug Modalities
Our conference team successfully managed the 4th Molecules Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, held from 24–26 April in Barcelona, Spain. It was chaired by Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero from the Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Spain, and Prof. Dr. Simona Collina from the University of Pavia, Italy. In total, there were 84 accepted abstracts and 102 conference attendees from 22 different countries.
From left to right: Prof. Dr. Rino Ragno (Scientific Committee), Dr. Maria Emilia Sousa (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Claudio Viegas Jr. (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Simona Collina (Chair), Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero (Chair), Alvina Wu (Managing Editor, MDPI), Prof. Dr. Roman Dembinski (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Mariana Spetea (Scientific Committee).
The event comprised 12 Invited Speakers, 35 Selected Talks, 10 Flash Poster Presentations, and 39 Posters. The overarching topic of the conference was the impact of the emergence of new drug modalities on drug discovery, with thematic sessions covering topics such as photoactivatable drugs, candidates targeting RNA and epigenetic targets, covalent modifiers, and the development of new anti-cancer agents, among other medicinal chemistry projects.
We are pleased to have received feedback from attendees highlighting the professional approach of the conference chairs and participants, the high quality of the talks, and the overall outstanding organization on the part of the MDPI conference team.
Thank you to the conference sponsors, Fluorochem and IBUB, and to our partnering societies, The Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), and the Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT).
Upcoming In-Person Event
28–31 May, 2024
Polymers 2024 – Polymers for a Safe and Sustainable Future
Location: Athens, Greece
Conference Chairs: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bikiaris, Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Triantafyllidis, Dr. Ioanna Deligkiozi
We look forward to welcoming experts Prof. Damià Barceló, Prof. Minna Hakkareinen, and Prof. Armando J. D. Silvestre to this event.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Organize Your Event with MDPI’s Sciforum
Sciforum is MDPI’s platform dedicated to the organization of scientific events. In line with our mission to promote science, Sciforum supports scholars, societies, research networks, and universities at all stages of organizing in-person events, virtual events and webinars. Our platforms are efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective. We handle all steps related to event management. Contact us for details.
Closing Thoughts
A Report from the Future – STM US Annual Conference 2024
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Ioana Craciun from MDPI’s Scientific Office Board.
MDPI has for a long time been a sponsor of the STM Annual Conferences, held yearly in the US and Frankfurt, and is a trusted partner and supporter of the STM organization. While I have attended the Frankfurt conference for the past three years, this was my first time visiting the Washington, DC session, and I am glad I did.
Although it was a brief trip, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to attend in the company of my colleagues Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Ioana Craciun from MDPI’s Scientific Office Board. They always help map some of the new industry trends against MDPI’s operational framework and guidelines. It’s a great group for kicking ideas back and forth on what we can apply at MDPI.
In my experience, STM never fails to deliver. It’s always a great conference for reconnecting with fellow publishers, industry friends, and vendors. As usual, STM this year curated a diverse range of speakers and panels, who proferred valuable knowledge and insights from outside our industry, delivering thought-provoking insights into our field. An example of this was the ‘Trust Panel’ session, which included Alan Schiffres (Managing Director, InfoLinx), who shared a number of the learnings about fraud and risk management from his 40 years in financial services, to help address some of the challenges we are currently facing in the area of publishing integrity.
Launch of STM Trends 2028 Panel
I particularly enjoyed the ‘Launch of STM Trends 2028 Panel’, which presented a report focused on the integration of humans and machines in scholarly publishing. The session highlighted themes such as AI, digitization, and the evolving research ecosystem. The report envisions a future where technology blurs the lines between human and machine involvement in research processes, with significant implications for trust, reputation, and equity. While this presents opportunities for connectivity and knowledge dissemination, it also poses challenges such as disinformation, fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions. We must rely on a wise combination of technology and human agency to navigate this complex landscape and will have to carefully examine its potential impacts on communication and scholarly publishing.
MDPI has joined the STM Integrity Hub. Click here to learn more.
While every presenter brought their own knowledge and personal touch, I was particularly pleased to encounter new speakers such as Heather Whitney (Research Assistant Professor, Radiology, University of Chicago) and Igor Grossmann (Professor of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada). Having studied Sociology at the University of Guelph, I have a soft spot for fellow social scientists from Canada, and I was very impressed by Igor’s presentation on ‘The Social Scientist: A View from the Future’ and his participation in the panel session ‘The Future Beyond the Article,’ which was one of my favourites from the conference, given the diversity of perspectives from the panel speakers.
