Announcements

We are delighted to share a collection of papers on genome editing published from 2024 to 2025 in the journal Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

In addition, we would like to highlight several Special Issues related to this topic that are currently open for submission.

1. “CRISPR-Based Gene Therapies: From Preclinical to Clinical Treatments”
by Marine Laurent, Marine Geoffroy, Giulia Pavani and Simon Guiraud
Cells 2024, 13(10), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100800
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/10/800

2. “CRISPR-Cas9 in Cardiovascular Medicine: Unlocking New Potential for Treatment”
by Klaudia Bonowicz, Dominika Jerka, Klaudia Piekarska, Janet Olagbaju, Laura Stapleton, Munirat Shobowale, Andrzej Bartosiński, Magdalena Łapot, Yidong Bai and Maciej Gagat
Cells 2025, 14(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14020131
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/2/131

3. “Nanotechnology-Based Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review”
by Mohd Ahmar Rauf, Afifa Rao, Siva Sankari Sivasoorian and Arun K. Iyer
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151136
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1136

4. “From Bench to Bedside: Translating Cellular Rejuvenation Therapies into Clinical Applications”
by Timur Saliev and Prim B. Singh
Cells 2024, 13(24), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13242052
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/24/2052

5. “Advancements in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy: A Journey of Progress for Viral Transduction”
by Aurora Giommetti and Eleni Papanikolaou
Cells 2024, 13(12), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13121039
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/12/1039

6. “A Novel CRISPR-Cas9 Strategy to Target DYSTROPHIN Mutations Downstream of Exon 44 in Patient-Specific DMD iPSCs”
by Neha R. Dhoke, Hyunkee Kim, Karim Azzag, Sarah B. Crist, James Kiley and Rita C. R. Perlingeiro
Cells 2024, 13(11), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13110972
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/11/972

7. “Increasing GSH-Px Activity and Activating Wnt Pathway Promote Fine Wool Growth in FGF5-Edited Sheep”
by Xue-Ling Xu, Su-Jun Wu, Shi-Yu Qi, Ming-Ming Chen, Zhi-Mei Liu, Rui Zhang, Yue Zhao, Shun-Qi Liu, Wen-Di Zhou, Jin-Long Zhang et al.
Cells 2024, 13(11), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13110985
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/11/985

8. “Validation of Clinical-Grade Electroporation Systems for CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Gene Therapy in Primary Hepatocytes for the Correction of Inherited Metabolic Liver Disease”
by Justin Gibson, Abishek Dhungana, Menam Pokhrel, Benjamin Arthur, Pramita Suresh, Olumide Adebayo and Renee N. Cottle
Cells 2025, 14(10), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14100711
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/711

9. “Optical Genome Mapping Reveals Genomic Alterations upon Gene Editing in hiPSCs: Implications for Neural Tissue Differentiation and Brain Organoid Research”
by Lucia Gallego Villarejo, Wanda M. Gerding, Lisa Bachmann, Luzie H. I. Hardt, Stefan Bormann, Huu Phuc Nguyen and Thorsten Müller
Cells 2024, 13(6), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13060507
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/6/507

10. “Quiescent OXPHOS-High Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells That Persist After Chemotherapy Depend on BCL-XL for Survival”
by Slawomir Andrzejewski, Marie Winter, Leandro Encarnacao Garcia, Olusiji Akinrinmade, Francisco Madeira Marques, Emmanouil Zacharioudakis, Anna Skwarska, Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, Marina Konopleva, Guangrong Zheng et al.
Cells 2025, 14(19), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14191557
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/19/1557

11. “Profibrotic Molecules Are Reduced in CRISPR-Edited Emery–Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Fibroblasts”
by Eleonora Cattin, Elisa Schena, Elisabetta Mattioli, Stefania Marcuzzo, Silvia Bonanno, Paola Cavalcante, Federico Corradi, Daniela Benati, Giorgia Farinazzo, Marco Cattaneo et al.
Cells 2025, 14(17), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171321
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/17/1321

Relevant Special Issues:

“Targeting Tumor Suppressor Genes for Cancer Therapy”
Guest Editors: Dr. Jogendra Pawar, Dr. Smita Kumari and Dr. Naseem Akhter
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2026

“Genome Editing in Biomedicine”
Guest Editor: Dr. Fu-Lei Tang
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026

1. Congratulations on receiving the Cells Best Paper Award. Could you share your initial reaction when you learned that you had been selected? In addition, could you briefly introduce yourself and give us a short introduction to your winning paper? What was the core insight or most surprising result that emerged from this work?
It was a pleasant surprise to learn that our paper had been selected for the Cells Best Paper Award based on its impact, as reflected by downloads and citations. According to Google Scholar, the paper has already received more than 37 citations in about two years of publication, indicating that researchers are not only paying attention to our work but also actively referencing it in their research papers.
I am an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA. My research focuses on developing small-molecule inhibitors and protein degraders that selectively target tumor cells while minimizing toxicity to normal cells. The work presented in this paper stems from our efforts to dual-target two key pro-survival proteins, BCL-xL and BCL-2, in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). A large percentage of SCLC tumors depend on both proteins for survival, so degrading both simultaneously—as we achieved using the BCL-xL/BCL-2 dual degrader 753b—effectively eliminates these tumor cells.
Our journey began with DT2216, the first-in-class BCL-xL PROTAC degrader, which we generated by conjugating modified navitoclax (a BCL-xL/BCL-2 inhibitor) with a ligand for the VHL E3 ligase. DT2216 selectively degraded BCL-xL, but did not degrade BCL-2, because it could not form a stable ternary complex with BCL-2 and VHL in cells. These findings were published in Nature Medicine with me as the lead first author in 2019. Since then, DT2216 has completed phase I clinical trial and is being evaluated in phase Ib/II clinical trials in combination with standard therapeutics in multiple cancers. Through structural optimization, we subsequently developed 753b, which, to our surprise, not only degraded BCL-xL more potently than DT2216 but also degraded BCL-2. As a result, 753b proved more effective than both DT2216 and navitoclax in killing SCLC cells in culture and inhibiting tumor growth in mice. The most surprising result was discovering that a single PROTAC molecule could achieve dual degradation of both BCL-xL and BCL-2 with such potency.

