Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

World Food Safety Day 2025  is a global initiative that highlights the importance of safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all. It raises awareness of the risks posed by unsafe food and the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food safety across every stage of the supply chain—from production to consumption. On this World Food Safety Day, let us come together to promote better food practices, strengthen food safety systems, and help build a healthier, more resilient global food supply for present and future generations.

We hope that you will join us in recognizing the importance of safe and nutritious food this World Food Safety Day on 7 June. The 2025 theme, “Food Safety: Science in Action,” highlights the need for robust food safety systems to prevent, detect, and respond to foodborne risks. Safe food is essential not only for good health but also for sustainable development, economic growth, and global food security. At MDPI, we are proud to support this mission through our open access journals, which provide a platform for sharing research, innovation, and best practices to ensure food safety from farm to fork.

“Food Insecurity across Age Groups in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic”
by Zhongqi Fan, Amy M. Yang, Marcus Lehr, Ana B. Ronan, Ryan B. Simpson, Kimberly H. Nguyen, Elena N. Naumova and Naglaa H. El-Abbadi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081078

“The Role of Fungi in Food Production and Processing”
by John Pouris, Foteini Kolyva, Spyridoula Bratakou, Chrysovalantou Argyro Vogiatzi, Dimitrios Chaniotis and Apostolos Beloukas
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 5046; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14125046

“Specific Personal Hygiene Procedures and Practices in Food Handlers—A Cross-Sectional Study in Butcher and Fishmonger Shops in Almada”
by Inês Oliveira, Miguel Almeida, João J. Ferreira Gomes and Ana Rita Henriques
Hygiene 2024, 4(2), 207-220; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4020017

“Next-Generation Probiotics as Novel Therapeutics for Improving Human Health: Current Trends and Future Perspectives”
by Mohamed E. Abouelela and Yosra A. Helmy
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030430

“Global Food Security and Sustainability Issues: The Road to 2030 from Nutrition and Sustainable Healthy Diets to Food Systems Change”
by Theodoros Varzakas and Slim Smaoui
Foods 2024, 13(2), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13020306

“Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) Method for Determination of Total Fluorine and Total Organic Fluorine in Packaging Substrates”
by Ma Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio, Greg W. Curtzwiler, Mark R. Early, Katie M. Updegraff and Keith L. Vorst
Methods Protoc. 2023, 6(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/mps6010010

“Research on Food Chemical Safety” Guest Editors: Dr. Efrén Pérez Santín and Dr. José Ignacio López Sánchez Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025	“Advanced in Safety Detection and Quality Control of Food” Guest Editors: Dr. Natalia Casado Navas, Prof. Dr. Isabel Sierra Alonso and Prof. Dr. Sonia Morante Zarcero Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025
“Consumer Behavior Research in Food: A Focus on Health, Safety, and Sustainability, 2nd Edition” Guest Editors: Dr. Pei Liu and Dr. Yee Ming Lee Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025	“Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics in Animal Nutrition and Health, and Food Safety” Guest Editor: Dr. María Esther Ortega-Cerrilla Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026

Conference: The 1st International Online Conference on Healthcare—The Future of Healthcare: Innovations and Trends
Date: 25–26 March 2026
Conference webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/IOCH2026

You are invited to join this virtual event organized by MDPI’s Healthcare (ISSN: 2227-9032; Impact Factor: 2.4), taking place from 25 to 26 March 2026.

Conference Chair: Prof. Dr. Lorraine S. Evangelista, University of California Irvine, California, USA.

The Topics of Interest:
S1. Digital Health Adoption and Innovation: A Vision for the Future of Healthcare;
S2. Patient-Centered Care—Optimizing Care Pathways through Engagement and Outcome Measurement;
S3. Connected Care—Leveraging Technology to Build an Integrated Care Ecosystem;
S4. Clinical Data Management—Balancing Transparency with Innovation for Enhanced Care Quality;
S5. Generative AI in Clinical Practice—Evidence-Based Evaluation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

Important Dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: 26 November 2025;
Notification of acceptance: 26 December 2025;
Deadline for registration: 20 March 2026.

Submit your abstract here.
Register for the conference here.

For any inquiries regarding the event, please contact ioch2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at IOCH2026.

