Announcements

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2026. This program was established to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Cells (ISSN: 2073-4409) acknowledges the vital role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2025, 93% of our authors rated the peer review process as good or excellent, reflecting the strength and effectiveness of our reviewer community.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in the Cells peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in May 2026. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introducing them here.

Q1

Please see below what our reviewers say about the review process of Cells:
“I have some experience as a peer reviewer for international, high-impact journals in clinical chemistry, laboratory medicine, and biomedical research. My reviews focus on methodological rigor, statistical validity, analytical quality, and clinical relevance, with particular expertise in biomarker research, metabolomics, and translational diagnostics. I have evaluated original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers, providing constructive, evidence-based feedback aimed at improving scientific clarity and integrity. I am committed to ethical standards, confidentiality, and timely communication. This experience has strengthened my critical appraisal skills and contributed to maintaining high publication standards within the scientific community across diverse interdisciplinary fields worldwide and disciplines.”—Prof. Dr. Josko Osredkar

“Peer review is a critical responsibility to ensure scientific rigor and transparency. I value constructive feedback to strengthen the quality and impact of published research.”—Dr. Cristiane Damas Gil

“It has been a pleasure to review high-quality and innovative manuscripts for Cells. The review process is supported by an intuitive and efficient platform, which makes communication and evaluation straightforward. Contributing to the advancement of science through constructive peer review is both rewarding and professionally enriching.”—Dr. Marina Zaric Kontic

“Collaborating with Cells allows me to stay updated on key discoveries while contributing to the excellence and integrity of the research that shapes the future of molecular biomedicine.”—Dr. Martha Patricia Gallegos-Arreola

“I am honored to be recognized by Cells for my contributions to the peer-review process. It is a rewarding experience to help strengthen scientific rigor by critically evaluating novel research.”—Dr. Valerie Cabana

You can read more at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/testimonials?type=all&journal_id=32&page_count=20.

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

Conference: The 2026 Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research
Date: 8–11 June 2026
Location: Budapest, Hungary

We are pleased to announce that MDPI will participate in the 2026 Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR 2026), held in Budapest, Hungary, from 8 to 11 June 2026.

The 2026 Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR 2026) is a four-day congress dedicated to basic, preclinical and translational cancer research across a wide range of topics. The conference will highlight the latest research and bring together the cancer research community to inspire innovation and build knowledge, connections and collaborations.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Cancers;
• JPM;
• Current Oncology;
• Onco;
• JCM;
• Cells;
• Diseases;
• Epigenomes;
• CIMB;
• Biologics;
• Life;
• Gastrointestinal Disorders;
• Clinics and Practice;
• DNA;
• IJMS;
• Diagnostics.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #101 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://2026.eacr.org/.

MDPI will be attending NWO Life 2026, which will be held from 28 to 29 May 2026 in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands.

NWO Life is an annual scientific conference for life scientists, designed to inspire and connect researchers across disciplines. Attendees can engage with sessions led by world-leading keynote speakers and researchers, while also sharing their own work with a diverse community spanning all career stages.

The conference offers a dynamic platform to explore scientific knowledge beyond one’s immediate field. Over the course of two days, the programme is structured around a range of topics tailored to different research backgrounds, encouraging interdisciplinary learning and the exchange of fresh perspectives.

NWO Life supports researchers at every stage of their careers. Early career scientists gain valuable experience by presenting their research, while established researchers can discover new directions and build collaborations through plenary talks and poster sessions. With ample networking opportunities throughout, the conference fosters meaningful connections within the life sciences community.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Life;
• Applied Biosciences;
• Organoids;
• MPs;
• JDB;
• Metabolites;
• Cells;
• IJERPH;
• Stresses;
• BioMedInformatics.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://nwolife.nl/.

We invite you to read the Editor’s Choice Articles published in the journal Cells (ISSN: 2073-4409). These papers present the latest insights and findings, and we trust they will infuse fresh inspiration and innovative thinking into your new research endeavors.

