Announcements

9 October 2025
Meet Us at the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, 2–7 August 2026, Jeju, South Korea


Following from our two previous successful editions, we invite you to submit your abstracts and participate in the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, taking place from 2 to 7 August 2026 in Jeju, South Korea.

Organized by MDPI and the open access journals Sensors, Micromachines, AI Sensors, Micro and Remote Sensing, this in-person conference will once again bring together experts and participating researchers who will share insights and innovations in sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.

Start preparing your abstracts:
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work to peers and leading experts in AI-enhanced sensing systems and transducers. We will be announcing the session topics at AIS 2026 soon.

Find out more about the instructions for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#instructions.

Find out more about the publication opportunities available for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#Publicationopportunities.
Please feel free to share the information about this conference to your colleagues and students.

We look forward to welcoming you in Jeju!

The organizing committee of the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2026).

6 May 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #34 - MDPI US Office, Coatings 2026, Media and Partnerships, Recapping Poland Summit & Serbia Salon

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

MDPI Opens First US Office in Philadelphia

I am delighted to highlight an important milestone in MDPI’s continued global development: the recent opening of our first office in the United States, located in Philadelphia.

This marks a significant step in building our engagement with one of the world’s most important research communities. The new office will serve as a hub for supporting scholars across the US, creating closer connections and more localized support.

As highlighted in recent coverage by our press release in InPublishing, this expansion reflects MDPI’s broader commitment to growing our international presence while remaining focused on the needs of the research community.

A Key Market for Research and Collaboration

The United States continues to play a central role in global research. To date, MDPI has published more than 237,000 articles affiliated with US institutions, and we collaborate with nearly 12,000 Editorial Board Members across the country. These relationships are fundamental to our mission of supporting Open Access and advancing scientific communication.

The opening of this office is not just about geography; it is about proximity to the communities we serve. It allows us to better understand the evolving needs of researchers while continuing to build collaboration and trust within the academic ecosystem.

The Team Behind this Milestone

This milestone reflects the efforts of teams across MDPI. I extend a special thank-you to Bob Vrooman (Head of Business Development, MDPI), who is leading this expansion, as well as to our colleagues in Toronto and across our North American teams for their continued support.

Bob shared: “MDPI is already a trusted partner of the North American research community, due in no small part to our dedicated team in Canada. Launching our first US office in Philadelphia is a great first step towards expanding MDPI’s market share and recognition in the US. I’m thrilled to be a part of this new phase in MDPI’s journey.”

As we continue to grow, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally and advancing Open Access with integrity.

Impactful Research

Coatings 2026: Highlights from Our Latest MDPI Conference (20-22 April)

I am pleased to share the successful completion of MDPI conference Coatings 2026, which took place last week in Athens from 20 to 22 April 2026. This conference brought together a diverse international community of researchers, industry experts, and partners, highlighting MDPI’s role not only as a publisher but also as a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.

Conference Highlights

Coatings 2026 in numbers:

  • The event attracted approximately 140 participants from 25 countries
  • 143 submissions and a strong scientific program of talks and posters
  • 2 keynote speakers and a wide range of invited contributions
  • 7 sponsors and 11 media partners supporting the event

Scientific Programme

The program centered on “Safe and Sustainable by Design,” reflecting the growing importance of sustainability, regulatory frameworks, and technological innovation in materials science. Topics ranged from advanced coating technologies and additive manufacturing to AI-driven simulations and strategies to phase out potentially harmful substances in industrial processes.

Importantly, the conference brought together both academic and industrial perspectives, creating a space for dialogue on how research can translate into real-world impact. This is important as industries navigate environmental challenges, evolving regulations, and the need for more sustainable and circular approaches to production.

Thank You!

I would like to thank the entire conference team for their work in organizing this successful event. As we continue to grow, conferences like this play an important role in building our connection with global research communities, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and positioning MDPI at the intersection of science, technology, and societal impact.

Members from Exelisis and MDPI EU Conference & Social Media team at the Coatings 2026 Conference in Athens, Greece.

Inside MDPI

Recent Media Coverage and Partnerships

Over the past two months, news from MDPI has enjoyed strong visibility across international publishing and academic media, reflecting our continued expansion and the increasing relevance of our work within the research community.

Below are some highlights covering partnerships, institutional agreements, and milestones that continue to shape our position in publishing – some of which are featured in leading industry platforms such as InPublishing, which is highly selective and reflects the growing recognition of MDPI’s growth within the publishing ecosystem.

Key Press Releases & Coverage (March–April 2026)

  • MDPI × Sikt (Norway): Partnership Renewal

    We renewed our national Open Access agreement with Sikt, a key consortium partnership, continuing to support researchers across Norway through this partnership. The renewal was covered by several international publishing trade outlets.

    Covered by: Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Europe Says

  • MDPI × Jisc (UK): New Two-Year Open Access Agreement

    A new two-year agreement with Jisc significantly expands MDPI’s footprint across UK academic institutions. Coverage appeared across major publishing industry titles in the UK and internationally.

    Covered by: InPublishing, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

  • MDPI Opens First US Office

    The opening of our first US office marks an important milestone in our North American expansion to build engagement with one of the world’s leading research communities.

    Coverage by: EurekAlert!, InPublishing, EdTech Innovation Hub, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

  • MDPI × SIGG: Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics

    We established a new partnership with the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG), adding to our growing portfolio of society collaborations.

