Announcements
4 March 2026
MDPI’s 2025 Best Paper Awards—Award-Winning Papers Announced
4 March 2026
International Women’s Day—“Give to Gain”
We are delighted to join the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March. As an open access publisher, we believe that diversity in science strengthens collaboration, broadens perspectives, and supports the open exchange of knowledge.
This year’s theme, “Give to Gain”, highlights the value of shared support and collective progress. It reflects how collaboration, recognition, and community engagement contribute to inclusive participation in research and advance science and society alike.
At MDPI, we support inclusive scholarly communication by amplifying scholars’ voices and highlighting research that advances women’s health, gender equity, and other areas of scientific inquiry. Explore our curated selection of journals, Special Issues, books, blogs, and research articles.
We also invite you to learn more about our open award applications and upcoming Women in Research event in Manchester.
Join us in celebrating the contributions and achievements of women in science and discover how open access publishing supports a more equitable global research community.
From all of us at MDPI—happy International Women’s Day.
Explore our curated selection of journals led by female Editors-in-Chief across diverse scientific fields.
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Biology and Life Sciences Computer Science and Mathematics Physics |
Chemistry and Materials Science Environmental and Earth Sciences |
Medicine and Pharmacology Business and Economics Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities |
Nominations are now open for MDPI awards in the fields of mathematics and land science. We welcome applications and invite you to read the interviews with past award winners who share their experiences, insights, and advice to inspire the next generation of women in science.
Mathematics Women Mathematician Award
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Nomination deadline: 31 May 2026. The prize:
Learn more and nominate here. |
“My advice to aspiring young researchers is that if there is a will, there will be a way. People find their way without needing to plan every step. It is also important not to fear failure, because failure often leads to success.” - Prof. Dr. Apala Majumdar, University of Strathclyde, UK Read the full interview here. |
Land Female Researcher in Land System Science
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Nomination deadline: 31 December 2026. The prize:
Learn more and nominate here. |
“Don't be afraid to develop your technical skills. Don't think that you can't do it. But also […] talk to people, listen to people, so that you have really strong mixed methods approaches to research that triangulate.” - Prof. Dr. Dawn Cassandra Parker, University of Waterloo, Canada Interview is coming soon. |
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| Bridging the Gap in Women’s Health Research | Give Support, Gain Progress: Retaining Women in Science | Land MDPI: Journal Spotlight |
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When: 10 March, 18:00–21:00 (GMT / UTC+0) Speakers: Prof. Rachel Cowen, Prof. Toni Haastrup, Dr. Amelia Bonea, Dr. Noushin Karimian and Dr. Sarah Woolner Join MDPI UK for a panel discussion that aims to foster connections among women in the research industry, while providing a dedicated space to share stories and experiences of this demanding yet deeply rewarding career path. |
“A Randomized Controlled Crossover Lifestyle Intervention to Improve Metabolic and Mental Health in Female Healthcare Night-Shift Workers”
by Laura A. Robinson, Sarah Lennon, Alexandrea R. Pegel, Kelly P. Strickland, Christine A. Feeley, Sarah O. Watts, William J. Van Der Pol, Michael D. Roberts, Michael W. Greene and Andrew D. Frugé
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3342; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213342
“Suffering in Silence: Reasons Why Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education Institutions Choose Not to Report Their Victimization”
by Lungelo Cynthia Mdletshe and Mandisa Samukelisiwe Makhaye
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(6), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060336
“From Effectuation to Empowerment: Unveiling the Impact of Women Entrepreneurs on Small and Medium Enterprises’ Performance—Evidence from Indonesia”
by Sherly Theresia, Sabrina Oktaria Sihombing and Ferdi Antonio
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15060198
“Exploring Self-Perceived Stress and Anxiety Throughout Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study”
by Mar Miguel Redondo, Cristina Liebana-Presa, Javier Pérez-Rivera, Cristian Martín-Vázquez, Natalia Calvo-Ayuso and Rubén García-Fernández
Diseases 2025, 13(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13040121
“Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Tourism Industry: A Bibliometric Study”
by Ainhoa del Pino Rodríguez-Vera, Dolores Rando-Cueto and Carlos de las Heras Pedrosa
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15040130
“Video Games That Educate: Breaking Gender Stereotypes and Promoting Gender Equality with a Serious Video Game”
by Alma Gloria Barrera Yañez, Cristina Alonso-Fernández and Baltasar Fernández-Manjón
Information 2025, 16(3), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16030199
“Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO2 Emissions Across Countries”
by Diana Sanchez-Olmedo, Paula Ortiz-Yepez and Marco Faytong-Haro
World 2025, 6(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6010026
“Elevated Serum Levels of Acid Sphingomyelinase in Female Patients with Episodic and Chronic Migraine”
by Alberto Ouro, Mónica Castro-Mosquera, Mariña Rodríguez-Arrizabalaga, Manuel Debasa-Mouce, Antía Custodia, Marta Aramburu-Núñez, Daniel Romaus-Sanjurjo, Josefina Casas, Isabel Lema, José Castillo et al.