2. Could you present your current research project in terms that are accessible to a broader scientific audience and tell us how you became interested in your current research field? What do you consider to be the most innovative aspect of your work, and what impact do you hope it will have on the field? Additionally, what has been the most significant challenge you have encountered during this research, and how did you overcome it?
My current research focuses on developing targeted protein degraders, specifically PROTACs, that can eliminate cancer-driving proteins rather than just inhibiting them. In simple terms, we design small molecules that act like molecular “handcuffs”—one end grabs the cancer protein we want to eliminate, and the other end grabs the cell’s own disposal machinery, i.e., the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This forces the cell to destroy the cancer protein, which can be more effective and requires lower therapeutic doses than traditional drugs that simply block protein function.
I became interested in this field by reading only a few articles published when I started working on PROTACs complemented by my research on BCL-2 family proteins, which are critical for cancer cell survival but also essential for normal cell function, particularly BCL-xL is important for platelet survival. The challenge was: how do we kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells, particularly platelets? We could envision the potential of targeting BCL-2 family proteins in a tumor-selective manner using PROTACs. This led us to explore PROTAC technology, which offered a way to achieve tumor-selective degradation by exploiting differences in E3 ligase expression between tumor cells and platelets.
The most innovative aspect of our published work in Cells is the development of dual-protein degraders. Instead of targeting one protein at a time, we created 753b, which simultaneously degrades both BCL-xL and BCL-2. This is particularly important because many cancers, including SCLC, depend on multiple pro-survival proteins and can develop resistance when only one is blocked. By degrading both, we achieve more complete and durable tumor cell killing.
The impact I hope for is twofold: first, to provide a safer therapeutic option for SCLC patients, a disease with very limited treatment options and poor outcomes; second, to demonstrate that dual-protein degradation is a viable strategy that can be applied to other cancer types and protein targets.
The most significant challenge we faced was optimizing the linker between the two functional ends of the PROTAC molecule. Getting the right length and chemistry was critical—too short or too long, and the molecule wouldn’t form the proper ternary complex needed for degradation. We overcame this through systematic structure–activity relationship studies, testing dozens of analogs until we identified 753b as the lead compound with optimal properties.

3. Looking beyond this specific project, how do you see your winning paper contributing to the broader research landscape in your field? Are there any follow-up studies or collaborations you are planning as a result of this work?
I believe this paper contributes to the broader research landscape in several important ways. First, it provides proof-of-concept that dual-protein degradation is not only feasible but can be superior to single-target approaches or drug combinations. This opens up new possibilities for tackling other cancers that depend on multiple pro-survival proteins.
Second, our work addresses a long-standing toxicity challenge in BCL-xL targeting. Navitoclax, a promising BCL-xL inhibitor, caused dose-limiting thrombocytopenia in clinical trials, halting its development. By using PROTAC technology and exploiting the low VHL expression in platelets, we achieved tumor-selective BCL-xL degradation without severe platelet toxicity—a strategy that could rescue other undruggable targets.
Third, the SCLC field urgently needs new therapeutic approaches. SCLC accounts for about 15% of lung cancers but has seen minimal therapeutic progress in decades. Our demonstration that 753b can induce tumor regression in xenograft models at well-tolerated doses provides a strong rationale for clinical development.
As for follow-up studies, we are actively working on several fronts. We are evaluating DT2216 and 753b in combination with standard cancer therapeutics to determine if we can achieve even greater efficacy. After publishing this paper, we have identified next-generation BCL-xL/BCL-2 dual-targeting PROTAC that is significantly more potent than 753b. Additionally, we are collaborating with medicinal chemists to further optimize pharmacokinetic properties of these PROTACs for potential clinical translation. We are seeking funding to advance this work toward IND-enabling studies.

4. Could you describe your role within the research team and how collaboration helped shape the project from an idea to an award-winning paper?
I served as the lead investigator and corresponding author on this project whose findings are published in Cells. My role encompassed overall project conception, experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
This project was highly collaborative, and teamwork was essential to its success. Dr. Daohong Zhou provided critical guidance on study design. Dr. Guangrong Zheng provided guidance on PROTAC design, and his group synthesized the 753b analogs and contributed expertise in structure–activity relationship optimization, which was key to identifying 753b as the lead compound. In addition, Drs. Kaye and Zajac-Kaye provided SCLC reagents, including cell lines, and shared their expertise in SCLC research.
The collaboration extended beyond just technical expertise. Regular lab meetings and discussions helped refine our hypotheses and troubleshoot experimental challenges. For example, when we initially observed that 753b was degrading both BCL-xL and BCL-2, it was through collaborative discussions that we designed the right experiments to confirm this dual-degradation mechanism and understand its implications.
This team-based approach not only accelerated the project but also ensured rigor and reproducibility—key factors that I believe contributed to the paper’s impact and recognition.

5. As an early career researcher, what are your main professional goals for the next five years? Furthermore, which emerging research topics or developments within your field do you believe will attract significant attention in the coming years?
Over the next five years, my main goals are to advance BCL-xL/BCL-2 PROTACs toward clinical translation by further optimizations, completing IND-enabling studies and establishing partnerships to move it into Phase I trials for SCLC and related malignancies. I also plan to expand the PROTAC degradation platform to other oncogenic targets beyond BCL-2 family proteins—we’re already exploring degraders targeting other proteins involved in cancer survival and resistance.
Securing sustainable funding through US federal grants and from cancer foundations is a priority to support my lab and train the next generation of scientists. Ultimately, I want to establish my lab as a recognized center for targeted protein degradation with expertise in tumor-selective PROTACs and combination therapies.
Looking at the field, I believe molecular glues, monovalent degraders, and autophagy-based approaches will complement traditional PROTACs, while combination degradation strategies and using degraders to overcome drug resistance will attract significant attention. With the first PROTAC recently approved for breast cancer treatment and several PROTACs now in clinical trials, the next five years will be critical for demonstrating clinical efficacy and establishing best practices for patient selection and dosing.