    Coverage by: EurekAlert!, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

  • MDPI × Fast Track Health: New Journal Launch

    The launch of a new journal in partnership with Fast Track Health reflects our continued expansion into emerging areas of health innovation.

    Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Scienmag, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

  • MDPI 2025 Annual Report

    Our 2025 Annual Report was also widely covered across international media, highlighting a 12% increase in submissions and continued investment in research integrity, infrastructure, and partnerships.

    Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Choice 360

Coverage also spanned multiple regions including Poland, Romania and South Korea, reflecting our ongoing efforts to communicate more effectively with regional research communities.

Looking Ahead

This coverage shows that MDPI is growing and building on its position through partnerships, visibility, and engagement across regions. As we continue to expand, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally, building on our institutional collaborations, and advancing Open Access with integrity.

Thank you to all teams involved in delivering these initiatives, and to our External Affairs team for ensuring our work is effectively communicated across the global publishing landscape!

Coming Together for Science

Recapping MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Krakow (23 April)

On 23 April 2206, we hosted the first MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Kraków, bringing together an engaged group of editors, researchers, and academic leaders from the country.

The Poland Summit welcomed some 45 participants, including Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members, many with strong academic track records and international recognition.

Our engagements were open and constructive, focusing on MDPI’s positioning and reputation in Poland, alongside community interest in supporting our development, with active participation across our sessions, including Q&A and panel discussions.

MDPI Poland Summit Programme

From research integrity and peer review quality to AI in publishing and the future of academic communication, the agenda featured important topics currently shaping our industry.

During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering:

  • MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Poland: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
  • Engagement with Academic Community: Dr. Marta Colomer (Public Affairs Lead)
  • Research Integrity and Publication Ethics: Anna Pena (Research Integrity Manager)
  • MDPI Editorial Process and Peer-Review Quality Metrics: Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer)
  • AI in the Publishing Industry – Challenges, Innovation and MDPI’s vision: Dr. Enric Sayas (AI Product Owner)
  • Panel Session: The Future of Academic Publishing, moderated by Dr. Marta Colomer 

Poland as a Key Market for Open Access

The summit also highlighted the importance of Poland within the global research landscape.

In 2025:

  • 75% of publications in Poland were made in Open Access
  • 71% of those in Gold Open Access
  • and over 344,000 publications produced in the last five years

MDPI plays a significant role in the Polish publishing ecosystem:

  • #1 Open Access publisher in Poland
  • 17% share of Open Access publications in 2025
  • More than 12,500 publications from Polish institutions in 2025
  • More than 91,000 publications overall since 1996

Looking Ahead

Events like the Poland Summit are an important part of how we evolve as an organization. They allow us to share the latest developments of MDPI and listen directly to our researchers and editors to better understand the market and align our development with the needs of the local community.

As MDPI continues to grow, this type of engagement will remain essential in ensuring that we are not only scaling globally, but doing so in a way that is aligned, trusted, and collaborative.


With Igor Matic (Office Manager, Krakow, Poland, MDPI) at the MDPI Poland Summit in Krakow.

Closing Thoughts

Recapping MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade (22 April)

On 22 April 2026, we hosted the MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade. The Salon welcomed over 50 participants, including more than 40 invited scholars from leading Serbian institutions, alongside colleagues from MDPI. The event also marked two important milestones: 30 years of MDPI and 10 years of our presence in Serbia, making it a celebration and an opportunity for reflection.

A Platform for Exchange

The Salon was designed not just as a series of presentations, but as a place for dialogue. Throughout the day, discussions focused on important topics around publishing today: research integrity and editorial standards, journal indexing and visibility, the evolving role of artificial intelligence, and funding and support for Open Access publishing.

Program Overview

  • Opening the Salon MDPI Serbia 2026 – Serbia results and direction: Emir Ramadani (Operations Manager)
  • Update on MDPI’s performance and growth: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
  • Collaboration with MDPI – A personal perspective: Prof. Dr Srećko Stopić (Editorial Board Member)
  • Linking Scientific Quality and Visibility: The role of indexing in publishing
  • Research integrity and editorial ethics: Ana Stanković (Research Integrity Specialist)
  • Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Publishing – Challenges, innovations and vision of MDPI: Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation)

It was encouraging to see the high level of engagement and discussion with the local academic community.

Publishing in Serbia

With 10 years of MDPI in Serbia (since 2016) and over 620 colleagues across 10 departments spread across offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, MDPI continues to invest in the long-term development of the research community in Serbia and beyond.

Some high-level indicators illustrate both the strength of the local research ecosystem and MDPI’s role within it:

  • 12,910 total publications in Serbia in 2025, of which 8,708 (67%) were Open Access (of which, in turn, 75% were Gold OA)
  • A total of more than 55,000 publications (2021–2025), with 68% published Open Access
  • 2,122 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions in 2025
  • 25% of all Open Access publications in Serbia are published with MDPI
  • More than 11,000 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions since 1996
  • More than 75 Editorial Board Members from Serbia, including Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors.

These figures reflect the growth of OA publishing in Serbia and the strong collaboration between MDPI and Serbia's research community.

Top 5 Publishers in Serbia (MDPI #1 with steady growth)

Looking Ahead

Research integrity and artificial intelligence will remain central topics for the industry. At the same time, clear communication of editorial processes will be essential in building trust and transparency.

Workshops and direct engagement remain among the most effective ways to strengthen these connections. As Open Access funding models continue to evolve, new opportunities for collaboration are emerging across institutions, publishers, and the broader research community.

Thank You!