Antioxidants 2025, 14(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020159
“Are Women More Risk Averse? A Sequel”
by Christos I. Giannikos and Efstathia D. Korkou
Risks 2025, 13(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks13010012
“The Impact of Benevolent Sexism on Women’s Career Growth: A Moderated Serial Mediation Model”
by Shuang Song and Po-Chien Chang
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010059
| “Diet in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” Guest Editors: Dr. Joanna Grzesik-Gąsior and Dr. Ewa Rzońca Submissions deadline: 25 May 2026 |
“The Mobilization of Social Justice and Gender Equality” Guest Editor: Dr. Ada L. Sinacore Submissions deadline: 31 July 2026 |
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| “Women's Health and Well-Being: A Focus on Obstetrics and Gynecologic Medicine” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Luca Roncati Submissions deadline: 30 September 2026 |
“Women’s Voices in the Media Guest Editor: Dr. Kathryn Shine” Submissions deadline: 31 October 2026 |
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28 February 2026
MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Analysis and Sensing Technologies
Analysis and sensing technologies represent a crucial field dedicated to the detection and quantification of physical, chemical, and biological signals. Combining the fields of chemistry, materials science, and engineering, this discipline focuses on developing methods and devices to identify and quantify chemical or biological substances with high precision. The fusion of AI and advanced sensing is revolutionizing precision medicine, environmental protection, and data-led manufacturing frameworks in the modern industrial landscape.
The focus of MDPI’s journal cluster relating to analysis and sensing technologies is on publishing studies that advance cutting-edge analytical and bioanalytical science and sensors research across a broad range of fields. These journals will collaborate to contribute to the scientific community with research and discoveries within the field of analysis and sensing technologies.
The six participating journals include the following:
- Analytica (ISSN: 2673-4532) provides an advanced forum for studies related to analytical chemistry, including chromatography (GC, HPLC, UPLC, SFE, HPTLC, GC x GC, LC x LC), hyphenated instrument configurations (e.g., LC-MS) and new devices, sample pretreatment and extraction, electroanalysis (voltammetry, polarography), sensors (chemosensors and biosensors), spectroscopy (chemi- and bio-luminescence, fluorescence, UV/Vis, NMR, IR, MS, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, absorption and emission spectroscopy), thermal analysis, and chemometrics. Accepted papers can cover the various application fields of analytical chemistry, such as environmental, biological, clinical/pharmaceutical, -omics (proteomics, metabolomics), forensic, and industrial (quality control). Analytica is led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Marcello Locatelli (Department of Science, University of G. d'Annunzio Chieti and Pescara, Italy).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/analytica - Biosensors (ISSN: 2079-6374) focuses on the study of the science and technology of biosensors and biosensing, including biological or biologically inspired sensors, DNA chips, lab-on-a-chip, microfluidics, wearable biosensors, nanobiosensors, and applications in medicine, biomedical research, the environment, food, and other fields. Biosensors is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Giovanna Marrazza (Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biosensors - Chemosensors (ISSN: 2227-9040) focuses on advancing the science and technology of chemical sensors and related analytical methods and systems. The journal provides a comprehensive platform for research on (bio)chemical sensing theory, detection mechanisms, device development and practical applications across diverse fields including environmental monitoring, food safety, biomedicine and agriculture. The journal covers a broad scope encompassing electrochemical sensors, optical mass-sensitive sensors, field-effect transistors, catalytic and acoustic (bio)chemical sensing devices, as well as materials, nanostructures, micro- and nanotechnologies, and analytical instrumentation for (bio)chemical sensing platforms. Chemosensors is led by Editors-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault (Institute of UTINAM, University of Franche-Comté, France) and Prof. Dr. Jin-Ming Lin (Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, China).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/chemosensors - Purification (ISSN: 3042-6197) focuses on the production of ultra-pure substances and the purification of water, air, gases, biobased feedstocks and products, and inorganic chemicals. It covers a wide range of purification technologies, including the design of various filters and separation columns (e.g., column geometry and stationary phase packing), as well as bulk purification processes. The scope also extends to the application of chemometrics in the development, optimization, and control of purification systems. Purification is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Francesco Vegliò (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economy, University of L’Aquila, Italy).