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 Asthma Day is held on the first Tuesday in May, aiming to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993. In celebration of World Asthma Day 2025, GINA has chosen the theme “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for All”. GINA emphasizes the need to ensure that people with asthma can access inhaled medications that are essential both for controlling the underlying disease and treating attacks.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases that affects over 260 million people and is responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year worldwide. Most of these deaths are preventable. Inhaled corticosteroid-containing medications prevent asthma attacks by treating the underlying inflammation that causes asthma. Doctors and allied health care professionals are called upon to ensure that every person with asthma is prescribed evidence-based, essential, inhaled corticosteroid-containing medication in addition to (or in combination with) reliever medication, to prevent the continuing but avoidable morbidity and mortality from asthma.

In celebration of this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including human diseases and conditions, human nutrition, children’s health, and personalized medicine. By sharing these findings, we hope to call on everyone to increase our efforts in managing asthma to reduce and prevent attacks.

“Burden and Economic Impact of Respiratory Viral Infections in Adults Aged 60 and Older: A Focus on RSV”
by Adrián Peláez, Sara Jimeno Ruiz, Mercedes Villarreal, Manuel Gil, Inés Gutiérrez, Marta Sanz and Silvina Natalini Martínez
Diseases 2025, 13(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13020035

“Long-Term Greenness Effects of Urban Forests to Reduce PM10 Concentration: Does the Impact Benefit the Population Vulnerable to Asthma?”
by Jinsuk Jeong, Chaewan Kim, Sumin Choi, Hong-Duck Sou and Chan-Ryul Park
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020167

“Sinonasal Outcomes Obtained after 2 Years of Treatment with Benralizumab in Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma and CRSwNP: A “Real-Life” Observational Study”
by Eugenio De Corso, Dario Antonio Mele, Angela Rizzi, Camilla Spanu, Marco Corbò, Serena Pisciottano, Rodolfo Francesco Mastrapasqua, Silvia Baroni, Davide Paolo Porru, Gabriele De Maio et al.
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(9), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14091014

“Current Challenges in Pediatric Asthma”
by Andrija Miculinić, Iva Mrkić Kobal, Tin Kušan, Mirjana Turkalj and Davor Plavec
Children 2024, 11(6), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060632

“Prediction of Asthma Exacerbations in Children”
by Evangelia Sarikloglou, Sotirios Fouzas and Emmanouil Paraskakis
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14010020

“Characterization and Factors Associated with Poor Asthma Control in Adults with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma”
by Clara Padró-Casas, María Basagaña, María Luisa Rivera-Ortún, Ignasi García-Olivé, Carlos Pollan-Guisasola, Aina Teniente-Serra, Eva Martínez-Cáceres, José-Tomás Navarro, Jorge Abad-Capa, Antoni Rosell et al.
J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13(7), 1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13071173

“Association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Related to Vitamin D Metabolism and the Risk of Developing Asthma”
by Susana Rojo-Tolosa, Laura Elena Pineda-Lancheros, José María Gálvez-Navas, José Antonio Sánchez-Martínez, María Victoria González-Gutiérrez, Andrea Fernández-Alonso, Concepción Morales-García, Alberto Jiménez-Morales and Cristina Pérez-Ramírez
Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040823

“Racial Disparities and Common Respiratory Infectious Diseases in Children of the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
by Elizabeth A. K. Jones, Amal K. Mitra and Shelia Malone
Diseases 2023, 11(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases11010023

“Microbiome and Asthma: Microbial Dysbiosis and the Origins, Phenotypes, Persistence, and Severity of Asthma”
by José Valverde-Molina and Luis García-Marcos
Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030486

“Effect of Disease Severity, Age of Child, and Clinic No-Shows on Unscheduled Healthcare Use for Childhood Asthma at an Academic Medical Center”
by Pavani Rangachari, Imran Parvez, Audrey-Ann LaFontaine, Christopher Mejias, Fahim Thawer, Jie Chen, Niharika Pathak and Renuka Mehta
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021508