Memorial Park in Washington, DC
On a personal note, this was my first-time visiting Washington, DC, and I’m glad we took an afternoon to visit the Memorial Park, with its incredible monuments to figures ranging from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Abraham Lincoln. The magnitude of the monuments is deeply impressive. I particularly appreciated the Thomas Jefferson memorial and the following quote, which I think speaks to the importance of change and adaptation. It’s something we can apply not only in our industry but also in our personal lives.
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
– Excerpted from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 April 2024
MDPI Opens Office in Seoul, Korea and Appoints Claude Seo as Office Manager
MDPI, the leading Open Access (OA) publisher, announced on Monday that it opened its Korean branch office on 29th April 2024. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide. Claude Seo, with over 20 years of experience in the academic journal publishing industry, including Nature Publishing Group (NPG), has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office.
With the establishment of a Seoul office, MDPI aims to actively support Korea scientific communities to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region. As of the end of 2023, Korea ranked sixth worldwide in both submissions and publications of MDPI research papers. MDPI is the number one OA publisher in Korea.
Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
In addition, MDPI announced that Sungkyunkwan University joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDPI online submission system for the institutions and APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University and Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.
OA aims to break down barriers that have traditionally restricted access to science, ensuring that knowledge is available to all, regardless of financial situation or institutional affiliations. Authors, academia, and scientific communities are rapidly moving toward OA. MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020.
MDPI CEO Visits Seoul, Korea
In March, Stefan Tochev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MDPI, visited Korea and met with various stakeholders including government agencies, research and academic institutions, universities. During his visit, Stefan highlighted that MDPI continues to pave the way for a world where science is accessible to all, supporting a global community of inclusive innovation and collaborative solutions.
Stefan expressed excitement about the new venture, stating, "Today marks a significant milestone for MDPI as we celebrate the opening of our new office in Seoul, Korea. This expansion is more than just an increase in our physical footprint, it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible, participatory, and inclusive across the globe."
Claude Seo, reflecting on his new role, commented, "I am delighted to have been offered this position of trust within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”
For further inquiries, please contact our Seoul office directly.
About MDPI
A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.3 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 diligent, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 430 fully OA titles.
24 April 2024
Biomedicines Webinar | Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenetics in Treating Infections, 10 May 2024
The new era in systems pharmacology has revolutionized the study of human biology. Its applicability, precise treatment, adequate response, and safety measures are all relevant to medical/clinical practice, particularly in the field of infectious diseases, given the dramatic increase in the prevalence of multi-drug-resistant organisms in the last 10 years.
Due to this background, immediate and appropriate anti-infective therapy—defined as the timely commencement of pharmacological treatment with an appropriate strength for the pathogen(s)—is mandatory in improving the clinical outcomes of infected patients and limiting/preventing the development of resistance.
Consistent and solid evidence is accumulating showing that the successful treatment of severe infections is based on the selection of the most appropriate anti-infective agents that ensure adequate exposure, whilst taking into consideration both the patient’s pathophysiological changes and the physicochemical properties of the drug administered to reach the optimal pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets. This is particularly true for antibiotics, since underdosing may result in treatment failure, thereby increasing the likelihood of the development of antimicrobial resistance. The achievement of optimal anti-infective exposure is difficult in clinical practice because most of these drugs are administered according to standard dosing regimens, which do not take into account the pathophysiologic, iatrogenic, and/or genetic factors that are likely to affect both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-infective agents in different real-life settings.
Accordingly, in this webinar, we will mainly deal with the main clinical, pharmacologic, and pharmacogenetic sources of variability in the exposure and clinical response to anti-infective agents, with a specific focus on the role of therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenetic testing as reliable diagnostic tools in the daily management of in- and out-patient settings.
Finally, the potential role of fast-track pharmacology at the bedside will also be proposed.
Date: 10 May 2024 at 3.00 p.m. CEST | 9:00 a.m. EDT | 9:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 893 0899 5947
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Sciforum webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/Biomedicines-13
Register now for free!