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/purification - Separations (ISSN: 2297-8739) covers all areas of analytical separation and purification, including theory and methodology, equipment and techniques, and computational modeling. Separations is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Frank L. Dorman (Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, USA).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/separations - Spectroscopy Journal (ISSN: 2813-446X) is an international journal on all aspects of spectroscopy. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results regarding all facets of spectroscopy techniques, characterization, theory, and other spectroscopic developments. Spectroscopy is concerned with the interaction between matter and any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and is applied in all disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, space science, material science, and engineering. Spectroscopy Journal is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Clemens Burda (Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Millis Science Center, USA).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/spectroscj
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Journals |
Launch year |
Impact Factor (2025) |
CiteScore (2025) |
First Decision (Median Days) |
Acceptance to Publication (Median Days) |
APC |
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2020 |
7.4 |
7.2 |
19.4 |
3.7 |
CHF 1200 |
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2011 |
6.2 |
12.1 |
17.3 |
2.9 |
CHF 2200 |
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2013 |
4.4 |
8.1 |
19.8 |
3.7 |
CHF 2000 |
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2025 |
- |
- |
18 |
7 |
CHF 1000 |
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2014 |
3.5 |
6.4 |
15.1 |
2.8 |
CHF 2600 |
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2023 |
- |
- |
18.1 |
3.5 |
CHF 1000 |
MDPI’s Mission and Values:
As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has been serving the scientific community since 1996. Our aim is to foster scientific exchange in all forms across all disciplines. MDPI's guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:
- Open Access: All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
- Timeliness and Efficiency: Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7-10 days upon acceptance;
- Simplicity: Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
- High-Quality Service: Supporting scholars and their work by providing a range of options such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net to make a positive impact on research;
- Flexibility: Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the changing needs of the research community, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
- Rooted in Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.
By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.
Selected Articles:
“Evaluation of the Ellman’s Reagent Protocol for Free Sulfhydryls Under Protein Denaturing Conditions”
by Sophia R. Ginet, Frank Gonzalez, Maxine L. Marano, Megha D. Salecha, Joseph E. Reiner and Gregory A. Caputo
Analytica 2025, 6(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica6020018
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4532/6/2/18
“AI-Assisted Detection of Biomarkers by Sensors and Biosensors for Early Diagnosis and Monitoring”
by Tomasz Wasilewski, Wojciech Kamysz and Jacek Gębicki
Biosensors 2024, 14(7), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14070356
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/14/7/356
“Humidity Sensing Using Polymers: A Critical Review of Current Technologies and Emerging Trends”
by Jintian Qian, Ruiqin Tan, Mingxia Feng, Wenfeng Shen, Dawu Lv and Weijie Song
Chemosensors 2024, 12(11), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12110230
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/11/230
“Mass Transfer Resistance Considerations for Dye Adsorption on Activated Carbon”
by Monika Gwadera, Pawel Brzoskwinia, Szymon Hnatyk and Gabriela Kazberuk
Purification 2025, 1(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/purification1010004
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/3042-6197/1/1/4
“Microextraction and Eco-Friendly Techniques Applied to Solid Matrices Followed by Chromatographic Analysis”
by Attilio Naccarato, Rosangela Elliani and Antonio Tagarelli
Separations. 2025, 12(5), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12050124
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/5/124
“Raman Spectroscopy of Common Fertilizers in Aqueous Solution and Their Detection”
by Laurel ONeill, Maxwell Weatherington and Tim Kane
Spectrosc. J. 2024, 2(4), 332-340; https://doi.org/10.3390/spectroscj2040020
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-446X/2/4/20
28 February 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #32 - MDPI China and Thailand, China Science Daily, 1,000 Partnerships, R2R
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
Reflections from China: Year-End-Celebrations and Open Access Publishing
In February, I had the pleasure of joining over a thousand colleagues from our Tongzhou and Haidian offices at their end-of-year annual celebration in Beijing.