“Pulmonary Function in Children with Respiratory Symptoms” Guest Editors: Dr. Paraschiva Cherecheș-Panța and Prof. Dr. Sorin Claudiu Man Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2025	“Mechanisms of Airway Inflammation in Asthma” Guest Editor: Dr. Kathleen Haley Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

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

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed annually on 28 April, is a global initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote safe and healthy working environments. This day emphasizes the importance of preventing workplace accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases by encouraging strong safety policies, risk management, and adherence to international labor standards. It serves as a reminder that workplace safety is a fundamental right and highlights the need for global collaboration between governments, employers, and workers to create sustainable and secure working conditions. By raising awareness and fostering a culture of prevention, this day helps reduce workplace hazards, enhance productivity, and protect workers' well-being worldwide.

We invite you to explore our selected articles, Special Issues and journals which span fields such as occupational health and workplace psychology, medical and healthcare research, public and environmental health, psychology and well-being, biotechnology and health sciences and occupational safety and risk management.

“Harnessing Gut Microbiota for Biomimetic in Innovations in Health and Biotechnology”
by Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco and Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez
Biomimetics 2025, 10(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10020073

“Lost Work Due to Burn-Related Disability in a US Working Population”
by Jacob M. Dougherty, Hannan A. Maqsood, Christopher J. Rittle, Eva S. Blake, Zhaohui Fan, Bryant W. Oliphant, Mark R. Hemmila and Naveen F. Sangji
Eur. Burn J. 2024, 5(4), 464-473; https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj5040041

“Understanding the Second Victim Phenomenon Among Healthcare Workers in an Italian Hospital”
by Raffaella Sedile, Antonella Zizza, Luca Bastiani, Eugenia Carluccio, Marinella Marrazzi, Tommaso Bellandi and Giorgio O. Spagnolo
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(12), 3073-3086; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14120201

“Characterising the Chemical Composition of Bushfire Smoke and Implications for Firefighter Exposure in Western Australia”
by Kiam Padamsey, Adelle Liebenberg, Ruth Wallace and Jacques Oosthuizen
Fire 2024, 7(11), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7110388

“Working Conditions for Burns Resident Doctors—Better Now than Ever?”
by Grant Coleman, Toby Austin, James F. Forrest and Sarah E. Bache
Eur. Burn J. 2024, 5(4), 309-320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj5040029

“Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study”
by Muinat Abolore Idris, Christine Markham, Kristina D. Mena and William B. Perkison
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091255

“Imbalance between Employees and the Organisational Context: A Catalyst for Workplace Bullying Behaviours in Both Targets and Perpetrators”
by Gülüm Özer and Jordi Escartín
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090751

“Occupational Health, Psychosocial Risks and Prevention Factors in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Other Populations: A Narrative Review”
by António Oliveira, Henrique Pereira and Felipe Alckmin-Carvalh
Societies 2024, 14(8), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14080136

“Assessing the Relationship between Physical Activity and Depression in Lawyers and Law Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study”
by Chapman Cox, Matthew S. These and Joseph A. Allen
Merits 2024, 4(3), 238-250; https://doi.org/10.3390/merits4030017

“Unlocking the Transformative Potential of Outdoor Office Work—A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study”
by Charlotte Petersson Troije, Ebba Lisberg Jensen, David Redmalm and Lena Wiklund Gustin
Challenges 2024, 15(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe15020025

“Association between Workplace Bullying, Job Stress, and Professional Quality of Life in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
by Petros Galanis, Ioannis Moisoglou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa and Maria Mastrogianni
Healthcare 2024, 12(6), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060623

“Life Satisfaction, Courage, and Career Adaptability in a Group of Italian Workers”
by Sara Santilli, Isabella Valbusa, Barbara Rinaldi and Maria Cristina Ginevra
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13020106