1. “Synthetic Small-Molecule Ligands Targeted to Adenosine Receptors: Is There Potential Towards Ischemic Heart Disease?”
by Qi Xu, Yaw Nana Opoku, Kalwant S. Authi and Agostino Cilibrizzi
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1219; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151219
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1219

2. “Short- and Long-Term Endothelial Inflammation Have Distinct Effects and Overlap with Signatures of Cellular Senescence”
by Barbora Belakova, José Basílio, Manuel Campos-Medina, Anna F. P. Sommer, Adrianna Gielecińska, Ulrike Resch and Johannes A. Schmid
Cells 2025, 14(11), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110806
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/806

3. “Platelet-Derived Soluble CD40L and Its Impact on Immune Modulation and Anti-IL6R Antibody Treatment Outcome in Rheumatoid Arthritis”
by Carlos Zamora, Cesar Diaz-Torne, Maria Angels Ortiz, Patricia Moya, Hye Sang Park, Concepció Pitarch, Elisabet Cantó, Ruben Osuna-Gomez, Maria Mulet, Maisa Garcia-Arguinzonis et al.
Cells 2025, 14(9), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14090625
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/625

4. “The Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Vascular Dementia”
by Aseel Y. Altahrawi, Antonisamy William James and Zahoor A. Shah
Cells 2025, 14(8), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14080609
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/8/609

5. “Zebrafish as a Versatile Model for Cardiovascular Research: Peering into the Heart of the Matter”
by Ramcharan Singh Angom, Meghna Singh, Huzaifa Muhammad, Sai Manasa Varanasi and Debabrata Mukhopadhyay
Cells 2025, 14(7), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14070531
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/531

6. “Blockade of HSP70 Improves Vascular Function in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes”
by Mendoza Ochoa, Valentina, Amanda Almeida de Oliveira and Kenia Pedrosa Nunes
Cells 2025, 14(6), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14060424
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/6/424

7. “Metaboloepigenetics: Role in the Regulation of Flow-Mediated Endothelial (Dys)Function and Atherosclerosis”
by Francisco Santos, Hashum Sum, Denise Cheuk Lee Yan and Alison C. Brewer
Cells 2025, 14(5), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14050378
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/5/378

8. “Pro-Fibrotic Macrophage Subtypes: SPP1+ Macrophages as a Key Player and Therapeutic Target in Cardiac Fibrosis?”
by Moritz Uhlig, Sebastian Billig, Jan Wienhold and David Schumacher
Cells 2025, 14(5), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14050345
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/5/345

9. “The Link Between Venous and Arterial Thrombosis: Is There a Role for Endothelial Dysfunction?”
by Marco Paolo Donadini, Francesca Calcaterra, Erica Romualdi, Roberta Ciceri, Assunta Cancellara, Corrado Lodigiani, Monica Bacci, Silvia Della Bella, Walter Ageno and Domenico Mavilio
Cells 2025, 14(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14020144
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/2/144

10. “Defined Composition of Culture Media Promotes Rodent Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Enables Functional Neuro-Cardiac Co-Culture”
by Giulia Borile, Lolita Dokshokova, Nicola Moro, Antonio Campo, Valentina Prando, Jose L. Sanchez-Alonso, Julia Gorelik, Giuseppe Faggian, Marco Mongillo and Tania Zaglia
Cells 2025, 14(18), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14181434
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/18/1434

MDPI is pleased to announce our participation in the 63rd ERA Congress, which will be held from 3 to 6 June 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

The 63rd ERA Congress will revolve around the theme of “Open your mind”. The seven main tracks can be explored via the following link: https://www.era-online.org/events/glasgow-2026/scientific-programme/.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Biomedicines;
• Journal of Clinical Medicine;
• Kidney and Dialysis;
• Cells;
• Anesthesia Research;
• Toxins;
• Diseases;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Diabetology;
• Transplantology;
• Medical Sciences;
• Journal of Molecular Pathology.

If you are attending 63rd ERA Congress, we invite you to visit us at our booth #D.250. Our representatives will be available to discuss publishing opportunities, the benefits of open access, and answer any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit its official website at https://www.era-online.org/events/glasgow-2026/.

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In the first quarter of 2026, nine new journals released their inaugural issues and three transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of clinical medicine, chemistry, computer science & mathematics, engineering, environment & ecology, and social sciences & psychology.