Spending time with our teams in China is also a powerful reminder of the scale and complexity of MDPI as a global organization. Our colleagues in Beijing, Wuhan, and across the country play a significant role in our day-to-day operations and long-term development. I’m grateful for the hospitality, collaboration, and commitment shown by our managers and teams in China, alongside colleagues worldwide, who have helped steadily build MDPI, brick by brick, over the years.
Below are some data on Open Access (OA) publishing in China and our collaboration in this important research market.
Open Access Publishing in China
China has been the world’s leading country in research and review article publication volume since 2019, exceeding one million publications in 2025. Over the past five years, the gap between China and the second-ranked country, the United States, has continued to widen.
In 2025:
- 47% of China’s research output was published Open Access
- Of those OA publications, 76% were Gold Open Access (approximately 382,930 articles)
- The overall OA distribution remained stable compared with 2024, with Gold OA increasing by 1%
Over the past five years (2021–2025):
- China published 4,398,050 research and review articles
- Approximately 48% of this output was OA
According to Dimensions, when comparing the top 20 countries by publication volume (2021–2025):
- China ranks 1st worldwide in publication volume
- China ranks 9th in citation performance within this group (for comparison, the US ranks 2nd in publication volume and 10th in citation ranking)
- Average citations per article: 12.51
Among the top 10 universities globally by publication volume, six are Chinese institutions, alongside Harvard University (USA), the University of São Paulo (Brazil), the University of Toronto (Canada), and the University of Oxford (UK).
MDPI and China
China is an important and long-standing part of MDPI’s global publishing ecosystem:
- In 2025, MDPI was the largest fully Open Access publisher in China
- MDPI published 22% of China’s Gold Open Access output (82,133 papers)
- We received 290,999 submissions from China-affiliated authors and published 82,133 articles
- There are 8,500+ active Editorial Board Members based in China
- 64% (5,438) have an H-index above 26
- MDPI works with:
- 117 Editors-in-Chief
- 103 Section Editors-in-Chief
- 71 China-based institutions currently hold IOAP agreements with MDPI, seven of which rank among the top 10 Chinese institutions by publication volume
China's scale in research output means that the publishing platforms chosen by Chinese scholars will continue to influence the direction of scholarly publishing. At the same time, MDPI’s strength comes from its international collaboration, with colleagues, editors, reviewers, and authors working together across regions and disciplines.
Thank you to all our colleagues in China, and around the world, who support MDPI’s publishing activities across departments and help advance open access research every day.
Impactful Research
“Progress in open science is built through trust, dialogue, and relationships”
Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with China Science Daily
During my trip to Beijing, I also had the opportunity to visit China Science Daily and take part in an interview and broader exchange with their team in Beijing. Visits like this matter because progress in open science is built not only through platforms and infrastructure, but also through trust, dialogue, and relationships across research communities and regions.
China Science Daily: History Museum
As part of the visit, I was given a tour of their History Museum, which offers a thorough perspective on the evolution of China’s first science and technology newspaper, established in 1959. The exhibition highlights how the organization developed into a trusted institution connecting research with the public and policymakers. It was a helpful reminder that at the core of publishing is stewardship, credibility, and long-term public engagement with science.
An Open Exchange on Open Science
During the visit, I met with Dr. Zhao Yan, Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet. We had an open and engaging conversation about MDPI’s role in Open Access, the evolution of open science globally, and the potential for more collaboration going forward. He especially appreciated the candid and personal nature of our exchange, noting that this kind of dialogue feels important in a landscape where trust and transparency matter.
Interview on Open Access
I also participated in an interview with Ms. Yan Jie, from the Online Media Center and Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet, China Science Daily. Our discussion covered the growth of Open Access over the past 30 years, MDPI’s mission and values, academic integrity, collaboration with the Chinese research community, and MDPI’s own 30th anniversary milestone. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how open science has matured, and where shared responsibility across publishers, institutions, and researchers continues to matter most.
“Progress in open science is built by more than scale and infrastructure”
I’m sharing a few photos from the visit as a glimpse behind the scenes. The full interview will be published by China Science Daily in due course, and I look forward to sharing it when it is available.
More broadly, visits like this reinforce something I’ve always believed in: progress in open science is built not only through scale and infrastructure, but also through continued dialogue, mutual respect, collaboration, and a willingness to listen across regions and perspectives. That remains central to our work, especially as MDPI reflects on 30 years of publishing, built together.
Inside MDPI
Bangkok Visit: Growth, Partnership, and Local Impact
In February, I also had the opportunity to visit our Bangkok office for the second time in two years to support their local meetings and deliver a training session on how we present MDPI at a corporate level.