“COVID-19’s Impact on Medical Staff Wellbeing: Investigating Trauma and Resilience in a Longitudinal Study—Are Doctors Truly Less Vulnerable Than Nurses?”
by Joseph Mendlovic, Idan Haklay, Roxanne Elliott and Mooli Lahad
Trauma Care 2023, 3(3), 185-201; https://doi.org/10.3390/traumacare3030018

“Job Satisfaction and Mental Health of Workers: Second Edition” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Vincenza Capone Submission deadline: 31 January 2026	“Job Stress and Burnout: Emerging Issues in Today’s Workplace” Guest Editors: Dr. Adrian Garcia Selva and Prof. Dr. Beatriz Martin del Rio Submission deadline: 31 December 2025
“Workplace Health and Wellbeing” Guest Editor: Dr. Abigail Morris Submission deadline: 10 October 2025	“Industrial Fires and Explosions: Risk Assessment, Prevention, Detection, Mitigation and Impact” Guest Editors: Dr. Tomasz Jarosz and Dr. Agnieszka Stolarczyk Submission deadline: 30 September 2025
“Recent Advances in Wearable Bioelectronics in Healthcare/Medical Devices”	“Occupational Health and Prevention of Work-Related Diseases”
“Organizational Strategies to Combat Workplace Bullying and Foster Inclusion”	“Positive Resources to Promote Well Being in Educational and Work Contexts and in Career Trajectories”

Name: Dr. Nicole Redvers
Affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 2M1, Canada
Research interests: Indigenous health; planetary health; education for sustainable healthcare; Indigenous knowledge translation and exchange; Indigenous research methodologies

“Measuring Wellness Through Indigenous Partnerships: A Scoping Review”
by Lynn Mad Plume, Danya Carroll, Melanie Nadeau and Nicole Redvers
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010043
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/1/43

The following is a short interview with Dr. Nicole Redvers:

1. Congratulations on your published paper. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Nicole Redvers. I am an associate professor, Western research chair, and director of Indigenous Planetary Health at Western University. I am also a member of the Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation, located within the subarctic region of Canada.

2. Was there a specific experience or event in your research career that led you to focus on your current field of research?
Originally, I started as a clinician working in Northern Canada. This is the region where I am from and it is made up of a majority of Indigenous Peoples.
So, the health inequities and the structural barriers to being able to access good healthcare and the dissonance between Western or Euro-Western-centric viewpoints of health and well-being and Indigenous viewpoints are very important. Those who are not working together in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to bridge the gap in the health system often end up dominating health systems and deciding what is best for Indigenous Peoples without their input. Because of that, I decided I needed to start making more of a move to work on some of the structural drivers that are precipitating the problem. You can only do so much in a clinical exam room. It is very difficult when there are not many folks out there who are working on the structural element side, so I decided to make the move to the university and participate more fully in some of the research endeavors around Indigenous health, both on Indigenous Peoples’ health but also on the health of their lands and planet and how that impacts their wellbeing. This creates more of a knowledge translation process for non-Indigenous researchers, policymakers, and clinicians around concepts of Indigenous wellness. My work relates to everything from traditional medicine to planetary health.

3. What difficulties have you encountered in your scientific research? How did you overcome them?
There are certainly a few big challenges. Number one—there is not a lot of awareness from funding agencies around Indigenous health issues, so they tend not to get as many funding opportunities compared to other scientific research streams. Number two—it is more challenging to work in research environments where you sometimes have to spend months creating relationships and making sure that research is co-developed, co-partnered and co-defined all the way through to implementation, as well as journal writing. Many research articles I write are almost always inclusive of the majority of Indigenous authors, community-based authors, and some students too. Comparatively, to apply for a grant, these are not authorship requirements, which increases efforts to secure funding.
It is also a big investment to ensure a successful process and it can take a lot more time than standard research projects. Sometimes, the structures that are upheld within standard research do not allow for that kind of flexibility when working within communities. These are the biggest challenges.