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these brand-new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

We are delighted to share a collection of papers on Alzheimer’s mechanisms published 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. “Non-Coding RNAs in Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Unraveling the Hidden Players in Disease Pathogenesis”
by Mirolyuba Simeonova Ilieva
Cells 2024, 13(12), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13121063
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/12/1063

2. “Epigenetic Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease: DNA Methylation and Histone Modification”
by Laura Maria De Plano, Alessandra Saitta, Salvatore Oddo and Antonella Caccamo
Cells 2024, 13(8), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080719
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/8/719

3. “From Genetics to Neuroinflammation: The Impact of ApoE4 on Microglial Function in Alzheimer’s Disease”
by Daniela Dias, Camila Cabral Portugal, João Relvas and Renato Socodato
Cells 2024, 14(4), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14040243
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/4/243

4. “Modulating Neuroinflammation as a Prospective Therapeutic Target in Alzheimer’s Disease”
by Eunshil Lee and Yongmin Chang
Cells 2024, 14(3), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14030168
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/3/168

5. “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

6. “Neuroprotective Effects of Metformin Through the Modulation of Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress”
by Sarah Reed, Equar Taka, Selina Darling-Reed and Karam F. A. Soliman
Cells 2025, 14(14), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14141064
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1064

7. “Neuroprotection of Cholinergic Neurons with a Tau Aggregation Inhibitor and Rivastigmine in an Alzheimer’s-like Tauopathy Mouse Model”
by Maciej Zadrozny, Patrycja Drapich, Anna Gasiorowska-Bien, Wiktor Niewiadomski, Charles R. Harrington, Claude M. Wischik, Gernot Riedel and Grazyna Niewiadomska
Cells 2024, 13(7), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13070642
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/7/642

8. “Porphyromonas gingivalis-Lipopolysaccharide Induced Caspase-4 Dependent Noncanonical Inflammasome Activation Drives Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies”
by Ambika Verma, Gohar Azhar, Pankaj Patyal, Xiaomin Zhang and Jeanne Y. Wei
Cells 2025, 14(11), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110804
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/804

9. “Neuro-Cells Mitigate Amyloid Plaque Formation and Behavioral Deficits in the APPswe/PS1dE9 Model of Alzheimer Disease While Also Reducing IL-6 Production in Human Monocytes”
by Johannes de Munter, Kirill Chaprov, Ekkehard Lang, Kseniia Sitdikova, Erik Ch. Wolters, Evgeniy Svirin, Aliya Kassenova, Andrey Tsoy, Boris W. Kramer, Sholpan Askarova et al.
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151168
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1168

10. “PF-04691502, a PI3K/mTOR Dual Inhibitor, Ameliorates AD-like Pathology in a Mouse Model of AD”
by Marika Lanza, Rossella Basilotta, Antonella Caccamo, Giovanna Casili, Alberto Repici, Salvatore Oddo and Emanuela Esposito
Cells 2025, 14(18), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14181474
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/18/1474

Relevant Special Issues:

“Tau-Targeted Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Amritpal Mudher, Dr. Katerina Papanikolopoulou, Dr. Lovesha Sivanantharajah and Prof. Dr. Efthimios M. C. Skoulakis
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026

“Function of Stress Granules in Normal Cells and in Alzheimer’s Disease”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Paul D. Coleman and Prof. Benjamin Wolozin
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 

“Latest Advances in Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease in Canada”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Jacques P. Tremblay
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2026

We are pleased to announce that the Cells 2025 Outstanding Reviewer Award has been awarded to the following recipients, selected by the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Cord Brakebusch. Cells’ (ISSN: 2073-4409) Editorial Board and editorial team would also like to acknowledge the time and effort dedicated by all reviewers in evaluating manuscripts submitted to the journal. Their contributions are crucial to maintaining Cells’ reputation for high quality and a quick turnaround.

First prize:

CHF 500, a free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year and an electronic certificate.

Winner:

• Dr. Zhidong Zhou, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.

Second prize:

A free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year and an electronic certificate.

Winners:

• Dr. Alessio Reggio, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Italy;
• Dr. Yasuhiro Kosuge, Nihon University, Japan.

Cells Editorial Office