The excellent feedback from participants shows the value of creating spaces where ideas can be exchanged openly and constructively. Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event: our speakers, participants, and especially the MDPI Serbia team for their great organization and support.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 April 2026
Interview with Dr. Alina Vasilescu and Prof. Dr. Michele Penza—Winners of the Chemosensors Editor of Distinction Award


We are honored to announce that Dr. Alina Vasilescu and Prof. Dr. Michele Penza have been selected as the winners of the Chemosensors 2025 Editor of Distinction Award.

The following is an interview with Dr. Alina Vasilescu:

  1. Could you briefly introduce your academic background and current research focus?

My background is in analytical chemistry; I am a graduate of the University of Bucharest, Romania, where I have obtained both my BSc and MSc degrees. During my MSc, I was introduced to the field of biosensors, having the privilege to attend courses held by renowned specialists in the field, including Prof. Giuseppe Palleschi, Jean-Louis Marty, Lo Gorton, and Nabil El Murr, among others. I continued in this field with a joint PhD thesis at the University of Bucharest and the University of Perpignan, France, and later with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada. I lived for almost 10 years in Canada, where, besides the postdoctoral fellowship, I worked in analytical research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. A Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant that I obtained in 2011 gave me the opportunity to return to the biosensor research field at the International Centre of Biodynamics in Bucharest, where I presently work as Head of Electrochemistry and SERS laboratory. My research themes are centered around biosensors, and I have developed analytical tools to investigate protein aggregation, wine quality, disease biomarkers, and environmental contaminants. I was very lucky to collaborate with strong groups specialized in nanomaterials, microbiology, laser-assisted deposition, and electrode manufacturing. My recent focus is on coupling electrochemistry with optical methods such as surface plasmon resonance or surface-enhanced Raman scattering, in the aim to understand the mechanisms providing increased detection sensitivity, boosting specific over non-specific recognition in biosensors, and exploring specific binding events.

  1. How was your experience being an editor for Chemosensors? What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?

I think this question can be answered from several perspectives. One would be that it gave me the opportunity to stay updated with the latest research in the field of chemical- and biosensors, and inspired me with regard to the direction the scientific research is headed in.

At the same time, as a member of the Editorial Board, I felt a responsibility to ensure fair, constructive, and thorough peer review. Moreover, I valued the opportunity to design Special Issues around subjects related to sensors and biosensors for food safety, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics.

I can say that it was particularly fulfilling to see how the manuscripts’ quality improved during the review process based on the suggestions and guidance I provided. This gave me a sense of contributing to the scientific field not just by my own research.

  1. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?

With regards to reviewer selection process, I think it would be helpful to further expand the reviewer database and diversify reviewers’ profiles, given that most research nowadays is multidisciplinary and involves teams with complementary expertise. Another thing that could be improved would be to provide more detailed guidelines for reviewers and also for authors. To give an example, many papers which describe new sensors include spike-and-recovery tests as a measure of the sensors’ accuracy and fitness for analyzing real-world samples. However, the number of samples and the spiking procedure vary greatly between reports. Incorrect spiking procedures tend to roll on from one paper or one journal to another, as some authors simply adopt the easiest procedure used in similar works, without questioning its correctness. They argue, during the review process, that if the respective procedure was already published, this means it is absolutely valid. I would strongly support a guideline with descriptions and references of the necessary tests for proving the sensors’ performance. A consistent, correct way of testing will build confidence in the research results and enable relevant comparison between the literature reports.

  1. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research publishing?

I believe that AI and automated tools are simply means that support and streamline the human-driven reviewing process, as AI-based tools are trained on published data and are not able to grasp the context of brand new and revolutionary ideas, as opposed to a human editor. I can see an increased percentage of the editor’s time allocated to critically reviewing AI-generated manuscripts and identifying misconduct that automated tools may miss. The editor’s contribution will also be essential in reaching decisions on difficult-to-judge manuscripts. Maintaining the journal's identity will be hard without strong editor involvement.

On the other hand, I believe in a strong role of AI in identifying plagiarism, detecting AI-written content, in the initial screening of manuscripts, and for reviewer selection. Editors would need to be increasingly AI-literate, while at the same time knowing AI’s limitations.

  1. Do you have any advice for early career researchers in terms of research or publishing?

It is important to prioritize from the beginning quality over quantity and build a specific, strong competence rather than dissipating research efforts in a broad domain. I strongly encourage early-career researchers to take every opportunity to go to conferences or summer schools and build collaborations with their peers or with more experienced people with complementary expertise. I always considered that a collaborative work where several methods or techniques are used to gather a broader and detailed image of the studied topic is much better than one individual’s work limited by that person’s perspective and accessibility to research and technical means.

I also advise early-career researchers to screen carefully the journals where they want to publish, ensuring that they fit best with their research theme and provide the best visibility and impact for their results. They should integrate all constructive reviewer comments and advice from more experienced colleagues into their work. Moreover, I strongly encourage young researchers to check the clarity of their work by having their manuscript or project application read by people without detailed knowledge of the field (my husband is the most “avid reader” of my manuscripts and applications).

  1. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

I believe that wearable and implantable sensors, as well as sensors for environmental monitoring, are two big topics where researchers will be focusing on in the future. Obviously, integration of AI and machine learning will support this research, and many advances will come from this. I also think that food safety and point-of-care devices will continue to attract interest and funding. One particularly interesting research area would be in biomimetic sensors with all the implications in medicine and human–machine interactions. Not least, given the renewed efforts for space exploration, sensors that can be integrated in probes, shuttles, or space stations will become increasingly needed.