It’s easy to spend time with our colleagues in Thailand. From Editorial and Production to Conferences, Marketing, Design, and our Regional Journal Relations Specialist (RJRS), the team continues to grow in scale and professionalism. I’d also like to recognize our local management and admin teams, who have been steadily expanding our office and supporting more than 500 colleagues on the ground.
Academic Partnerships
During the visit, we met with the Engineering Department at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). Our discussion focused on the recent MDPI developments, Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) opportunities, Author Publishing Workshops (APW), and the potential use of JAMS to support their institutional journal.
“MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand”
We also shared insights into the growth of Open Access (OA) in Thailand and KMITL’s own publishing trends. These conversations matter because institutions are looking for sustainable ways to support their researchers. Our IOAP agreements are one simple example of how we can provide value in this area while maintaining accessibility for authors.
Thailand and MDPI: 2025 Snapshot
Our Bangkok office, officially launched in 2022, has been growing to support over 500 staff members while continuing to expand its engagement in scholar visits, workshops, and conference collaborations. As at 2025, Thailand submissions to MDPI have increased about 21% and publications by about 25%, maintaining a rejection rate close to the company average. MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand, publishing 15% of all Gold OA output in 2025.
Representing MDPI Externally
During the visit, I delivered a training session on how we present MDPI at external events.
This session covered topics related to:
- Our aim and guiding principles
- High-level company milestones and Indexing facts and figures
- Industry partnerships and collaborations
- Market trends in OA and subscription publishing
- Country-specific publishing data and collaborations with MDPI
- Insights from our Voice of Community report
I find that while many colleagues are very familiar with the specific journal for which they have responsibility, fewer have visibility into the broader MDPI ecosystem and the company’s global positioning. These sessions help build alignment, confidence, and consistency in how we represent the company.
What stands out most is that MDPI’s growth is not abstract: it’s visible in the people, the partnerships, and the professionalism developing across our offices.
Coming Together for Science
1,000 Institutional Partners: A Milestone Built on Trust
This month, we reached an important milestone: more than 1,000 institutions worldwide are now part of MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). On paper, that is a number. In practice, it represents trust.
This milestone symbolizes thousands of conversations with libraries and institutions. It stands for negotiations, renewals, consortium expansions, and, most importantly, relationships built over time. It reflects the work of colleagues across publishing, institutional partnerships, marketing, editorial, finance, and many other teams who contribute to making these agreements operational.
In 2025 alone, more than 61,300 research articles benefited from article processing charge (APC) discounts through IOAP agreements. Tens of thousands of authors were able to publish through a simplified and structured process. At the same time, institutional administrators gained clearer oversight and streamlined workflows.
Why IOAP Matters
When we launched IOAP, the objective was straightforward: to reduce barriers for researchers while supporting institutions in navigating the evolving OA landscape. Over the past decade, the research ecosystem has changed. Funder mandates, national policies, and Plan S–aligned requirements have accelerated the transition to OA.
Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency. IOAP was designed to support that reality.
For colleagues who would like to better understand the program, this blog-post overview of MDPI’s IOAP provides additional context, including common questions around the transition to OA and how our institutional partnerships are structured.
“Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency”
Recent Examples
Our agreements continue to evolve across regions:
- In Sweden, MDPI signed a national Open Access publishing agreement with 96 institutions, enabling affiliated researchers to publish without managing individual APC payments.
- In Spain, we extended our flat-fee agreement with Universidad Católica de Valencia, reinforcing institutional support for OA publishing.
These examples show that institutions seek structured, predictable models that support their researchers at scale.
Looking Ahead
Crossing the threshold of 1,000 partners tells us that institutions see MDPI not just as a publisher but as a reliable operational partner in advancing open science. This milestone is not a finish line. It is a reminder that the work continues.
Thank you to the entire IOAP team and to all colleagues who contributed to reaching this achievement.
P.S. You can read about this milestone across industry outlets, including STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Research Information, EurekAlert, Brightsurf, among others. You can also read about the coverage in Poland (e.g., media-room, bomega) Korea (newstap), and Romania (EduLike).
Closing Thoughts
Reflections from the Researcher to Reader Conference
During 24–25 February, I attended the 2026 Researcher to Reader Conference in London, UK. Leaders from across scholarly publishing, research infrastructure, libraries, and technology gathered to discuss AI and research integrity, peer review reform, metadata and infrastructure, community engagement, open research policy, and the evolving role of publishers in a rapidly shifting ecosystem.