Conference: 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Date: 14–18 July 2025
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

MDPI will be attending the 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society as an exhibitor, welcoming researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas.

The 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society will be jointly hosted by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS). The overarching conference theme, “Engineering Medicine, Innovating Healthcare”, underscores the pivotal role of interdisciplinary collaboration and new ways of driving transformative advancements in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

We cordially invite you to join us as we embark on a journey to revolutionize healthcare through innovation, AI, and technology integration. We look forward to seeing you in Copenhagen in July 2025!

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diagnostics;
• AI;
• BioMedInformatics;
• JCM;
• Biomimetics;
• Bioengineering;
• IJERPH;
• Diseases;
• Journal of Imaging;
• Sensors;
• Eng;
• Biosensors;
• MTI;
• Reports;
• Anatomia;
• Biomed;
• Surgical Techniques Development;
• Biotech;
• Signals;
• Tomography.

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, please visit https://embc.embs.org/2025/.

Conference: 30th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science - ECSS Rimini 2025
Date: 1–4 July 2025
Location: Rimini, Italy

MDPI will be attending the 30th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science - ECSS Rimini 2025 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The European College of Sport Science (ECSS) is a non-profit scientific organization devoted to the promotion and dissemination of multi-and interdisciplinary research in sport and exercise science. Founded in Nice, France in 1995, we have established ourselves as the leading sport science community in Europe, with a truly international demographic.

The universities of Bologna and Padova will collaborate closely with the ECSS Scientific Board to deliver an outstanding scientific program. This program will encompass recent advancements in muscle biology, physiology, and biophysics, as well as topics such as inactivity and aging, motor control, nutrition, physical activity and health, performance in extreme environments, exercise and sports medicine, psychology, and social sciences. In addition, applied sports sciences, including Olympic winter sports, motorsports, football, cycling, and other endurance sports, will also be addressed, along with the physical performance of military personnel. A particular emphasis will be placed on promoting a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach within sports science to break the barriers that often divide the biomedical and psychosocial sciences applied to sport and physical activity.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• JFMK;
• IJERPH;
• Sports;
• Psychology International;
• Antioxidants;
• Nutrients;
• Physiologia;
• J.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate 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, please visit the following website: https://www.sport-science.org/index.php/ecss-rimini-2025/welcome-to-rimini.

Conference: 34th International Congress—Science of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC 2025)
Date: 25–28 June 2025
Location: Alicante, Spain

We are pleased to announce that MDPI will participate in the 34th International Congress—Science of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC 2025), to be held in Alicante, Spain, from 25 to 28 June 2025.

The European Society for Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC) is the world’s premier society dedicated to paediatric and neonatal critical care medicine. It is one of the oldest and largest paediatric scientific societies in Europe, and the only one exclusively focused on critical care for the most seriously ill children—those affected by complex disorders requiring vital support, advanced techniques, and multidisciplinary emergency management.

MDPI is excited to participate in this prestigious event! Representing the journal of Children (ISSN: 2227-9067), Ms. Ivana Marković and Mr. Emil-Gabriel Nutu will be present at the MDPI exhibition stand, where they will warmly welcome all scholars to stop by and engage in insightful discussions. This event presents a unique opportunity for participants to interact with leading experts in the field and explore potential collaborations. Do not miss the chance to visit our stand and exchange ideas with the MDPI editors and other delegates!

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

• Neurology International;
• Reports;
• Paediatric Reports;
• Diagnostics;
• Children;
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health;
• Journal of Clinical Medicine;
• Nursing Reports;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Antibiotics;
• Neuroglia;
• Healthcare;
• Hygiene;
• Cardiogenetics;
• Advances in Respiratory Medicine;
• Journal of Respiration;
• Therapeutics;
• Nutrients;
• Emergency Care and Medicine;
• Surgical Techniques Development.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. We invite all conference attendees to visit MDPI’s booth and meet with our esteemed Editorial Board Members.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.mcascientificevents.eu/espnic/.

Conference: ESC Congress 2025
Date: 29 August–1 September 2025
Location: Madrid, Spain

We will be attending the ESC Congress 2025 together with the World Congress of Cardiology as an exhibitor. The event will take place in Madrid, Spain, from 29 August to 1 September 2025.