The following is an interview with Dr. Michele Penza:

  1. Could you briefly introduce your academic background and current research focus?

My research interests are focused on materials science and engineering for chemical sensing and environmental monitoring, including sensor-systems, devices, technologies, and measurements for sustainability applications. At this stage, my publication score consists of 180+ peer-reviewed publications, 4 book chapters, 1 book, 13 special issues, 1 topical collection, 2 international reports, and 150+ conference communications, including 40+ invited/keynote speakers, and 3 national patents. H-index (March 2026): 43 (Scopus); 41 (Web of Science); 50 (Google Scholar). Nr. Citations (March 2026): 5450+ (Scopus); 4630+ (Web of Science); 8000+ (Google Scholar). I have peer-reviewed 380+ manuscripts and 200+ editor decisions.

I am honored to be listed (2020–now) as a Top 2% World most-cited Scientist in Analytical Chemistry and Applied Physics as published by Elsevier and Stanford University.

My main career achievements include Prime Researcher (2023–now), Head of Laboratory Functional Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Applications (headcount: 45 persons) at ENEA - Brindisi Research Center (1 July 2015–30 June 2024), and now I am serving as a Direction Office Member at Division Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing Industry in ENEA. Furthermore, I was engaged as Chair of the International Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action TD1105 EuNetAir (2012–2016) - European Network on New Sensing Technologies for Air Pollution Control and Environmental Sustainability - including 250+ researchers and scientists belonging to 150+ teams from 35+ Countries (Europe, USA, China, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Morocco). Also, I have coordinated (2019–2022) the EIT Raw Materials Hub - Regional Center Southern Italy, devoted to the development of critical raw materials in the Mediterranean eco-system for eco-innovation and environmental sustainability. Moreover, my expertise has been useful as Chairman of the European Sensor Systems Cluster (ESSC), launched by EC DG R&I in November 2014, to define a roadmap for sensors and sensor systems for Horizon 2020 calls.

Moreover, I have achieved the Italian National Scientific Qualification as a Full Professor in Experimental Physics of Matter (02/B1 - ASN 2021-23), valid from 6 February 2023 to 6 February 2035 (Ministry of University and Research Ministerial Decree n. 553/2021 dated on 26 February 2021 and MUR Ministerial Decree n. 589/2021 dated on 05 March 2021); and the Italian National Scientific Qualification as a Full Professor in Applied Physics (02/D1 - ASN 2023-25), valid from 11 November 2025 to 11 November 2037 (Ministry of University and Research Ministerial Decree n. 1796/2023 dated on 27 October 2023);  and currently I serve as Adjunct Professor at University of Salento, Lecce (Italy), teaching the Bachelor’s Program in Engineering for Sustainable Industry, with a course on the Laboratory of Technologies for Sustainable Production (6 CFD/54 hours, Academic Year 2024-2025, 2025-2026) at the Brindisi Teaching Pole.

Currently, I am engaged as an international expert reviewer of research projects funded by national and international research councils and agencies.

Finally, before appointment as Section Editor-in-Chief of “Environmental Sensing” in Sensors, I also served as Associate Editor for MDPI journals (Sensors, Chemosensors) and other international publishers.

  1. How was your experience being an editor for Chemosensors? What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?

Chemosensors is a high-quality, open access, and excellent journal with a high impact factor, indexed in many important research archives, to share knowledge on chemical sensors at a global level. My experience as Associate Editor of Chemosensors confirmed that the rigorous peer-review and relatively short timing of acceptance for publication are an optimal basis to corroborate our journal as a top magazine to host outstanding research on sensors for chemical sensing in different applicative sectors. My action as Associate Editor and Guest Editor is challenging because it is beneficial to know continuous updates from worldwide laboratories at the frontiers of knowledge in chemical sensors.

  1. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?

The MDPI editorial process is solid and pays attention to ethics, integrity and originality. A double-check approach is currently carried out in unclear editorial decisions to avoid conflicts of interest. The editorial policy is updated to the state of the art.

  1. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research publishing?

AI is a valid tool as an assistant editor for authors and editors to improve the quality of a manuscript. However, the integrity and originality of the publications need to be supervised, including the absence of plagiarism in the artefacts by authors. The role of editors is crucial to check this clean scheme in publications. Software tools to check the duplicate rate are very useful to support editorial decisions.

  1. Do you have any advice for early-career researchers in terms of research or publishing?

The engagement of young researchers in Chemosensors is crucial for future sustainable development. They will be encouraged to attend webinars, participate as peer-reviewers, co-author excellent papers and reviews, author a thesis dissertation in the field of applied sensors, environmental sensor technologies and sustainable applications; accomplished grants for best posters and/or best oral presentations should be awarded to boost their scientific interests in innovative chemical sensors. Gender balance between females and males is also supported as much as possible in all agendas of Chemosensors initiatives.

  1. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

My vision for Chemosensors is to consolidate its editorial position as a top global platform for outstanding research with multidisciplinary and innovative aspects, bridging academia and industry. I am engaged as Associate Editor to expand the journal’s scope to include emerging fields such as green and digital technologies for sustainable applications, AI-supported sensors development, IoT sensor-system integration, novel electronic devices for environmental monitoring and measurements, applied chemical sensors, and advanced functional materials for chemical sensing, taking into account the highest standards of peer-review and open access. The topics and contents will be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations (UN). Through the key involvement of leading scientists, senior experts, and early-stage researchers, I will push Chemosensors as a reference journal for shaping the future of chemical sensing technologies and measurements at a higher impact.