6. How did you first become aware of Cells? From your perspective, what role does the journal play in advancing open access publishing and facilitating scientific communication within the research community?
I first became aware of Cells through my literature searches and by following publications in the cancer biology and cell death fields. Cells’ editorial team kindly invited me to contribute a paper to the journal. The journal has consistently published high-quality research on cellular mechanisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, and targeted therapies—areas central to my work.
From my perspective, Cells plays an important role in advancing open access publishing by making research freely available to the global scientific community. This is particularly valuable for researchers in resource-limited settings who may not have institutional access to subscription-based journals. Open access also accelerates scientific communication by allowing immediate dissemination of findings, which is critical in fast-moving fields like targeted protein degradation.
Additionally, Cells offers rapid publication timelines and rigorous peer review, which helps ensure both timeliness and quality. The journal’s Best Paper Award is another way it recognizes and promotes impactful research, which I believe encourages investigators to submit their best work.

7. What advice would you give to other early career researchers who are considering applying for the Cells Best Paper Award or attending their first international scientific conference?
My advice to early career researchers considering the Cells Best Paper Award or attending their first conference is to focus on both impact as well as novelty. The award likely considers citations and downloads, which reflect how useful the community finds your work, so address important, unsolved problems rather than chasing trendy topics. Write clearly and tell a compelling story; your paper should be accessible to a broad audience, and a well-told scientific narrative with clear figures makes your work more citable and memorable.
Our paper was selected based on metrics, but if there’s an application process, apply, as many early career scientists underestimate their work’s impact. For conferences, prepare to network because the real value lies in conversations outside the lecture hall; have a concise, engaging 2–3-minute summary of your work ready and be prepared to discuss both successes and challenges.
Present at smaller meetings first to refine your message and build confidence before larger conferences, and always follow up with emails after meeting people as many collaborations start from these initial connections.

8. Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of Cells regarding your research journey, future aspirations, or experience as a recipient of the 2026 Best Paper Award?
I would like to express my gratitude to my mentors, collaborators, and lab members who made this work possible. Science is a team effort, and this award reflects the collective contributions of many talented individuals.
I also want to emphasize the importance of translational research. While basic science is fundamental, my ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes. SCLC patients have waited decades for better treatments, and I hope our work contributes to changing that reality.
For early career researchers, my message is pursue problems that matter to you, even if they seem difficult. Our work on tumor-selective BCL-xL degradation started with a simple but challenging question i.e., can we kill cancer cells without harming platelets? That question led to DT2216, then to 753b, and now to this recognition. Stay curious, stay persistent, and remember that the most impactful science often comes from addressing real-world problems.
Finally, I am honored to receive the 2026 Best Paper Award from Cells. This recognition motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in targeted protein degradation and to train the next generation of scientists who will carry this work forward.

We are delighted to share a collection of papers on extracellular vesicles published from 2024 to 2025 in the journal Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

In addition, we would like to highlight several Special Issues related to this topic that are currently open for submission.

1. “Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Saliva: Effects of Age and Isolation Techniques”
by Lucia Reseco, Angela Molina-Crespo, Mercedes Atienza, Esperanza Gonzalez, Juan Manuel Falcon-Perez and Jose L. Cantero
Cells 2024, 13(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13010095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/1/95

2. “Lipidomic Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Alzheimer’s Disease Patients”
by Marios G. Krokidis, Krishna A. Pucha, Maja Mustapic, Themis P. Exarchos, Panagiotis Vlamos and Dimitrios Kapogiannis
Cells 2024, 13(8), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080702
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/8/702

3. “Modification of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles by Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) Antagonist: Potential Implications for Inflammation and Pain Reversal”
by Kevin Liebmann, Mario A. Castillo, Stanislava Jergova, Thomas M. Best, Jacqueline Sagen and Dimitrios Kouroupis
Cells 2024, 13(6), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13060484
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/6/484

4. “hTERT-Immortalized Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Large-Scale Manufacturing, Cargo Profiling, and Functional Effects in Retinal Epithelial Cells”
by Jessica Hindle, Anastasia Williams, Yuriy Kim, Dongsung Kim, Kajal Patil, Pooja Khatkar, Quinn Osgood, Collin Nelson, David A. Routenberg, Marissa Howard et al.
Cells 2024, 13(10), 861; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100861
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/10/861

5. “Intranasal Administration of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells Has Therapeutic Effect in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis”
by Barbara Rossi, Federica Virla, Gabriele Angelini, Ilaria Scambi, Alessandro Bani, Giulia Marostica, Mauro Caprioli, Daniela Anni, Roberto Furlan, Pasquina Marzola et al.
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1172; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1172

6. “Extracellular Signaling Molecules from Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Ovarian Cancer Cells Induce a Hybrid Epithelial-Mesenchymal Phenotype in a Bidirectional Interaction”
by Vinícius Augusto Simão, Juliana Ferreira Floriano, Roberta Carvalho Cesário, Karolina da Silva Tonon, Larissa Ragozo Cardoso de Oliveira, Flávia Karina Delella, Fausto Almeida, Lucilene Delazari dos Santos, Fábio Rodrigues Ferreira Seiva, Débora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari et al.
Cells 2025, 14(5), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14050374
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/5/374

