Announcements

MDPI will attend the ISSCR 2025 Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, which will take place from 11 to 14 June 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibit Centre, Hong Kong, China.

Globally recognised for its exceptional scientific program featuring the most compelling advances in stem cell biology, new technologies, and clinical applications, the ISSCR Annual Meeting is a catalyst for new advances at each point in the discovery and clinical translation continuum. Nearly 4,000 leading scientists from academia and industry are invited to this gathering of stem cell and regenerative medicine scientists worldwide—the largest gathering of its kind. Engage with the world’s pre-eminent thought leaders in the field, connect with key industry stakeholders and executives, and forge impactful new partnerships.

MDPI is excited to participate in this prestigious event. We welcome you to visit MDPI’s booth, where you will be able to have face-to-face exchanges with our representatives, learn more about our open access publishing services, and receive gifts.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Biomedicines;
• Biomolecules;
• Cells;
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences;
• Current Issues in Molecular Biology;
• Organoids;
• Neurology International;
• Viruses;
• Emergency Care and Medicine.

If you plan to attend this event, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.isscr2025.org/.

Conference: Plant Biology Europe 2025

Organization: The Federation of the European Societies of Plant Biology (FESPB) and the Hungarian Society for Plant Biology

Date: 25–28 June 2025

Place: Budapest, Hungary

MDPI journals will be attending Plant Biology Europe 2025 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held at the Budapest Congress Center, Budapest, Hungary, from 25 to 28 June 2025.

The 24th Congress of FESPB will cover both traditional and emerging topics of plant biology across multiple disciplines and scales during the four-day program.

Among the many issues addressed during the meeting, particular emphasis will be placed on challenges caused by climate change since many of these are significant plant stress factors. We are convinced that plant science is green science, and our research can contribute significantly to solving the problems and mitigating the consequences of our changing environment, as well as helping adapt to it.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Agronomy;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Current Issues in Molecular Biology (CIMB);
• Horticulturae;
• Epigenomes;
• Genes;
• Proteomes;
• Antioxidants;
• J — Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal;
• Diversity;
• BioTech;
• Cells.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

MDPI journals will be attending the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology (ASV 2025) as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Montréal, Québec, Canada, from 14 to 17 July 2025.

The American Society for Virology’s annual meeting provides a forum with which to promote discussion and collaboration among scientists active in all aspects of virology. Attendees will have the chance to learn about virology, share their research, and network with other scientists.

This conference is hosted by McGill University at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The annual meeting usually attracts 1500–1800 national and international scientists for a program crafted from over 1000 participant-submitted abstracts, 20 invited symposium speakers, and 6 distinctive state-of-the-art speakers.  

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Viruses;
• Vaccines;
• Pathogens;
• CIMB;
• COVID;
• Life;
• J;
• Biomolecules;
• Aerobiology.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to 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 and our booth, please visit https://asv.org/asv2025/.

MDPI will attend the International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2025 (ViBioM2025) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 13 to 15 May 2025.

The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting (ViBioM) is a pioneering conference uniting leading scientists at the intersection of virology and bioinformatics, fostering collaboration and innovation in the study of viruses.

As we navigate the rapidly changing landscape of viruses and their impact on human health and the broader ecosystem, it has become increasingly essential for virologists and bioinformaticians to work together. ViBioM2025 provides a dynamic platform for the exchange of knowledge, cutting-edge research, and groundbreaking discoveries. It will offer an excellent opportunity to present and discuss your research, (re)connect with colleagues and friends, and establish new collaborations. Its mission is to create an environment where both experts and newcomers can engage in meaningful discussions and build lasting connections. 

The scientific program will cover a wide array of topics, ensuring a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Viruses;
• Pathogens;
• CIMB;
• COVID;
• J;
• Microorganisms;
• TropicalMed.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to 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 and our booth, please visit https://evbc.uni-jena.de/events/vibiom2025/.

Conference: ASM Microbe 2025
Date: 19–23 Jun 2025
Location: Los Angeles, USA

MDPI will be attending the ASM Microbe 2025 conference as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit us and share their latest ideas.