24 April 2026
Prof. Dr. William Gerwick Appointed Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee

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.

21 April 2026
Interview with Prof. Dr. Zhenyu Yuan—Winner of the Chemosensors Best Paper Award


1. Congratulations on receiving the Best Paper Award. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers and share your current research focus, including any recent developments in your work?
I am Professor Yuan Zhenyu from the College of Information Science and Engineering at Northeastern University in China. My main research areas include micro/nano-semiconductor gas sensors, trace gas detection technology and qualitative and quantitative identification, as well as high-performance electronic noses for robot searches.

2. Could you briefly introduce the key research focus and main findings of your award-winning paper?
This study synthesizes Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO3 composite materials via a one-step hydrothermal method, characterizes the morphology and structure of the materials, and tests their gas sensing performance. The gas sensor exhibits a response as high as 102 towards 100 ppm of triethylamine at 190 °C, along with better selectivity and stability. The Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO3 sample can adsorb more oxygen, promoting the reaction between adsorbed oxygen and the target gas and thereby improving the gas sensitivity performance.

3. Looking ahead, what impact do you hope your research will have on the field, and what do you consider to be the most significant innovation presented in your paper?
I hope that my series of work can provide a reference for the construction of high-performance gas sensors and further applications. The innovation of this paper is based on perovskite, which has a molecular formula of ABO3, where both the A-site and B-site elements are easily replaced by other doping elements, resulting in the strong adaptability and tunability of perovskite oxides’ structure. Meanwhile, doping is an effective method used to improve the performance of gas-sensitive materials. Thus, in this study, spherical LaFeO3 composite gas-sensitive materials doped with Ni were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The microstructure was studied through characterizations, and the gas sensitivity performance towards TEA was also tested.

4. Could you share some of the major challenges in your research area, as well as any recent breakthroughs that you find particularly exciting?
I think the starting point for making semiconductor gas sensors is to control sensitive materials with micro/nano-structures to enhance sensitivity, but there are also challenges, which are how to apply high-performance gas sensors. I think one interesting point is that we have applied our self-developed gas sensor to inspection robots, breaking through challenges such as detection limits and stability and achieving olfactory navigation functions.

5. In your view, how does open access publishing contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of research in your area?
I think open access publishing can make it more convenient for relevant researchers to access the full text of research results, understand the research details in the paper, and play a very positive role in promoting common research in the field.

6. Do you have any advice for young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact research results?
Persist in your own research and do not rush for quick success. Pay more attention to the research work of domestic and foreign peers to obtain ideas. Encourage cooperation and strive for cross-complementarity.

16 April 2026
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in the First Quarter of 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.

New Journals

Founding Editor(s)-in-Chief

Journal Topics (Selected)

Prof. Dr. Matt Oehlschlaeger,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA
Editorial | view inaugural issue

AI-based chemical data analysis, prediction, and discovery; AI-enabled chemical reaction prediction, synthesis planning, and retrosynthesis; AI in bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology; digital twins and simulation of chemical processes; AI-powered chemical education and pedagogy |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Guang Jia,
Peking University, China
Editorial | view inaugural issue

occupational hazards and exposure science; occupational health effects and susceptibility; occupational risk assessment and management; occupational health intervention, promotion, and policy |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Miani,
Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Italy
University of Milan, Italy
Prof. Dr. Jing Shang,
Peking University, China
Editorial | view inaugural issue

environmental exposures and health; the built environment and public health; One Health approach; environmental justice and health equity; environmental policies and interventions |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Miriam H. A. Bopp,
Marburg University, Germany
Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Germany
Prof. Dr. Christopher Nimsky,
Marburg University, Germany
Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Germany
Editorial | view inaugural issue

neuroimaging technology and tool; multimodal neuroimaging integration and analysis;
dynamic modeling of brain networks; neuroimaging big data and cloud computing; translational and preclinical neuroimaging |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Raul A. Urrutia,
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
Editorial | view inaugural issue

personalized translational and clinical oncology research that contribute to a deeper understanding of cancer diagnoses, prognoses, prevention, and treatment specifically for individual patients |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Pierre Boulanger,
University of Alberta, Canada
Editorial | view inaugural issue

AI in disease detection, diagnosis, prediction, and treatment; medical informatics; AI in genomics and precision medicine; AI in drug discovery and development;
AI in healthcare; intelligent devices and instruments |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Zhaokui Wang,
Tsinghua University, China
Editorial | view inaugural issue

astrodynamics; spacecraft technology; satellite technology; space transportation; space vehicle design, propulsion, and avionics; space energy, power and propulsion |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Richard J Hauer,
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, USA
Editorial | view inaugural issue

park design, planning, and evaluation; park and art; park, industrialization, urbanization, and civilization; park and education; park and smart society; park role in SDGs;

park services for humans |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Stacey L. Connaughton,
Purdue University, USA
Editorial | view inaugural issue

conflict resolution; peacebuilding; peacemaking; mediation, reconciliation, and transitional justice; sustaining peace |
view journal scope | submit an article

Transferred Journals

Editor(s)-in-Chief

Journal Topics (Selected)

Prof. Dr. Gianluigi Vendemiale,
University of Foggia, Italy
Editorial | view first issue

physiology and pathology of aging; biogerontology; epidemiology; clinical geriatrics; pharmacology; geriatric nursing |
view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Michele Maffia,
University of Salento, Italy
Prof. Dr. Prisco Piscitelli,
Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, Italy
Editorial | view first issue

cellular and developmental biology; physiology, pathophysiology and endocrinology; diagnostic tools, therapies and public health |
view journal scope | submit an article

Dr. Warren S. Joseph,
American Podiatric Medical Association, USA
Editorial | view first issue

foot and ankle medicine; podiatric medicine |
view journal scope | submit an article

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).