7. “Artificial Intelligence for Liquid Biopsy: FTIR Spectroscopy and Autoencoder-Based Detection of Cancer Biomarkers in Extracellular Vesicles”
by Riccardo Di Santo, Benedetta Niccolini, Enrico Rosa, Marco De Spirito, Fabrizio Pizzolante, Dario Pitocco, Linda Tartaglione, Alessandro Rizzi, Umberto Basile, Valentina Petito et al.
Cells 2025, 14(23), 1909; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14231909
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/23/1909

8. “The Yin and Yang of Microglia-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in CNS Injury and Diseases”
by Mousumi Ghosh and Damien D. Pearse
Cells 2024, 13(22), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13221834
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1834

9. “The MSC-EV-microRNAome: A Perspective on Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action in Sepsis and ARDS”
by Claudia C. dos Santos, Miquéias Lopes-Pacheco, Karen English, Sara Rolandsson Enes, Anna Krasnodembskaya and Patricia R. M. Rocco
Cells 2024, 13(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020122
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/2/122

10. “Targeting of Extracellular Vesicle-Based Therapeutics to the Brain”
by Anastasia Williams, Heather Branscome, Fatah Kashanchi and Elena V. Batrakova
Cells 2025, 14(7), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14070548
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/548

11. “Extracellular Vesicles, Circulating Tumor Cells, and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Hints and Promises”
by Sara Bandini, Paola Ulivi and Tania Rossi
Cells 2024, 13(4), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13040337
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/4/337

12. “Tumor Microenvironment Modulation by Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles”
by Artem Ten, Vadim Kumeiko, Vladislav Farniev, Huile Gao and Maxim Shevtsov
Cells 2024, 13(8), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080682
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/8/682

13. “Targeting Mitochondrial Dynamics via EV Delivery in Regenerative Cardiology: Mechanistic and Therapeutic Perspectives”
by Dhienda C. Shahannaz, Tadahisa Sugiura, Brandon E. Ferrell and Taizo Yoshida
Cells 2025, 14(21), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14211738
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/21/1738

14. “Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease”
by Ana Volarevic, Carl Randall Harrell, Aleksandar Arsenijevic, Valentin Djonov and Vladislav Volarevic
Cells 2025, 14(8), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14080600
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/8/600

15. “Coupling of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis and Formation and Secretion of Matrix Vesicles: Their Role in the Mechanism of Biomineralization”
by Azzurra Margiotta
Cells 2025, 14(10), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14100733
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/733

16. “Extracellular Vesicles in the Crosstalk of Autophagy and Apoptosis: A Role for Lipid Rafts”
Agostina Longo, Valeria Manganelli, Roberta Misasi, Gloria Riitano, Tuba Rana Caglar, Elena Fasciolo, Serena Recalchi, Maurizio Sorice and Tina Garofalo
Cells 2025, 14(10), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14100749
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/749

Relevant Special Issues:

“The Dual Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Neurodegeneration: Disease Biomarkers and Drug Delivery Platforms Within the Matrix Microenvironment”
Guest Editors: Dr. Elisa Tonoli and Prof. Dr. Elisabetta Verderio Edwards
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026

“Extracellular Vesicles in Reproductive Communication: From Gametogenesis to Implantation”
Guest Editors: Dr. Nima Azari-Dolatabad and Dr. Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2026

We are pleased to share an interview with Prof. Dr. Maik Hüttemann, winner of the Cells Best Paper Award. 

In this interview, Prof. Dr. Hüttemann reflects on his research in mitochondrial energy metabolism, the significance of the award-winning paper, current challenges in the field, and future research directions. He also offers valuable advice to early-career researchers on scientific writing and critical thinking.

 The following is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Maik Hüttemann: 

1. To begin, could you briefly introduce your main research focus and the work of your research group?
I have worked on mitochondrial energy metabolism throughout my scientific career. My group focuses on cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase, two components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, and on how they regulate mitochondrial function.
Our research has two main parts. First, we study the mechanisms that regulate the electron transport chain, particularly post-translational modifications of cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase. These mechanisms are relevant to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and ischemia–reperfusion injury. A key aspect is maintaining the right mitochondrial membrane potential, since excessive activity can increase reactive oxygen species, while insufficient activity limits ATP production.
The second part is translational research. We identified specific wavelengths of near-infrared light that can control mitochondrial activity and protect tissues during ischemia–reperfusion injury. We are now preparing for a Phase I clinical trial using non-invasive near-infrared light to temporarily slow mitochondrial activity during acute stress and give cells time to recover. Our goal is to use our basic understanding of mitochondrial regulation to develop technologies that may ultimately help save human lives. 

2. Once again, congratulations on receiving the Cells Best Paper Award. What does this recognition mean to you and your co-authors, and what do you believe made the paper stand out?
We were all very happy to receive the award and pleased that our work had gained this level of recognition.
I believe the paper stood out because it highlights the role of cytochrome c, which has often been overlooked compared with the larger complexes of the electron transport chain. Rather than presenting cytochrome c simply as a passive electron carrier, our work shows that it can act as an important regulatory point and that its post-translational modifications can influence electron flow, mitochondrial respiration, energy production, and apoptosis.
For many years, cytochrome c was a “forgotten” molecule, and our research aimed to fill this gap. The review brings together findings we collected over many years and presents a different concept of mitochondrial regulation, so we are especially pleased that its importance has been recognised. 

3. Are you planning any follow-up publication or research project that builds on this work?
Yes. We have identified a new post-translational modification of cytochrome c in a specific skeletal muscle type that has not been described before. We still need additional experiments to understand its function, but we are planning to publish an original research paper. When we identify an important new regulatory site, I often prefer to publish the original research first and then a review placing the discovery in a broader context. Reviews can help explain the significance of new findings and bring them to the attention of the scientific community.
We are also continuing our work on near-infrared light technology and its translation towards clinical use, based on our understanding of mitochondrial membrane potential regulation. 