Established in 1899, ASM is the home for microbial scientists from around the globe to connect, learn, discover and prepare for the future. ASM and its over 37,000 members partner with global organizations to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. They connect with millions of experts and harness their science to serve humanity. From climate change and antimicrobial resistance to industrial, basic and applied microbiology, ASM is a leader in scientific publishing, stands for open science and advocates for evidence-based public policies.

The organizers have curated groundbreaking scientific sessions on topics that are shaping the future of humanity. From microbial solutions to global problems to artificial intelligence (AI) research, we have something for everyone.

The following is a list of just a few of the cutting-edge topics at the conference:

• Microbes in the wild;
• Early Career research;
• Innovative methods for discovery;
• Microbial chemistry;
• Microbes and human health from a basic science perspective;
• omics.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Microorganisms;
• JoF;
• Fermentation;
• MPs;
• J;
• Microbiology Research;
• Vaccines;
• Biology;
• Bacteria;
• CIMB;
• Antibiotics.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online 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 website: https://asm.org/Events/ASM-Microbe/Home.

The CIMB Editorial Office would like to warmly welcome Dr. Stuart Maudsley as the newly appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology” Section of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (CIMB, ISSN: 1467-3045).

Dr. Maudsley graduated from the University of Leeds with First Class Honors in Pharmacology and was awarded the Pfizer Prize for exceptional undergraduate research. He was awarded the Akroyd, Brotherton and Brown Scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. studies at Leeds. Following his successful studies, Dr. Maudsley received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship to train with Prof. Robert Lefkowitz, the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, at Duke University. Following his Fellowship, Dr. Maudsley was then recruited to be principal investigator of the “Receptor Biology” Section at the Medical Research Council’s Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the University of Edinburgh. Dr.  Maudsley was next recruited to be the Head of the Receptor Pharmacology Unit at the National Institutes of Health (NIH-NIA) at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Following his time at the NIH, Dr. Maudsley returned to Europe to serve as the Director of the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, Director of the Antwerp VIB Bioinformatics Section, and Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Antwerp. Following this successful period, Dr. Maudsley was recruited to the United States to serve as the Chief of the Receptor Biology Lab at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida. In addition, Dr. Maudsley is the Co-Founder of HeptOME, a groundbreaking drug discovery start-up.

His current research lab focusses on the development of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-based therapeutic strategies for multiple aging-related cancers, as well as other aging-associated conditions such as metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and neurodegenerative dementias. Dr. Maudsley has published 203 research articles and currently possesses an h-index of 73. Dr. Maudsley has presented his research in multiple continents and acts as a Senior Advisor to multiple governmental institutions in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Dr. Maudsley is a regular reviewer for many of the world’s top research publications, such as Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Cell, and Nature Medicine.

The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Stuart Maudsley, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about our journal that made you want to take on the role of Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology” Section?

The “Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology” Section is an interesting source of recent research articles that span an eclectic range of studies. In this respect, most general and even specifically focused readers can find something of interest in each edition.

2. Among your many professional roles, which do you find the most significant and fulfilling?

I think the most important role that I have is being a research mentor for the scientists of the next generation.

3. How do you maintain a balance between research commitments and personal life?

I try and make all of my time a symbiotic process between research and my personal life—they both need each other and flourish equally when there is harmony between them.

4. Scientific research can be a source of considerable stress, affecting not only graduate students but also their mentors. What advice do you have for managing stress in scientific research?

Managing stress in scientific research—especially in high-stakes fields like drug discovery and biotech startups—requires a mix of mental resilience, strategic planning, and self-care. Understanding that effective mental wellbeing is an important part of developing a more nuanced approach to maximizing creativity and productivity is important.

5. Could you discuss individuals or experiences that have significantly influenced your research career?

My doctoral mentor, Robert J. Lefkowitz (2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), is a genius with respect to his communication skills. He dedicated so much of his time to personal, one-on-one conversations. Nearly every day, he would engage with you about your work in a way that felt like you were the only person he had spoken to that day. His infectious enthusiasm not only fueled your own excitement but also reinforced the significance of your research, both for the lab and for the broader scientific community.