4. What advice do you have for young scholars determined to engage in scientific research?
For Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous young scholars, do not be afraid to utilize Indigenous approaches and Indigenous methodologies, even within the current scientific frameworks that exist. This knowledge is valid and important to highlight. For non-Indigenous scholars wanting to work within Indigenous issues, I think there needs to be a bit more delicacy in ensuring that there is clear positionality. You need to have a clear purpose for why somebody wants to engage with that work and ensure that Indigenous Peoples in these projects are involved right from the start to completion. This kind of work cannot be an independent research career. It always has to be a co-partnership with Indigenous Peoples in their communities at every stage of the research process.

5. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts authors?
For my work, it is incredibly important to be open access. If I am publishing research around Indigenous Peoples, who are one of the most marginalized populations in the world, and that research is behind expensive paywalls that the community or community groups cannot access, that is a major problem. On that ground, I am not doing anything to help them. So, ensuring that Indigenous Peoples’ communities, nations, governments, and policymakers can access the work is incredibly important for me. It is also a responsibility in some sense. If it cannot be mobilized and used by those who need it on the ground, it defeats the purpose.

6. How has your publishing experience been with IJERPH?
My experience has been good. I think in general there has been a decrease in journal processing times, but that has not been my experience with this journal. It has an overall speedy process, considering some of the timelines other journals have for their review process. I wonder how IJERPH manages to stay so fast while other journals seem to be struggling.

Name: Dr. Melba Sheila D’Souza
Affiliation: Nursing and Population Health, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
Research interests: psychosocial oncology; supportive care; early survivorship; transitions care; digital health

“Culturally Sensitive Approaches in Psychosocial Interventions to Enhance Well-Being of Immigrant Adults Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review”
by Melba Sheila D’Souza*, Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, Arsh Sharma and Ashwin Nairy
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030335
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/3/335

The following is a short interview with Dr. Melba Sheila D’Souza:

1. Congratulations on your published paper. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic to our readers?

I’m Melba D’Souza and I'm an educator, researcher, and practitioner known for my ability to drive change through collaborative research in British Columbia. My main research is focused on research informing practice and bridging gaps that we have in academia and practice environments. My work prioritizes equipping nursing students with evidence-based, compassionate decision-making skills for multidisciplinary care environments. I’m recognized for advancing value-based, trauma-informed practices that foster inclusivity, justice, and cultural competency, particularly in supportive care, early survivorship, and culturally sensitive education.

In 2022, I established the cancer navigation and reported outcomes project specifically for people diagnosed with breast cancer in rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. This project utilizes digital health innovations and culturally sensitive approaches as part of psychosocial interventions, specifically for immigrant and refugee adults who are diagnosed with breast cancer—which is not well-researched. The goal of a culturally sensitive approach is to address these core vulnerabilities for up to a year, offering professional navigation and survivorship care.

Our recent study in this paper focuses on adults about 18 years old and newly diagnosed with breast cancer, where there is very little research on culturally sensitive approaches. Our research addresses a gap in healthcare research and policies by examining culturally sensitive approaches to psychosocial, emotional, and mental health interventions for immigrant adults diagnosed with breast cancer. The main aim of the authors was to provide valuable insights into the development and evaluation of culturally supportive and survivorship models of care, especially in terms of working through health inequalities and barriers of care in rural and remote communities and the impact of cultural stigma and the fear due to deferring access and availability of resources in rural communities. This project synthesizes and mobilizes knowledge to support risk reduction for cancer and the recurrence of cancer. It also looks at the care with the quality of life for people with cancer, as well as health promotion and the prevention of cancer and psychosocial support for the well-being of the person, the caregiver, and healthcare providers.

Our main purpose of the systematic review was to more intensively examine culturally sensitive approaches in psychosocial interventions to narrow the gaps that exist in our priorities, and co-creating priorities that are better in implementation science and open science to advance cancer supportive care and early survivorship in Canada.

2. Was there a specific experience or event in your research career that led you to focus on your current field of research?