4. What do you see as the most important challenges that researchers in this field will need to address in the coming years?
One of the biggest challenges is helping the scientific community fully understand the importance of the mitochondrial membrane potential and how strongly it affects ATP production, reactive oxygen species, and disease development.
Today, we know that mitochondrial regulation is much more complex than previously thought. Maintaining the right membrane potential is essential: if it is too high, mitochondria produce excessive reactive oxygen species, while if it is too low, they cannot produce enough ATP. This balance is important not only in primary mitochondrial diseases, but also in diabetes, inflammation, cancer metabolism, ischemia–reperfusion injury, and many other conditions.
Post-translational modifications, tissue-specific forms of cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase, and allosteric regulation all contribute to this control. However, much less is known about similar regulatory mechanisms in other complexes of the electron transport chain, leaving considerable room for further research.

5. What advice would you give to early career researchers, both more generally, and when it comes to preparing a high-quality research paper?
My main advice is to be ready for unexpected results. If your findings differ from the published literature, do not immediately assume that you are wrong. Check the experiment carefully, use appropriate controls, repeat the result, and try to understand why it is different. Our work on near-infrared light began this way: although the literature suggested that it activates mitochondria, we discovered that some wavelengths actually inhibit mitochondrial activity. Taking this unexpected result seriously eventually led to a major research programme.
Persistence is also very important. New or higher-risk ideas can be difficult to fund and may initially face considerable scepticism. If your methods are strong and you trust your data, you should not give up too quickly simply because others do not accept the idea at first.
When it comes to writing high-quality papers, young researchers should know the literature very well. In my group, every PhD student writes at least one review paper because this helps them understand the field, connect findings from different studies, and develop a clear and logical scientific argument. 

6. In your opinion, what distinguishes an excellent paper from an average one, and what should authors pay particular attention to when preparing a manuscript for publication?
For an original research paper, major novelty can distinguish an excellent paper from an average one. For a review paper, simply summarising existing studies is not enough. A strong review should critically combine the available evidence, develop a new concept or interpretation, and raise questions that can guide future research.
Authors should also pay close attention to how the manuscript is presented. When several people contribute, the final paper should have a consistent writing style, terminology, structure, and scientific argument. The language should be precise, the figures clear, and unnecessary repetition avoided. For original research papers, appropriate control experiments are also essential to show that the findings are reliable and reproducible and to exclude other possible explanations. 

7. Finally, what message would you like to share with the readers and scientific community of Cells?
Be critical of your own research and make sure your experiments include the correct controls. At the same time, trust your data when the experiments have been carried out properly, even if the results do not agree with the published literature, and be mentally prepared for surprises that could transform the medical field or the field you are working in.
We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Maik Hüttemann for sharing his insights with the Cells (ISSN 2073-4409) community and look forward to further opportunities for collaboration.

As all of the articles published in Cells (ISSN 2073-4409) are open access, you have free and unlimited access to their full texts. We invite you to the selected papers from the “Cell and Gene Therapy” Section, which are listed below:

1. “NF-kB and JAK/STAT Signaling Pathways as Crucial Regulators of Neuroinflammation and Astrocyte Modulation in Spinal Cord Injury”
by Tatyana Ageeva, Albert Rizvanov and Yana Mukhamedshina
Cells 2024, 13(7), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13070581
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/7/581

2. “Allogeneic CAR-T Therapy Technologies: Has the Promise Been Met?”
by Caroline Lonez and Eytan Breman
Cells 2024, 13(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020146
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/2/146

3. “The Combination of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) Modified mRNA Improves Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice: An Ex Vivo and In Vivo Investigation”
by Sandra Tejedor, Maria Wågberg, Cláudia Correia, Karin Åvall, Mikko Hölttä, Leif Hultin, Michael Lerche, Nigel Davies, Nils Bergenhem, Arjan Snijder et al.
Cells 2024, 13(5), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13050414   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/5/414

4. “The Role of Stem Cells as Therapeutics for Ischaemic Stroke”
by Jingyuan Ya, Jessica Pellumbaj, Arshad Hashmat and Ulvi Bayraktutan
Cells 2024, 13(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020112   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/2/112

5. “Dual Targeting of Glioblastoma Cells with Bispecific Killer Cell Engagers Directed to EGFR and ErbB2 (HER2) Facilitates Effective Elimination by NKG2D-CAR-Engineered NK Cells”
by Anne Kiefer, Maren Prüfer, Jasmin Röder, Jordi Pfeifer Serrahima, Malena Bodden, Ines Kühnel, Pranav Oberoi and Winfried S. Wels
Cells 2024, 13(3), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13030246   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/3/246

6. “Decorin (DCN) Downregulation Activates Breast Stromal Fibroblasts and Promotes Their Pro-Carcinogenic Effects through the IL-6/STAT3/AUF1 Signaling”
by Wafaa A. Aljagthmi, Manal A. Alasmari, Maha H. Daghestani, Layla A. Al-Kharashi, Falah H. Al-Mohanna and Abdelilah Aboussekhra
Cells 2024, 13(8), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080680  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/8/680

7. “Prospects and Potential for Chimerism Analysis after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation”
by Saori Miura, Koki Ueda, Keiji Minakawa, Kenneth E. Nollet and Kazuhiko Ikeda
Cells 2024, 13(11), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13110993  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/11/993

8. “Synthetic mRNAs Containing Minimalistic Untranslated Regions Are Highly Functional In Vitro and In Vivo”
by Shahab Mamaghani, Rocco Roberto Penna, Julia Frei, Conrad Wyss, Mark Mellett, Thomas Look, Tobias Weiss, Emmanuella Guenova, Thomas M. Kündig, Severin Lauchli et al.
Cells 2024, 13(15), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13151242
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/15/1242