6. In your view, what are the essential components of a high-quality research paper? Is it primarily the result of groundbreaking research with substantial scientific merit, or does it hinge on well-conceived ideas and proficient writing?

The most important things that a research paper should focus on are innovation, impact, style, and message. In addition to these, I always enjoy reading articles that set the state of the art in science for years to come.

7. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?

The promotion of open access in scientific research is as important as the actual content of the research. Information should be shared and be available for augmented interaction, investigation, and further analysis.

8. What does the future of this field of research look like?

Understanding and effectively controlling (for therapeutic values) complex cellular biology may represent the next area of intense scientific growth for this century. I predict that the future will be strongly controlled by both synthetic biology and effectively leveraged quantum computing.

We wish him every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

Conference: The 13th Chinese National Conference on Chemical Biology
Date: 11–15 April 2025
Location: Changsha, China

MDPI will be attending the 13th Chinese National Conference on Chemical Biology as an exhibitor. The conference will be held from 11 to 15 April 2025. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The 13th Chinese National Conference on Chemical Biology (CNCCB 2025) is the largest and highest-caliber academic event in the field of chemical biology research in China, and an important gathering of scientific and technological workers who are engaged in research relating to chemical biology. The conference will focus on the recent achievements and progress made by Chinese chemical biology research and related disciplines, promote interdisciplinary exchange and innovation, and serve the national strategy of healthy China. The conference will invite recognized scholars from home and abroad to give presentations and is organized into eleven thematic sessions and four special forums to build a platform for academic exchange and the introduction of new talents in the field.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• IJMS;
• Proteomes;
• BioChem;
• CIMB;
• Biomolecules;
• Chemistry;
• Biomedicines;
• SynBio.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online 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 website: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/CNCCB2025/.

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

On 14 February 2025, MDPI hosted an informative and engaging Academic Publishing Essentials Workshop in collaboration with the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Publishing Manager, Dr. Colin Wee, and Head of Author Services, Mr. Kurtis Jackson, shared practical advice and tips on navigating the academic publishing process and discussed the benefits of open access publishing.

The session brought together researchers at various stages from the Dementia Research Centre at NTU. Assoc. Prof. Nagaendran Kandiah delivered the opening speech, highlighting the importance of academic writing skills, which are essential for structuring a research paper that resonates with readers.

The workshop covered the following key areas:

Introduction to MDPI and Open Access
Participants learned about the different open access models offered by MDPI and the advantages of open access publishing, including increased visibility and higher citation rates of published research.

How to Respond to Peer Reviewers
Tips on how to address reviewer feedback professionally were shared.

How to Write and Structure an Academic Paper
Participants gained insights into refining their writing skills, with a focus on structuring an academic paper to enhance clarity and brevity in presenting their research.

Publication Trends and Hot Topic Identification
Tips for identifying hot research topics and publication trends using Web of Science and a third-party application, VOSviewer, were discussed.
 
Q&A Session
The workshop concluded with a Q&A session addressing concerns about the perception that open access publishing is inferior to subscription-based models. In response, Dr. Colin Wee clarified the differences as follows: In subscription models, readers pay for access, while in open access, articles are free to readers, but the authors pay an article processing charge. He emphasised that open access publications often receive more views, downloads, and citations, thus benefiting researchers in the long term.

Equipping the Academic Community  
MDPI is dedicated to equipping the academic community with a deeper understanding of the publishing process and practical strategies to tackle common challenges. Positive feedback was received regarding the session, with many expressions of appreciation for the valuable tips on improving manuscripts for publication success.

Looking Forward
MDPI extends its gratitude to the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine for contributing to the success of the event, with special thanks to Assoc. Prof. Nagaendran Kandiah for making it possible.

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the academic community, MDPI looks forward to organising more events to assist researchers on their publishing journeys. Stay connected for updates on future Academic Publishing Essentials Workshop and other initiatives!

For those interested in collaborating through academic events, please feel free to reach out to us at marketing-singapore@mdpi.com or visit https://www.mdpi.com/offices/singapore/workshops for more information.

MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

• Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
• Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
• Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

• Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;

• Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
• Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.