The conversations were open and honest, and at times uncomfortable – exactly what we need at times. Below are a few reflections that stayed with me.
The Battle for Knowledge: What Becomes Accepted as ‘True’?
One recurring theme was not whether science evolves but whether our infrastructure is resilient enough to sustain trust at scale. Science does not promise certainty: it promises process. As publishing systems grow more complex and become more technologically mediated, the question is how intentionally we design, monitor, and strengthen that process.
Peer Review: Speed, Credentials, and Structural Loops
Researchers consistently call for faster peer review. At the same time, reviewer credentials are often tied to publication records. This creates a structural loop. Publishing history opens reviewing opportunities, reviewing strengthens credentials, and those without early access remain outside the cycle.
There is a need for us to reflect on how opportunity circulates within our systems: we should ask how we create more inclusive pathways for researchers globally to participate in peer review.
Community Engagement Workshop
One of the highlights of R2R was the workshop format, whereby small groups met repeatedly over two days and moved from ideas to tangible strategies.
I joined the Community Engagement workshop led by Lou Peck (CEO at The International Bunch) and Godwyns Onwuchekwa (Principal Consultant at Global Tapestry Consulting). We explored two deceptively simple questions: What is a community? and What does engagement truly mean?
“Engagement requires shared design and shared responsibility”
Too often, organizations equate communication with engagement. The framework discussed mapped a maturity spectrum – from enablement (broadcasting, informing and consulting) to true engagement (collaborating and co-creating).
It was a useful reminder of the fact that if we want trust and loyalty, engagement must go beyond announcements and surveys. It requires shared design and shared responsibility.
AI: Democratization or Digital Colonialism?
I especially enjoyed the thought-provoking presentation from Nikesh Gosalia (Chief Partnership Officer at Cactus Communications), which highlighted an uncomfortable reality:
- 93% of AI-generated content is in English
- Approximately 2% is in French
- Approximately 2% is in German
- More than 7,000 languages are represented in less than 5% of the content within large AI systems
The implications are profound. Is AI democratizing access to scholarly publishing (making it easier for researchers everywhere to participate in global knowledge production)? Or are we encoding colonialism at scale (entrenching linguistic and structural hierarchies, and making it harder for voices from the Global South to be heard)?
AI is already reshaping how research is created, reviewed, discovered, and shared. Its potential is enormous. But its impact depends not only on capability, but on governance, design, and intentionality. Publishers, funders, and researchers all share responsibility in shaping how these systems evolve.
Ethicality in practice (Lightening Talk)
It was also great to have our colleague Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation at MDPI) present MDPI’s Ethicality platform during a lightning talk.
“Technology alone is not the answer”
Ethicality embeds AI-driven checks directly into the submission workflow, supporting editors proactively rather than reacting after publication. As we scale, tools like this help balance trust, efficiency, and research integrity.
This goes back into the underlying theme of the conference that technology alone is not the answer. However, technology embedded thoughtfully within clear governance frameworks can strengthen confidence in the editorial process.
Final thought
The question is no longer whether technology will transform research infrastructure: it is already doing so. The real question is what role each of us will play in shaping that transformation deliberately, with structural maturity, inclusive governance, and engagement that moves from informing to co-creating.
Science needs to evolve, responsibly. And that responsibility extends not only to what we publish, but also to how the systems behind publication are designed. Some important topics to continue reflecting on both internally and within our broader community.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
20 February 2026
MDPI Virtual Academic Publishing Workshop (New Harvest), 25 February 2026
This Academic Publishing Workshop will be led by MDPI Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Dr. Sally Wu, on “Author Training”. Participants will receive practical advice on essential aspects of writing academic articles. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the academic publishing landscape and how to successfully contribute to it.