9. “Promising Cellular Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Using Classical Dendritic Cells and Natural Killer T Cells”
by Mahmoud Singer, Jennifer Valerin, Zhuoli Zhang, Zigeng Zhang, Farshid Dayyani, Vahid Yaghmai, April Choi, David Imagawa and Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh
Cells 2025, 14(3), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14030166   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/3/166

10. “Mitochondrial Dynamics Drive Muscle Stem Cell Progression from Quiescence to Myogenic Differentiation”
by Olivia Sommers, Rholls A. Tomsine and Mireille Khacho
Cells 2024, 13(21), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13211773  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1773

11. “Interconversion of Cancer Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells”
by Drishty B. Sarker, Yu Xue, Faiza Mahmud, Jonathan A. Jocelyn and Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
Cells 2024, 13(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020125  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/2/125

12. “Modulating Cholesterol Metabolism via ACAT1 Knockdown Enhances Anti-B-Cell Lymphoma Activities of CD19-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells by Improving the Cell Activation and Proliferation”
by Qiong Su, Jie Yao, Muhammad Asad Farooq, Iqra Ajmal, Yixin Duan, Cong He, Xuefei Hu and Wenzheng Jiang
Cells 2024, 13(6), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13060555  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/6/555

13. “Interaction between NSCLC Cells, CD8⁺ T-Cells and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Potentiates Coagulation and Promotes Metabolic Remodeling—New Cues on CAT-VTE”
by Catarina Freitas-Dias, Filipe Gonçalves, Filipa Martins, Isabel Lemos, Luís G. Gonçalves and Jacinta Serpa
Cells 2024, 13(4), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13040305  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/4/305

14. “Comparison of Minced Cartilage Implantation with Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation in an In Vitro Inflammation Model”
by Robert Ossendorff, Lisa Grede, Sebastian Scheidt, Andreas C. Strauss, Christof Burger, Dieter C. Wirtz, Gian M. Salzmann and Frank A. Schildberg
Cells 2024, 13(6), 546;  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13060546  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/6/546

15. “Lung Transplant Immunomodulation with Genetically Engineered Mesenchymal Stromal Cells—Therapeutic Window for Interleukin-10”
by Antti I. Nykänen, Andrea Mariscal, Allen Duong, Aadil Ali, Akihiro Takahagi, Xiaohui Bai, Guan Zehong, Betty Joe, Mamoru Takahashi, Manyin Chen et al.
Cells 2024, 13(10), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100859  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/10/859  

Cells (ISSN 2073-4409) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that provides an advanced forum for studies in cell biology, molecular biology, and biophysics. Looking back at 2024, many articles published in Cells have drawn significant attention and achieved high view counts, and we have selected the 15 most-viewed papers. We invite academic researchers, faculty members, graduate students, and industry practitioners alike to explore these featured works, with the expectation that they will offer insightful and novel ideas to advance related research endeavours.

1. “Gut-Brain Axis: Role of Microbiome, Metabolomics, Hormones, and Stress in Mental Health Disorders”
by Ankita Verma, Sabra S. Inslicht and Aditi Bhargava
Cells 2024, 13(17), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13171436
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/17/1436

2. “A Comprehensive Review of Cardiovascular Disease Management: Cardiac Biomarkers, Imaging Modalities, Pharmacotherapy, Surgical Interventions, and Herbal Remedies”
by Vasudeva Reddy Netala, Sireesh Kumar Teertam, Huizhen Li and Zhijun Zhang
Cells 2024, 13(17), 1471; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13171471
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/17/1471

3. “Photobiomodulation Therapy on Brain: Pioneering an Innovative Approach to Revolutionize Cognitive Dynamics”
by Tahsin Nairuz, Sangwoo-Cho and Jong-Ha Lee
Cells 2024, 13(11), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13110966
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/11/966

4. “Novel Approach to Skin Anti-Aging: Boosting Pharmacological Effects of Exogenous Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD⁺) by Synergistic Inhibition of CD38 Expression”
by Seongsu Kang, Jiwon Park, Zhihong Cheng, Sanghyun Ye, Seung-Hyun Jun and Nae-Gyu Kang
Cells 2024, 13(21), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13211799
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1799

5. “CRISPR-Based Gene Therapies: From Preclinical to Clinical Treatments”
by Marine Laurent, Marine Geoffroy, Giulia Pavani and Simon Guiraud
Cells 2024, 13(10), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100800
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/10/800

6. “Pathophysiology of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract: A Comprehensive Review”
by Maximilian Brockwell, Sean Hergenrother, Matthew Satariano, Raghav Shah and Rupesh Raina
Cells 2024, 13(22), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13221866
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1866

7. “The Multiple Roles of Lactate in the Skeletal Muscle”
by Bianca Bartoloni, Michele Mannelli, Tania Gamberi and Tania Fiaschi
Cells 2024, 13(14), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13141177
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/14/1177

8. “Extracellular Matrix Cues Regulate Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction of Cancer Cells”
by Claudia Tanja Mierke
Cells 2024, 13(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13010096
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/1/96

9. “Evaluating the Mechanism of Cell Death in Melanoma Induced by the Cannabis Extract PHEC-66”
by Ava Bachari, Nazim Nassar, Srinivasareddy Telukutla, Roby Zomer, Terrence J. Piva and Nitin Mantri
Cells 2024, 13(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13030268
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/3/268

10. “Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Activates Cardiac Fibrogenesis through NLRP3 Inflammasomes and NF-κB Signaling”
by Huynh Van Tin, Lekha Rethi, Satoshi Higa, Yu-Hsun Kao and Yi-Jen Chen
Cells 2024, 13(16), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13161331
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/16/1331

11. “The Power of Reagent Titration in Flow Cytometry”
by Diana L. Bonilla, Alberta Paul, Jesus Gil-Pulido, Lily M. Park and Maria C. Jaimes
Cells 2024, 13(20), 1677; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13201677
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/20/1677