7 April 2026
Chemosensors | Special Issue Mentor Program

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the Chemosensors Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program will enable early career researchers (who must hold a PhD in a related field) to experience editing a Special Issue in Chemosensors (ISSN: 2227-9040), under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program will provide an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience, and to cultivate their ability to edit scientific research.

The mentee’s responsibilities include the following:

  • Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting the mentor in preparing a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Issue;
  • Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
  • Preparing a list of scholars who may be interested in the Issue and personally e-mailing invitations on behalf of Guest Editors;
  • Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue together with the mentor.

The mentor’s responsibilities include the following:

  • Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
  • Performing editorial control of the Special Issue and quality control of the publications, both of which must be carried out in a timely manner;
  • Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
  • Organizing video calls with young scholars and the Editorial Office regularly to discuss problems and improvement suggestions for the Special Issue;
  • Making and submitting decisions regarding submissions with the assistance of mentees.

Certificates and Awards:

After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates for all the mentors and early career researchers.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Chemosensors Editorial Office (chemosensors@mdpi.com), and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, Chemosensors continues to welcome all Special Issue proposals based on hot research topics as usual.

Chemosensors Editorial Office

2 April 2026
2026 Tu Youyou Award—Open for Nominations


We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Tu Youyou Award. Named after Nobel Laureate Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin has saved millions of lives, this award recognizes researchers whose work advances the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, while also contributing to human health.

Prize

– CHF 100,000;
– A medal;
– A certificate.

The monetary prize will be shared equally should there be multiple recipients.

Who May Be Nominated?

– Scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Nominees must be individuals; team or group nominations are not permitted. Nominations are valid only for the current award cycle.

Who May Submit a Nomination?

– The director of the nominee’s host research institution or recognized scientists within the field.

Self-nominations will not be considered.

Nomination Materials

– A biographical sketch;
– A detailed description of the nominee’s contributions;
– 5–10 representative academic publications;
– A list of academic honors, awards, and funded projects;
– A nomination letter signed by two nominators.

How to Submit?

Submit nominations online via the following link: https://tuyouyouprize.org/nomination

Important Dates

– Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026
– Winner Announcement: March 2027

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/). For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.

31 March 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #33 - 2025 Annual Report, Preprints.org, IWD, Recapping Viruses 2026 & Romania Salon

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

Scaling Open Access with Integrity: MDPI Annual Report 2025

I am pleased to share the release of MDPI’s 2025 Annual Report, reflecting our continued progress as one of the world’s leading open access publishers. The report highlights not only our growth, but also the continued evolution of our publishing model and our commitment to quality, transparency, and collaboration.

You can explore the full report here: https://mdpi-res.com/data/mdpi_annual_report_2025_0401.pdf?1775045421

Or visit the interactive page: https://www.mdpi.com/annual-report-2025/

A Year of Growth and Responsibility

2025 was a year of significant growth for MDPI. We received over 669,000 manuscript submissions, the highest in our history, while maintaining a rejection rate above 60%, reinforcing our commitment to both scale and quality.

We published 261,576 peer-reviewed open access articles across a portfolio of 500 journals, supported by a global community of more than 68,000 Editorial Board Members and 209,000 reviewers.

Scaling with Integrity

Growth alone is not the objective; how we grow matters.

Our 2025 Annual Report, Scaling Open Access with Integrity, reflects our continued focus on building the systems and processes that support reliable and trustworthy publishing. As submission volumes increase globally, so too does the importance of robust editorial workflows, research integrity frameworks, and the infrastructure required to support them.

In 2025, we continued to invest in:

  • Research integrity and quality assurance processes
  • Editorial support and reviewer engagement
  • Transparency across the publishing workflow

These efforts ensure that scale does not come at the expense of rigor, but rather reinforces it.

Validation Through Indexing and Visibility

As MDPI continues to grow, validation of quality remains essential.

In 2025, the number of MDPI journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection increased from 298 to 329, while Scopus coverage reached 355 journals, including 45 new acceptances. Coverage in major biomedical databases (PMC/Medline/PubMed) expanded to 95 journals, and indexing in Ei Compendex increased significantly.

These milestones reflect the strength of our editorial processes and the trust placed in our journals by independent indexing bodies.

Importantly:

  • 96% of all MDPI articles are indexed in Web of Science databases
  • More than 1.75 million articles are indexed, with an average of 13 citations per article

Recognition through Journal Citation Reports also continues to grow:

  • 298 journals received Impact Factors
  • 65% ranked in the top half of their categories
  • 61 journals achieved top-quartile positions

These developments demonstrate that growth and quality are advancing together, supported by strong editorial oversight and consistent performance across our journal portfolio.

Strengthening Partnerships and Community

Open access is a collaborative endeavor.

In 2025, we expanded our institutional partnerships to more than 1,000 IOAP agreements, helping simplify publishing for researchers and institutions worldwide.

We also hosted 60 in-person conferences and virtual events, bringing together more than 28,000 participants to exchange ideas, share research, and strengthen connections across the global scientific community.

At the heart of everything we do is this community of authors, editors, reviewers, and partners who make open science possible.