Date: 25 February 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. EST
Schedule:
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Speaker |
Program |
Time in EST |
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Dr. Sally Wu |
Introduction |
11:30–11:40 a.m. |
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Dr. Sally Wu |
Tips for Writing Great Research Papers
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11:40 a.m.–12:15 p.m. |
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Dr. Sally Wu |
How to Respond to Peer Reviewers
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12:15–12:50 p.m. |
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Dr. Sally Wu |
AI in Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities
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12:50–13:30 p.m. |
Speakers:
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Dr. Sally Wu received a PhD in medical science from the University of Toronto in the fall of 2025. She joined MDPI in February 2025 as an Assistant Editor for Cells. She was recently promoted to Regional Journal Relations Specialist position in August. In this role, she works with many journals, liaising with authors, board members, and EiCs. She has attended several conferences across North America, hosted scholar visits, and taken part in other outreach events. |
20 February 2026
Biosensors | Collection of Title Stories in 2025
18 February 2026
MDPI’s Open Access Program Reaches 1,000 Institutions Worldwide
11 February 2026
MDPI Webinar | World Cancer Day, 12 February 2026
To commemorate World Cancer Day 2026, MDPI is delighted to introduce the “World Cancer Day 2026 Webinar Series”. Reflecting the global theme “United by Unique,” this series reminds us that each story, discovery, and voice plays a vital role in strengthening the world’s collective fight against cancer.
Kicking off with our February session, this first installment welcomes leading voices in oncology to share impactful insights, raise awareness, and spotlight breakthrough research.
Through this series, we aim to empower the global community with knowledge, inspire collaboration, and support ongoing efforts in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Together, we will honor every patient’s journey, elevate the contributions of researchers, and reinforce the power of collective action in the fight against cancer.
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. CET | 12:00 p.m. EST | 1:00 a.m. CST (Asia)
Webinar ID: 899 8080 6135
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Register now for free!
Program:
| Speaker and Presentation Title | Time in CET | Time in EST |
| Introduction | 6:00–6:10 p.m. | 12:00–12:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Xiang Xue PINK1 Deficiency Facilitates Mitochondrial Iron Accumulation and Colon Tumorigenesis |
6:10–6:30 p.m. | 12:10–12:30 p.m. |
| Dr. Federico Pio Fabrizio Epigenetics of KEAP1/NRF2 Signaling: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Implications |
6:30–6:50 p.m. | 12:30–12:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Anis Ahmad Protecting Healthy Organs While Treating Cancer: New Molecular Strategies to Improve Survivorship |
6:50–7:10 p.m. | 12:50–1:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa Stabilizing Tumor Suppressors: Therapeutic Frontiers in Precision Medicine |
7:10–7:30 p.m. | 1:10–1:30 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 7:30–7:55 p.m. | 1:30–1:55 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 7:55–8:00 p.m. | 1:55–2:00 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.
Webinar Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Xiang Xue, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, USA;
- Dr. Federico Pio Fabrizio, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kore University of Enna, Italy;
- Dr. Anis Ahmad, Department of Radiation Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA;
- Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa, Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, USA.
4 February 2026
Biosensors | Issue Cover Articles in 2025
The articles below have been selected as the 2025 Issue Cover Articles by the Editorial Office of Biosensors (ISSN: 2079-6374). These articles come from multiple fields within the scope of Biosensors. We hope that they can provide insights and references for scholars in these fields.
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1. “A Truncated Multi-Thiol Aptamer-Based SARS-CoV-2 Electrochemical Biosensor: Towards Variant-Specific Point-of-Care Detection with Optimized Fabrication” |
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2. “Parallel Detection of the Unamplified Carbapenem Resistance Genes blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-1 Using a Plasmonic Nano-Biosensor with a Field-Portable DNA Extraction Method” |
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3. “An Antimicrobial and Antifibrotic Coating for Implantable Biosensors” |
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4. “Stamp-Imprinted Polymer EIS Biosensor for Amyloid-Beta Detection: A Novel Approach Towards Alzheimer’s Screening” |
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5. “Unraveling Charge Transfer Mechanisms in Graphene–Quantum Dot Hybrids for High-Sensitivity Biosensing” |
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6. “Multiplexed CRISPR Assay for Amplification-Free Detection of miRNAs” |
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7. “Labeled Bovine Serum Albumin as a Fluorescent Biosensor to Monitor the Stability of Lipid-Based Formulations” |
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8. “Wearable Personal Uroflowmeter for Measuring Urine Leakage in Women with Incontinence: Feasibility Study” |
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9. “Robust Pt/Au Composite Nanostructures for Abiotic Glucose Sensing” |
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10. “Application of the Combined QCM-D/LSPR Aptasensor for Penicillin G Detection” |
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11. “Microfluidic-Integrated, Ring-Resonator-Assisted Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (μFRA-MZI) as a Label-Free Nanophotonic Sensor” |
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12. “Size Effects of Silver Nanoparticles and Magnetic Beads on Silver-Gold Galvanic Exchange in Aptamer-Based Electrochemical Assays” |
3 February 2026
World Cancer Day—“United by Unique”, 4 February 2026
World Cancer Day draws global attention to the ongoing fight against cancer—one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Observed annually on 4 February, World Cancer Day unites individuals, communities, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in a shared commitment to reduce the global cancer burden and improve outcomes for patients everywhere.