12. “A Flow Cytometry-Based Examination of the Mouse White Blood Cell Differential in the Context of Age and Sex”
by Elise Arlt, Andrea Kindermann, Anne-Kristin Fritsche, Alexander Navarrete Santos, Heike Kielstein, and Ivonne Bazwinsky-Wutschke
Cells 2024, 13(18), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13181583
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/18/1583

13. “Secretome from Magnetically Stimulated Muscle Exhibits Anticancer Potency: Novel Preconditioning Methodology Highlighting HTRA1 Action”
by Yee Kit Tai, Jan Nikolas Iversen, Karen Ka Wing Chan, Charlene Hui Hua Fong, Rafhanah Banu Abdul Razar, Sharanya Ramanan, Lye Yee Jasmine Yap, Jocelyn Naixin Yin, Shi Jie Toh, Craig Jun Kit Wong et al.
Cells 2024, 13(5), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13050460
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/5/460

14. “Cell Senescence-Independent Changes of Human Skin Fibroblasts with Age”
by Nicola Fullard, James Wordsworth, Ciaran Welsh, Victoria Maltman, Charlie Bascom, Ryan Tasseff, Robert Isfort, Lydia Costello, Rebekah-Louise Scanlan, Stefan Przyborski et al.
Cells 2024, 13(8), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080659
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/8/659

15. “Inositol Restores Appropriate Steroidogenesis in PCOS Ovaries Both In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Mouse Models”
by Valeria Fedeli, Vittorio Unfer, Simona Dinicola, Antonio Simone Laganà, Rita Canipari, Noemi Monti, Alessandro Querqui, Emanuele Galante, Gaia Laurenzi and Mariano Bizzarri
Cells 2024, 13(14), 1171; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13141171
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/14/1171

We are delighted to share a collection of papers on cancer metabolism published from 2024 to 2025 in Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

In addition, we would like to highlight several Special Issues related to this topic that are currently open for submission.

1. “Cancer Drug Resistance: Targeting Proliferation or Programmed Cell Death”
by Elena V. Sazonova, Maria A. Yapryntseva, Nikolay V. Pervushin, Roman I. Tsvetcov, Boris Zhivotovsky and Gelina S. Kopeina
Cells 2024, 13(5), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13050388
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/5/388

2. “Epigallocatechin Gallate Promotes Cuproptosis via the MTF1/ATP7B Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma”
by Yuhan Fu, Lirui Hou, Kai Han, Chong Zhao, Hongbo Hu and Shutao Yin
Cells 2025, 14(6), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14060391
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/6/391

3. “Breast Cancer: Mitochondria-Centered Metabolic Alterations in Tumor and Associated Adipose Tissue”
by Tamara Zakic, Andjelika Kalezic, Zorka Drvendzija, Mirjana Udicki, Tatjana Ivkovic Kapicl, Biljana Srdic Galic, Aleksandra Korac, Aleksandra Jankovic and Bato Korac
Cells 2024, 13(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020155
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/2/155

4. “HOTAIR Participation in Glycolysis and Glutaminolysis Through Lactate and Glutamate Production in Colorectal Cancer”
by Laura Cecilia Flores-García, Verónica García-Castillo, Eduardo Pérez-Toledo, Samuel Trujano-Camacho, Oliver Millán-Catalán, Eloy Andrés Pérez-Yepez, Jossimar Coronel-Hernández, Mauricio Rodríguez-Dorantes, Nadia Jacobo-Herrera and Carlos Pérez-Plasencia
Cells 2025, 14(5), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14050388
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/5/388

5. “Down-Regulation of AKT Proteins Slows the Growth of Mutant-KRAS Pancreatic Tumors”
by Chuankai Chen, Ya-Ping Jiang, Inchul You, Nathanael S. Gray and Richard Z. Lin
Cells 2024, 13(12), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13121061
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/12/1061

6. “Twist-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Confers Specific Metabolic and Mitochondrial Alterations”
by Haleigh N. Parker, Kayla L. Haberman, Tolulope Ojo, Juli Watkins, Adhwaitha Nambiar, Kayla Morales, Bernd Zechmann and Joseph H. Taube
Cells 2025, 14(2), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14020080
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/2/80

7. “Core Molecular Clock Factors Regulate Osteosarcoma Stem Cell Survival and Behavior via CSC/EMT Pathways and Lipid Droplet Biogenesis”
by Sukanya Bhoumik and Yool Lee
Cells 2025, 14(7), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14070517
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/517

8. “DPEP Inhibits Cancer Cell Glucose Uptake, Glycolysis and Survival by Upregulating Tumor Suppressor TXNIP”
by Qing Zhou, Trang Thi Thu Nguyen, Jeong-Yeon Mun, Markus D. Siegelin and Lloyd A. Greene
Cells 2024, 13(12), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13121025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/12/1025

9. “The Tumor Metabolite 5′-Deoxy-5′Methylthioadenosine (MTA) Inhibits Maturation and T Cell-Stimulating Capacity of Dendritic Cells”
by Christina Brummer, Katrin Singer, Frederik Henrich, Katrin Peter, Carolin Strobl, Bernadette Neueder, Christina Bruss, Kathrin Renner, Tobias Pukrop, Wolfgang Herr et al.
Cells 2025 13(24), 2114; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13242114
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/24/2114

10. “Metabolic Reprogramming in Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Review of Pathways and Therapeutic Targets”
by Ashley Irin Cortes Ballen, Maryam Amosu, Surya Ravinder, Joey Chan, Emre Derin, Hasan Slika and Betty Tyler
Cells 2024, 13(18), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13181574
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/18/1574

11. “Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Polarization, Immunoregulation, and Immunotherapy”
by Abdullah Farhan Saeed
Cells 2025, 14(10), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14100741
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/741