Looking Ahead

Open access continues to move toward becoming the standard model for sharing research globally. With that growth comes increased responsibility.

Our focus moving forward is to continue building a publishing ecosystem that is:

  • Collaborative, to serve the research community
  • Rigorous, to ensure quality
  • Transparent, to support trust
  • Scalable, to meet global demand

We believe that open access, when combined with strong editorial standards and integrity, is the most effective way to accelerate scientific progress.

Thank you to all the scholarly community who collaborated with us and our MDPI staff for your continued dedication and contributions in making 2025 a successful year.

Impactful Research

Celebrating Ten Years of Preprints.org: Accelerating Open Research

In 2026, MDPI’s preprints server Preprints.org marked its 10th anniversary as a platform dedicated to accelerating the dissemination of research. Since its launch, Preprints.org has grown into a global platform that hosts more than 120,000 preprints contributed by hundreds of thousands of researchers worldwide, generating tens of millions of views and downloads and demonstrating the value of sharing research openly and rapidly.

At MDPI, we are proud to celebrate ten years of Preprints.org supporting the mission of open science. Over the past decade, we have seen how early sharing of research can accelerate collaboration and help ideas move more quickly from discovery to impact.

The Evolution of Preprints

While Preprints.org launched in 2016, the idea behind it has deeper roots. The concept of rapid research dissemination has existed for decades, with early preprint servers showing how open sharing can accelerate scientific progress.

Over the past decade, preprints have become an increasingly important part of scholarly communication. Researchers across disciplines are looking at faster ways to share their discoveries, exchange ideas, and receive feedback from the global scientific community.

Preprints in a Growing Research Ecosystem

The global preprint landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with multiple platforms serving different research communities. The figure below (sourced from James Butcher newsletter), based on data from Dimensions (Digital Science), shows the growth of preprint outputs across several major platforms over time.

Among these platforms, arXiv (the pioneering preprint server) has experienced great growth in recent years. At the same time, other platforms have continued to expand their reach across disciplines, capturing increasing global interest in early research sharing.

Preprints.org contributes to this evolving ecosystem by providing a multidisciplinary platform that works in synergy with academic journals, helping researchers bridge the gap between rapid dissemination and the formal publication process.

Celebrating the First Decade

To commemorate this milestone, Preprints.org launched a 10th Anniversary celebration hub highlighting the impact of preprints and the researchers who contribute to them.

One of the central initiatives is the Popular Preprints of the Decade Award, recognizing influential preprints published between 2016 and 2026 across multiple research fields. Through community voting, the award will recognize research that has generated high engagement and visibility within the global research community.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade of Preprints

As research communication continues to evolve, preprints will continue to play an important role in enabling faster collaboration, improving transparency, and expanding access to knowledge. The next decade may bring further integration between preprint platforms and journals, new tools for discovery and evaluation, and greater global participation in open science.

At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting researchers through platforms that encourage the open exchange of ideas. The success of Preprints.org over the past ten years reflects the engagement and trust of the global research community – authors, readers, reviewers, and collaborators who believe in the value of sharing knowledge openly.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the development and growth of Preprints.org over the past decade!

Inside MDPI

Beyond International Women’s Day: Supporting Women in Research

International Women’s Day (IWD) offers an opportunity to recognize the achievements of women around the world and reflect on how we can continue building a more inclusive future. In research and academia, this conversation carries particular importance, as scientific progress depends on diverse perspectives, and supporting women in science is essential to strengthening the global research ecosystem.

For MDPI, IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in research and highlight the initiatives, conversations, and collaborations that help support researchers across disciplines and career stages.

Highlighting Women in Science Across MDPI

This year, MDPI marked International Women’s Day with a global campaign highlighting research, awards, and perspectives that support women in science. Throughout the week, our teams shared content across MDPI’s social media channels sharing the work of women researchers and encouraging engagement across the academic community.

As part of this initiative, MDPI published several blog articles exploring important themes related to gender equity in research. One article, Give Support, Gain Progress: Retaining Women in Science, discusses the importance of mentorship, institutional support, and inclusive research environments in helping women build sustainable scientific careers.

Another featured article, Bridging the Gap in Women’s Health Research, highlights the ongoing need to address disparities in health research and ensure that women’s health receives the scientific attention and investment it deserves.

These topics capture the notion that supporting women in science benefits not only individual researchers but the entire scientific community. When researchers from diverse backgrounds can contribute their perspectives and ideas, the scope and impact of scientific discovery expand.

Creating Spaces for Dialogue

Beyond online content, MDPI is also supporting conversations about women in research through community engagement.

On 10 March, MDPI UK hosted the “Women in Research” event, bringing together researchers and professionals to share experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges women face throughout their scientific careers. Events like these are an opportunity for open dialogue, mentorship, and networking to create more inclusive research communities.

Looking Beyond a Single Day

While IWD is an important moment of recognition, progress requires ongoing effort.

Supporting women in research involves many forms of engagement: from mentorship and collaboration to creating inclusive environments in which diverse voices are heard and valued. Publishers, institutions, and researchers all play a role in building this ecosystem.

At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting the global research community and to promoting open access publishing as a foundation for accessible and inclusive knowledge-sharing.

As we reflect on IWD this year, we recognize the many women who contribute to research as authors, reviewers, editors, mentors, and educators; we also recognize the impact they continue to have on the advancement of science. The influence of women in research extends far beyond a single day of recognition, reminding us that supporting them is a commitment that continues throughout the year.