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
Time in EDT |
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Prof. Jessica Cusato Chair Introduction |
3:00–3:10 p.m. |
9:00–9:10 p.m. |
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Dr. Dario Cattaneo Pharmacokinetics of Anti-Infectives at the Bedside |
3:10–3:30 p.m. |
9:10–9:30 p.m. |
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Prof. Jessica Cusato The Role of Clinical Pharmacogenetics in Infectious Diseases |
3:30–3:50 p.m. |
9:30–9:50 p.m. |
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Q&A Session |
3:50–4:05 p.m. |
9:50–10:05 p.m. |
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Prof. Jessica Cusato Closing of Webinar |
4:05–4:10 p.m. |
10:05–10:10 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Jessica Cusato (Chair), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy;
- Dario Cattaneo, Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
23 April 2024
Interview with Dr. Joaquim Carreras—Winner of the Biomedicines 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award
We are delighted to announce that we had the opportunity to interview Dr. Joaquim Carreras, a winner of the Biomedicines 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award. Join us as we delve into his experiences as a reviewer and his insights into collaborating with Biomedicines.
Name: Dr. Joaquim Carreras
Affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan
Research Interests: artificial intelligence; molecular histopathology; pathology; neoplasia; inflammatory diseases; biomarkers; immune checkpoints; immuno-oncology; health care informatics; diagnosis and treatment
The following is an interview with Dr. Joaquim Carreras:
1. Can you please tell us a little more about yourself and your current research?
I am a pathologist with a medical degree from the University of Barcelona, Spain. My medical specialization focused on pathology. I completed residency training in pathology at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spanish Ministry of Health. My Ph.D. was in hematopathology from the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona. I worked as a pathologist in Spain, as a medical research associate at the University of Cambridge (UK), and at the Biomedical Research Institute of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Tsukuba Central (Japan). I am currently at Tokai University, School of Medicine. My fields of research are immuno-oncology, inflammatory diseases, and molecular pathology. I focus on hematological neoplasia (lymphoma) and molecular histopathology studies. As a pathologist, I have always been interested in digital image analysis and, in the past years, in the application of AI in the medical field.
2. Can you please share with us your thoughts upon winning the award?
It was unexpected. It made me happy because the work of the reviewers is voluntary but necessary in science. Science needs peer review to be more reliable and trustworthy. This work is done by academics who volunteer, as not all academics perform peer review. I must note that, when I received the award, I was preparing for a meeting, so I didn’t have much time to enjoy. However, I am grateful to MDPI for the award because sometimes the work of reviewers is taken for granted (and it has a cost in terms of invested time).
3. In your opinion, what are some of the qualities necessary for being a reviewer?
The most important thing is to keep an open mind, be constructive in the feedback, and be aware of your capabilities. You must avoid conflicts of interest with the authors; this can be difficult. When searching for reviewers, the editors of the journals may search for other researchers who have published similar studies in recent years. However, the risk is that the reviewers will be competitors, and the review will be biased by this fact. This is why I think reviewers should have some knowledge in the field of the article, but not too much. It is interesting that lately, in the MDPI review form, you are asked to confirm that you have not used AI (e.g., generative AI) to perform the review. We are in challenging times as some researchers have taken advantage of AI to create papers. Previously, I had never thought you could use AI during the review process. A turning point in AI has been the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is a trained conversational model. It is important to point out that thinking and making our own decisions are what makes us human. Letting machines think for us makes us less free and less conscious. Therefore, no machine should be made in the likeness of the human mind.
4. Can you share some highlights of your experience as a reviewer for Biomedicines, and how it has enriched your understanding of the latest advancements in biomedicine?
Some articles are quite multidisciplinary, and you may find that you are not an expert in all types of experiments and analyses that are shown in the article. This can be challenging. However, by revising the papers, you can update your knowledge and learn. The medical field can be conservative sometimes, and journals that accept the most innovative research are necessary.
5. As someone deeply involved in the peer-review process at Biomedicines, how do you perceive the journal's impact on shaping the future direction of research and innovation in the field of biomedicine?
This journal is multidisciplinary, and there are many mechanistic studies. Therefore, in my view, Biomedicines lies between human pathology and drug development. The journal addresses the challenges in bringing biological agents or novel targeted strategies to clinical practice. Therefore, it focuses on laboratory medicine research, translational medical research, and comprehensive preclinical studies.
10 April 2024
Meet Us at the 48th FEBS Congress, 29 June–3 July 2024, Milan, Italy
8 April 2024
Meet Us at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, 31 May–4 June 2024, Chicago, IL, USA