I have published in several high-impact journals on implementation science and interdisciplinary healthcare journals on cancer survivorship and psychosocial well-being. I was recently awarded a Canadian Institute of Health Research grant, a Social Science Humanities Research grant, and a Breast Cancer Canada grant. I think that is one of the leading breakthroughs when you look at digital health innovations in psychosocial oncology and transitions in care and co-creating a community-based supportive and survivorship model of care through the lens of an integrated community navigation network in rural and remote communities in British Columbia. This has led me to look at what are the contextual psychosocial issues that are faced by Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, and senior people living in these rural and remote areas. There are barriers that immigrant and refugee people face when they access care, and some of them could be related to cross-cultural communication, language barriers, limited health literacy, and the cultural stigma and fear surrounding cancer and the growing evidence of mental health diagnosis with emerging health issues, and people struggle when they navigate the complex healthcare system, leading to gaps in receiving timely and adequate professional psychosocial supports. That has led me to look at the emphasis we could place on creating and evaluating more effective approaches in psychosocial oncology care, incorporating culturally relevant practices, such as language support groups, and culturally specific coping strategies, such as socio-cultural and traditional practices, which have shown promise in improving emotional well-being, mental health and reducing isolation and fear of the unknown. Interdisciplinary approaches that combine counseling, mentorship, and navigation services through integrated supportive and survivorship models of care are emerging as effective strategies to address the multifaceted needs of immigrants in rural communities. One is in addressing the needs of immigrant and refugee people who are dealing with cancer, and the second is with digital health innovations for people who are hesitant to speak or to ask for help due to reduced access, stigma, embarrassment, and the logistic challenges they face with deciding treatment options that are best for them in the communities that they live and thrive in.

3. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations encountered in your current research?

I think some of the struggles that we face in our current research is that when we look at studies that address the psychosocial well-being of immigrant adults, very few studies talk about the angle of social justice, access, equity, diversity, or inclusiveness of creating a living library of people's voices in what their preferences and needs are and what they identify as priorities in their new diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and transitions in care.

The second thing I think we face when we look at the breakthrough is looking at very specific barriers, such as the financial impact, economic burden, the language that they speak, and also the professional mentors, tailored education, and peer support groups that they have, especially for those living in very rural and remote communities and the immigrants and refugees who come through here.

Associated with that, with the caregiver, the care partner, or the care provider—or even their children and family members—there are a lot of changes that are faced through this. One of the breakthroughs that I think is important to see is cancer-supportive care and early survivorship models of care in Canada, and the effectiveness and the efficacy of that, whatever the phase, the diagnosis, or the pathological reports that they have. One of the models of care was looking at integrated community support and survivorship, models of care that can incorporate different multidisciplinary team members through an integrated community navigation network to look at different approaches in very specific supportive counseling, psychosocial support, and distress management for strengthening emotional, social, and practical aspects of life.

4. Does technological progress provide new opportunities for the topic you are researching? Does it bring any potential risks? How do you think these factors will affect future research trends on this topic?

Digital health and technological innovations have had a very big impact on the lives of people and progressive society today. It creates that significant contribution to empowering lives and thus leads to speaking up for a better quality of life. I think one thing for advancing science and research, and for me, through digital innovations, is knowledge translation in action, and I think it's about that growing body of contextual evidence-informed knowledge and practice in nursing and keeping pace with that, with the current trends and advancements in oncology nursing practice. So, for example, as I said, I lead in the cancer navigation and reported outcomes project, and with digital health innovations, it's sometimes making that continuous effort to contribute to enhancing psychosocial oncology and cancer-supportive care in early diagnosis and survivorship and transitions in care, with the focus on underserved and underrepresented populations that play a key role, especially here, when you look at newer models of care, which will happen with the quantum leap of artificial intelligence-assisted cancer care in a smart technology-driven virtual platform in the post-COVID-19 era.

When you look at digital health innovations, it helps planners, decision-makers, and policymakers also look at creating that digital literacy environment of cancer-supportive care and early survivorship; it informs praxis, open education, open access, open tech, synthesizing the research aspects into beneficiary, revolutionary, future innovations and creating that technology that can close the gap between education and practice and advance research applications to be able to translate its impetus to the people in action.