Coming Together for Science

Highlights from Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology (11–13 March)

Through 11–13 March, we successfully delivered the Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology MDPI conference in Barcelona, bringing together an international community of researchers, editors, and partners dedicated to advancing the field of virology.

Conference Highlights

Viruses 2026 in numbers:

  • 198 total registrations, with 171 attendees on site
  • 233 submissions, with 122 accepted
  • 42 short talks, 9 flash talks, and 80 posters
  • 13 invited speakers and 1 keynote speaker

The strong level of participation and quality of submissions once again demonstrate the relevance of the Viruses community.

A standout moment was the keynote lecture by Dr. Ho, which also attracted an NBC documentary film crew, highlighting the broader impact of the research being presented.

Scientific Programme

The conference programme covered areas across modern virology, including viral replication, pathogenesis, immunology, and public health. Sessions explored topics on antiviral therapeutics and vaccines, innate immunity, virus–host interactions, and the structure and mechanisms of virus replication.

Together, these discussions highlighted both the fundamental biology of viruses and the translational challenges of addressing emerging infectious diseases, reflecting the breadth and continued importance of virology research in a global context. The programme also included a sponsored workshop on research data management in virology, further emphasizing the importance of data practices in advancing the field.

Thank You

Feedback from participants has been very positive, and I would like to thank the Conference team for the organization and delivery of this year’s event.

Thank you to our Viruses journal team and all colleagues involved behind the scenes in supporting the delivery of the event. As noted by Dr. Eric Freed (EiC of Viruses), the success of this edition gives us strong momentum as we look ahead to the next conference in 2028, with opportunities to further expand participation and engagement.

Closing Thoughts

Recap from MDPI Romania Salon in Cluj-Napoca (24 March)

On 24 March, we had the opportunity to meet with members of the Romanian research community in Cluj-Napoca at our MDPI Romania Salon. The event was a space for presentations, open discussion, and the exchange of perspectives on publishing and the research landscape in Romania.

We welcomed 39 participants, including 27 researchers from institutions across Romania, representing cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Reșița. Among them were Editorial Board Members, Associate Editors, and Guest Editors, all of whom play an important role in collaborating with MDPI and shaping the quality and direction of academic publishing.

A Shared Commitment to Research Excellence

These events reflect MDPI’s commitment to connecting with and supporting researchers by means of transparency, dialogue, and collaboration. During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering different parts of our publishing ecosystem:

  • MDPI’s presence in Romania – Anamaria Vartolomei (Journal Relationship Specialist (JRS), Section Managing Editor (ME))
  • MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO)
  • Academic services, initiatives, and projects supporting researchers – Ioana Preda (JRS, Section ME)
  • Best practices and standards in publication ethics – Lavinia Rogojina (Research Integrity Manager)
  • Panel session on ethics, AI, and peer review – Lavinia Rogojina, Ioana Preda, Doris Larisa Albu (JRS, Section ME), Cristina Georgiana Spelmezan (JRS, Section ME)
  • Closing remarks – Lavinia Dumitrela Cozma (Operations Manager, Section ME)

Feedback from participants was very positive, particularly regarding the quality of discussions, the relevance of the topics, and the opportunity to engage directly with MDPI colleagues. What stood out most was the openness of the discussion. These events are important not only for the purposes of presenting what we do, but also as an opportunity to listen, understand concerns, and continue to build alignment with the research community.

Romania and the Growth of Open Access Publishing

The Romanian research landscape continues to show growth in open access (OA) publishing.

In 2025:

  • 72% of all publications in Romania were published as OA
  • Of these, 74% were Gold Open Access

Over the past five years, Romania has produced more than 109,000 publications, with approximately 71% available openly, highlighting a sustained shift toward accessibility and knowledge-sharing.

Within this landscape, MDPI continues to play a significant role:

  • MDPI is the leading OA publisher in Romania, contributing 42% of all OA publications in 2025
  • More than 37,000 articles have been published with MDPI by Romanian institutions since 1996
  • This figure includes over 7,500 publications in 2025 alone
  • More than 400 Editorial Board Members from Romania collaborate with MDPI across disciplines

These trends show the growth of OA and the strength of collaboration between MDPI and the Romanian research community.

Looking Ahead

As academic publishing continues to evolve, maintaining open and transparent communication with researchers is essential. Events such as our Salons and Summits provide great opportunities to exchange perspectives and to build trust and collaboration.

Thank you to all participants who joined us in Cluj, and to our teams in Romania for delivering a successful event. A special thank-you to Alina-Florina Agafitei (Marketing Specialist) for her care and attention to detail in delivering the Salon.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

30 March 2026
Meet Us at the International Conference on Sensors and Their Applications (ICSA2026), 22–25 May 2026, Chengdu, China


MDPI will be attending the International Conference on Sensors and Their Applications (ICSA2026), which will be held in Chengdu, China, from 22 to 25 May 2026.

The theme of ICSA2026 is Empowering Innovation through Perception, Uniting for a Connected Intelligence World. The conference will feature distinct program components, including plenary sessions, focused sessions, industry forums, young professional forums, and engineering education forums. The conference aims to provide a high-level academic platform for scholars, researchers, engineers, and industry experts from around the world to exchange cutting-edge research findings, discuss technological innovations, and investigate the evolution of applications and practical experience in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

We invite you to visit MDPI’s booth to meet our representatives, explore our latest initiatives, and discuss potential collaborations. For more details about the conference, please visit the official website: https://sensors.huicekeji.com/En/.

We look forward to connecting with you in Chengdu!

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