Aligned with this year’s theme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), the initiative calls for greater awareness, early detection, equitable access to care, and sustained investment in cancer research and innovation. From prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, addressing cancer requires coordinated, multidisciplinary efforts across healthcare systems and scientific communities worldwide.
In support of World Cancer Day, selected MDPI journals highlight cutting-edge research across the cancer continuum, including advances in oncology, diagnostics, therapeutics, public health, and patient-centred care. Through curated articles, Special Issues, and expert-led webinars, these journals aim to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration to accelerate progress toward a future where cancer prevention and treatment are accessible, effective, and equitable for all.
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In 2026, MDPI is honored to support World Cancer Day through a monthly awareness ries beginning in February. Each session will focus on a key cancer awareness theme, showcasing cutting-edge research and expert insights through specially curated landing pages and a dedicated webinar series. Through this special activity, we aim to sustain engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration throughout the year. Below is the list of events. You may click on the respective links (updated throughout the year, closer to each event month) to access the individual event pages.
| Month | Relevant Cancer Awareness Month |
| January | Cervical Cancer Awareness Month |
| February | World Cancer Day |
| March | Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month |
| April | Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month |
| May | Bladder Cancer Awareness Month |
| June | Cancer Survivorship Awareness Month |
| July | Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month |
| August | Brain Cancer Awareness Month |
| September | Childhood Cancer Awareness Month |
| October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
| November | Lung Cancer Awareness Month |
| December | Skin Cancer Awareness Month |
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Dr. Xiang Xue, |
Dr. Federico Pio Fabrizio, |
Dr. Anis Ahmad, |
Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa, |
Register for this webinar for free here!
“Molecular Insight and Antioxidative Therapeutic Potentials of Plant-Derived Compounds in Breast Cancer Treatment”
by Sandhya Shukla, Arvind Kumar Shukla, Adarsha Mahendra Upadhyay, Navin Ray, Fowzul Islam Fahad, Arulkumar Nagappan, Sayan Deb Dutta and Raj Kumar Mongre
Onco 2025, 5(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/onco5020027
“Comprehensive Analysis of Advancement in Optical Biosensing Techniques for Early Detection of Cancerous Cells”
by Ayushman Ramola, Amit Kumar Shakya and Arik Bergman
Biosensors 2025, 15(5), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15050292
“Advancing Cancer Treatment: A Review of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Combination Strategies”
by Valencia Mc Neil and Seung Won Lee
Cancers 2025, 17(9), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17091408
“Prunin: An Emerging Anticancer Flavonoid”
by Juie Nahushkumar Rana and Sohail Mumtaz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(6), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26062678
“Advancing Cancer Therapy with Quantum Dots and Other Nanostructures: A Review of Drug Delivery Innovations, Applications, and Challenges”
by Ashutosh Pareek, Deepanjali Kumar, Aaushi Pareek and Madan Mohan Gupta
Cancers 2025, 17(5), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17050878
“From Bench to Bedside: Transforming Cancer Therapy with Protease Inhibitors”
by Alireza Shoari
Targets 2025, 3(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets3010008
“Breast Cancer and Tumor Microenvironment: The Crucial Role of Immune Cells”
by Tânia Moura, Paula Laranjeira, Olga Caramelo, Ana M. Gil and Artur Paiva
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(3), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32030143
“Mechanisms and Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer”
by Jennifer Haynes and Prasath Manogaran
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051988
“Polyphenol-Based Prevention and Treatment of Cancer Through Epigenetic and Combinatorial Mechanisms”
by Neha Singaravelan and Trygve O. Tollefsbol
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040616
“Advances in Drug Targeting, Drug Delivery, and Nanotechnology Applications: Therapeutic Significance in Cancer Treatment”
by Fatih Ciftci, Ali Can Özarslan, İmran Cagri Kantarci, Aslihan Yelkenci, Ozlem Tavukcuoglu and Mansour Ghorbanpour
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010121
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“Genetic and Epigenetic Analyses in Cancer” |
“Improving the Quality of Life in Patients with Gynecological Cancer” |
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“Antibody-Mediated Therapy and Other Emerging Therapies in Cancer Treatment” |
“Advances in Implementation Science and Knowledge Mobilization for Cancer Control” |
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