Announcements

We are pleased to present an interview with Dr. Fernando Munoz, a valued contributor to Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729) since 2023. As a Guest Editor for multiple Special Issues and an Editor for Special Issue reprints, Dr. Munoz has actively contributed to the journal’s academic community. In this interview, he will share his perspectives on Special Issue development, his research interests, and the experiences that have shaped his academic career.

Dr. Fernando Munoz’s related Special Issues:

• “Evolution of Treatments of Prostate Cancer: From Biology to Current Advanced Technologies”;
• “The Evolving Landscape of Precision Medicine in Radiation Oncology”.

The following is an interview with Dr. Fernando Munoz:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research interests?
I am a radiation oncologist with extensive clinical experience, with a particular interest in genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and head and neck malignancies.
Although I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain, following the completion of my specialization in radiation oncology, I moved to northern Italy for personal reasons and have since built my entire professional career in Turin. Over the years, Turin has become both my professional and personal home, where I have developed my clinical expertise and continued to grow as a radiation oncologist.

2. Could you share your experience as a Guest Editor for Current Oncology? What was your overall experience in organizing and coordinating the Special Issue?
My experience as a Guest Editor for Current Oncology was excellent throughout the entire process. I found the experience both rewarding and professionally enriching.
I would particularly like to acknowledge the support of the Special Issue Editor, who accompanied and guided me throughout the process. She was precise, meticulous, demanding, and highly knowledgeable, and I truly appreciated these qualities. I believe these are exactly the characteristics we need when undertaking a project of this kind, as they help maintain high standards and ensure that every aspect of the process is handled carefully and efficiently.
As clinicians, our demanding daily commitments can sometimes lead us to postpone or delay responses, despite our best intentions. Having someone who is attentive, organized, and persistent in following up is therefore extremely valuable. The Editor’s professionalism and dedication were instrumental in keeping the process on track, and I am very grateful for her support throughout the entire Special Issue.

3. Following the publication of the first Special Issue Reprints, are there any emerging areas or frontier topics that you believe deserve more attention in future research and Special Issues?
I do not believe that there are any specific emerging areas that stand out at this stage. Rather, I believe that precision medicine in oncology will be the major driving force for the future of cancer care. It will guide and increasingly personalize our diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, opening the door to more individualized treatment strategies and, ultimately, to truly personalized cancer care across the field of oncology.

4. In your view, what are the most important characteristics of a high-quality manuscript?
In my view, a high-quality manuscript should first and foremost address a clear, relevant, and scientifically meaningful question. From a reviewer’s perspective, scientific rigor is essential: the study design should be appropriate to the research question, the methodology should be robust and transparently described, and the statistical analysis should be sound and appropriate.
I also consider originality and added value to be important, although novelty should not come at the expense of methodological quality. Equally important is the consistency between the study objectives, the results, and the conclusions. Authors should interpret their findings critically and avoid conclusions that go beyond what the data can actually support.
Finally, I believe that a strong manuscript should clearly acknowledge its limitations and potential sources of bias, while presenting the findings in a clear and simple way, as well as in a balanced, and clinically meaningful way. In oncology in particular, the ultimate value of a manuscript lies in its ability to contribute to a better understanding of disease and, whenever possible, to improve or inform clinical practice and future research.

5. As a Guest Editor, what advice would you give to authors preparing to submit their work to your Special Issue?
My advice to authors preparing to submit their work to a Special Issue would be to focus first and foremost on the scientific quality and clinical relevance of their research. A strong manuscript should address a clear and meaningful question, be supported by a rigorous methodology, and provide results that genuinely add something to the existing literature.
I would also encourage authors to present their work in a clear and balanced manner, ensuring that the conclusions are fully supported by the data and that the limitations of the study are openly discussed. In my experience as a reviewer and Guest Editor, transparency and methodological rigor are just as important as novelty.
Finally, I would encourage authors to carefully consider the existing literature and clearly explain how their work contributes to the field. A Special Issue is an opportunity not only to present new findings, but also to stimulate discussion and provide insights that may be useful for future research and, ultimately, for clinical practice.

6. What advice would you give to researchers who are interested in serving as Guest Editors and contributing to academic publishing?
I would encourage young researchers to actively engage with the scientific community and to make themselves visible through the quality of their work. Serving as a Guest Editor is a valuable opportunity to develop scientific leadership, build collaborations, and contribute to the advancement of the field.
My advice is to be proactive: publish high-quality research, participate in peer review, attend scientific meetings, collaborate internationally, and do not hesitate to accept responsibilities that allow you to demonstrate your expertise. Visibility in academia is built progressively through credibility, consistency, and a genuine willingness to contribute.
Above all, young researchers should remember that academic recognition follows from the quality and impact of their contribution to the scientific community.

7. Outside of your busy research work, how do you maintain a healthy work–life balance?
I try to maintain a balance between my professional and personal life—which is not always easy. Whenever possible, I enjoy traveling and staying active through sport. I also make time for reading and for maintaining a rich social life, as I believe that continuing to learn and engaging with people and different cultures are important not only for personal well-being, but also for maintaining an open and creative perspective in my professional life.

8. How do you view the development of open access publishing in the academic community? What opportunities and challenges do you think open access brings to researchers and the scientific publishing landscape?
I believe that the major advantage of open access publishing is that it provides students, young physicians, and early-career researchers with immediate and easy access to scientific knowledge. This can significantly facilitate education, collaboration, and the dissemination of research.
The main challenge, however, is the financial burden associated with publication. Researchers do not always have sufficient support from their universities or academic institutions, particularly now in Europe, and research funding and institutional resources are becoming increasingly limited. In my view, this represents one of the most important challenges facing the open access model today.

We sincerely thank Dr. Fernando Munoz for sharing his valuable insights and experiences with us. We hope that this interview will provide readers with a deeper understanding of Special Issue development, research trends, and the experiences of scholars contributing to the advancement of prostate cancer research.