12. “The Metabolic Landscape of Cancer Stem Cells: Insights and Implications for Therapy”
by Martina Milella, Monica Rutigliano, Savio Domenico Pandolfo, Achille Aveta, Felice Crocetto, Matteo Ferro, Antonio d’Amati, Pasquale Ditonno, Giuseppe Lucarelli and Francesco Lasorsa
Cells 2025, 14(10), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14100717
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/717

13. “Lysosomes in Cancer—At the Crossroad of Good and Evil”
by Ida Eriksson and Karin Öllinger
Cells 2024, 13(5), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13050459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/5/459

14. “Pathogenic Mechanisms of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma”
by Toru Nakamura, Atsutaka Masuda, Dan Nakano, Keisuke Amano, Tomoya Sano, Masahito Nakano and Takumi Kawaguchi
Cells 2025, 14(6), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14060428
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/6/428

15. “Oxidative and Glycolytic Metabolism: Their Reciprocal Regulation and Dysregulation in Cancer”
by Marco Cordani, Cristiano Rumio, Giulio Bontempi, Raffaele Strippoli and Fabrizio Marcucci
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151177
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1177

Relevant Special Issues:

“Interleukin-1 Signaling in Cancer: Novel Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities”
Guest Editors: Dr. Afshan Fathima Nawas and Prof. Dr. Jaehong Kim
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026

“Glycolysis in Tumorigenesis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications”
Guest Editors: Dr. Fabrizio Marcucci, Dr. Shibo Wei and Dr. Marco Cordani
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2026

“The Metabolic Edge: How Cancer Cells Adapt, Survive, and Resist Therapy”
Guest Editor: Dr. Frank Schnütgen
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2026

Today, we turn our focus to a field that has become central to modern oncology: the study and therapeutic targeting of protein kinases. Over the past two decades, kinases have emerged as one of the most clinically successful classes of drug targets in cancer. These enzymes act as critical molecular switches, governing a vast network of signaling pathways that control cell proliferation, survival, and metabolism. When dysregulated—whether through mutation, overexpression, or chromosomal translocation—kinases drive the hallmark behaviors of malignancy.

It is no exaggeration to say that the discovery of kinase inhibitors has transformed the therapeutic landscape. From the groundbreaking success of imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia to the latest generation of highly selective ATP-competitive and allosteric inhibitors, we have seen how a deep understanding of kinase biology can translate into life-saving drugs. However, we are also acutely aware of the persistent challenges: acquired resistance, off-target toxicity, and the daunting complexity of kinase signaling networks. The question is no longer simply which kinase to target, but how to target it more intelligently, more selectively, and for the right patient at the right time.

This is where artificial intelligence enters the picture, and while much of our conversation will be anchored in kinase biology, we will explore how AI is beginning to accelerate drug discovery—from structure prediction to virtual screening. Yet let us be clear: biology remains the foundation. Our goal today is to ask how these powerful computational tools can help us navigate the complexity of the kinome and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Date: 10 August 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CEST | 10:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 889 3819 0599

Register now for free!

Program:

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.

If you are unable to attend, please register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Jonas Cicenas, ¹ Faculty of Informatics, Engineering and Technologies, Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution, Lithuania; ² SMK College of Applied Sciences, Kalvarijų, Lithuania; ³ UAB CDKjc, Kukučių, Lithuania;
• Prof. Dr. Lee M. Graves, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC;
• Dr. Eglė Žalytė, Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania.

Relevant Topics:

“Kinases in Cancer and Other Diseases, 2nd Edition”
Topic Editors: Dr. Jonas Cicenas and Dr. Anna M. Czarnecka
Abstract submission deadline: 31 July 2026
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 August 2026

“Kinases and GTPases in Cancer: The Role of Mutations and sRNAs”
Topic Editors: Dr. Jonas Cicenas and Prof. Dr. Lee M. Graves
Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2027
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 December 2027

For more information about this webinar, please visit the following website:
https://sciforum.net/event/TOPICS-51.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact journal.webinar@mdpi.com.

Topics Webinar Secretariat

We are pleased to invite you to read our selection of Special Issues which closed in 2025 in Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). We hope that they offer useful insights in this field.

1. “New Advances in Neuroinflammation”
Guest Editors: Dr. John W. Chen and Dr. Michael Breckwoldt
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/79EKVT89G6

2. “Emerging Roles of Glial Cells in Human Health and Disease”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Dan Frenkel and Prof. Dr. Menachem Hanani
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/NUC603H8U2

3. “Advances in Scanning Probe Microscopy in Cell Biology”
Guest Editors: Dr. Yuri M. Efremov and Dr. Petr V. Gorelkin
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/384ITZ4F86

4. “Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Ueda and Prof. Dr. Norimitsu Morioka
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/92B43N4AJW

5. “Roles and Mechanisms of Ubiquitin Ligases (E3) and Deubiquitinases (DUBs)”
Guest Editors: Dr. Minsoo Kim, Dr. Tsunehiro Mizushima and Dr. Hideki Yashiroda
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/Z50124KM5P

6. “Mechanism of Cell Signaling during Eye Development and Diseases”
Guest Editors: Dr. Mehrnoosh Saghizadeh Ghiam and Dr. Vivien Coulson-Thomas
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/UCD4H97HG7

7. “Stem Cell, Differentiation, Regeneration and Diseases”
Guest Editors: Dr. Guoying Yu, Dr. Guoqiang Sun and Dr. Jiancheng Liu
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/0W5JF1X2H0

8. “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Gynecological Disorders”
Guest Editor: Dr. Qiwei Yang
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/HH76Q9R85A

9. “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Reproductive System Diseases”
Guest Editors: Dr. Arnab Ghosh, Prof. Dr. Majid E Warkiani and Dr. Sujoy K. Dhara
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/J08840V59W

10. “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Immune Regulation”
Guest Editors: Dr. Fábio Rinaldo Santori and Dr. Natalia B. Ivanova
Special Issue webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/RT7P6M9Y9M