Organized by the European Society of Cardiology, the ESC Congress 2025 will focus on the theme “Cardiology Beyond Borders – Global Health”, highlighting the evolving role of cardiovascular disease within the broader global health landscape.

The following Open Access journals will be represented:

• JCM;
• JCDD;
• Healthcare;
• Biomedicines;
• Cardiogenetics;
• IJTM;
• Hearts;
• Medicina;
• IJERPH;
• Diseases;
• Genes;
• EJIHPE;
• JPM;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Tomography.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #B206 and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.escardio.org/Congresses-Events/ESC-Congress.

Conference: The National Nursing Forum
Date: 23–25 July 2025
Place: Canberra, Australia

We are excited to announce that MDPI will participate as an exhibitor at the National Nursing Forum, from 23 to 25 July 2025.

The National Nursing Forum (NNF) is the Australian College of Nursing’s signature annual leadership and educational event, bringing together nurses, students, and other health professionals from around the country and across the globe.

With the theme of Courage, Compassion, Connection – Empowering Nurses for the Future, this year’s forum will explore and highlight how nurses are shaping the future of healthcare. With a strong line-up of speakers, the forum sessions will focus on workforce, digital health, planetary health, and clinical innovations.

Attendees will enjoy a full and rich forum experience with face-to-face presentations and interactions with the nursing network, the opportunity to connect with valuable sponsors and exhibitors to learn about the latest products, and more.

The following MDPI journals will be presenting at the conference:

• Nursing Reports;
• Healthcare;
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health;
• Pediatric Reports;
• Emergency Care and Medicine;
• Hospitals;
• Geriatrics.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at Booth #15 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.acn.edu.au/events/national-nursing-forum.

Name: Dr. Diana Varaden
Affiliations: ¹ Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK; ² MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK; ³ NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
Research interests: air pollution exposure, participatory research, public engagement, risk perception and communication, and implementation science

“West London Healthy Home and Environment (WellHome) Study: Protocol for a Community-Based Study Investigating Exposures Across the Indoor-Outdoor Air Pollution Continuum in Urban Communities”
by Diana Varaden, Benjamin Barratt, Margaret J. Dallman, Adam Skillern, Munira S. Elmi, David C. Green, Anja H. Tremper, Michael Hedges, William Hicks, Max Priestman et al.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020249
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/2/249 

The following is a short interview with Dr. Diana Varaden: 

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
Thank you. I am a Lecturer in environmental social science and health in the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London. My background is multidisciplinary, spanning the fields of air pollution and social science. I am passionate about interdisciplinary research that bridges natural sciences, social sciences, and health, and particularly about creating opportunities for public participation in the research process. My research focuses on understanding the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities to inform more holistic and effective environmental and health interventions. Our recent publication presents a study protocol for a community-based project investigating exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution in urban settings, with a focus on households in West London that include children affected by asthma or allergies. 

2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
One major challenge in indoor air quality research is conducting studies in personal spaces like people's homes. This requires participants' full consent and engagement, which can be difficult to obtain given the private nature of domestic life. Behaviors indoors are shaped by a range of factors—social, economic, cultural, religious—which further complicates research design and data collection.
Additionally, public awareness around indoor air pollution remains low compared to outdoor pollution, which can reduce willingness to participate or recognize the importance of the issue. Overcoming this challenge requires clear communication and community trust. 

3. What motivated you to conduct this research?
I am deeply motivated by the need to address the interconnected challenges of air pollution, public health, and climate change. These issues must be considered together, rather than in isolation, if we are to design effective and sustainable policies. There is a pressing need to understand the sources and health impacts of indoor air pollution, particularly in the context of emerging climate mitigation strategies like retrofitting homes for energy efficiency. Research in this area should explore not only technical feasibility, but also economic viability and social acceptability in order to deliver lasting benefits. 

4. How do you evaluate the research trends in your field, and what would your advice be to early career scholars?
Research in this space is becoming increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary, as it needs to address complex, systemic, and interconnected issues. I would encourage young scholars to embrace interdisciplinary teams and actively engage the communities they aim to serve—not only as study participants but as contributors to research design and implementation. Incorporating lived experiences into research methodologies allows for the creation of more grounded and actionable solutions. This approach is crucial for developing interventions that are truly community-centered and capable of making a meaningful impact.