5. What appealed to you about the IJERPH journal that made you want to submit your paper? In your opinion, what can authors expect when they submit to IJERPH?

Publishing in IJERPH aligned with our article’s focus on sociocultural, environmental, and psychosocial aspects of the experiences of breast cancer in immigrant populations. I think the one important aspect to know is the context of our systematic review to inform education and practice through environmental research and public health. Choosing this journal because it has an expedited review and publication process and a model of open access, which truly speaks to wider accessibility for authors and scholars in this work. It covers a wide range of relevant topics related to our work, whether it be equity, diversity, inclusiveness, social justice in cancer care, social determinants of health, culture, and environment, and the emphasis on preventive and promotion models of care, which we should talk about in cancer care, cancer control, and quality surveillance, and this aligns very well with the interdisciplinary team members who worked on this project.

Another reason is that there was no restriction on the length of the paper, which allowed us to provide very comprehensive detail on conducting the systematic review, methodologies, tools, critical appraisals, data transformation, and the quality of the review.

We decided to publish here also because of the rapid dissemination and mobilization of knowledge, which we need in this fast-paced oncology field because there is growing innovation and groundbreaking research. IJERPH took multiple rigorous peer reviews, very few weeks to be able to publish it, and very professional conduct throughout the process, and I was very impressed with the genuine efforts of the editorial and review team members.

So, looking at my experience and the process here, it's very positive and has paved the way forward for the implementation of science and research. I think there was a robust, academic, and rigorous scientific process. The critical reviews we received were very objective and subject-oriented to the scientific methodologies and approaches. It was helpful, the journal and the authors went back and forth for revisions, and I appreciated the commitment they had to pushing us to produce the most critically thoughtful and analytical manuscript possible.

This exceptional interview is a very good example of sustaining in publishing; here,  I would say I plan to make submissions to the MDPI database and the journals in the future because of the positive experiences we have had thus far.

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2025. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have delivered consistently exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to recent surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

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

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2025. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and will introduce them here.

Q1:

• Name: Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad
  Affiliation: Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  “I want to keep reviewing for IJERPH; it's an incredible platform that provides me with a great chance to engage with outstanding research worldwide while also serving as a wonderful learning opportunity.”

• Name: Dr. Jia Sun
  Affiliation: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York, NY, USA
  “Reviewing for IJERPH is a rewarding way to support rigorous science, stay current with emerging research, and contribute to advancing public and environmental health knowledge.”

• Name: Dr. Florence Mei Fung Wong
  Affiliation: Tung Wah College, Homantin, Hong Kong

• Name: Dr. Cameron Davidson
  Affiliation: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA

• Name: Dr. Eric Schussler
  Affiliation: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

• Name: Dr. Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho
  Affiliation: University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

Name: Prof. Dr. Stephen H. Linder
Affiliation: Institute for Health Policy, Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, USA
Interests: health policy; environmental policy; cumulative risk; community-based environmental assessment; policy design

The following is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Stephen H. Linder:

1. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic to our readers?
I am a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston at their School of Public Health, also known as UT Health Houston School of Public Health, and I’ve been here since the 80s. It’s been an exciting and gratifying place to work, especially through the COVID-19 years. More recently, it’s been an engaging time for a researcher to be able to contribute to public health by directly working through and with local authorities for technical assistance and data analysis. The work I do is in the Department of Management Policy and Community Health. I teach courses on research methodology, ethics, and policy, and include a policy emphasis in all of my teaching. Much of the work I do is with my graduate students. We prepare them for positions in nonprofit and governmental organizations that focus on public health or are related in some way to the helping professions. We prepare them for academic careers, as well as commercial careers in the health sector more generally.

2. As a reviewer, how do you balance the encouragement of research innovation with the strict requirements for method reliability? Can you give an example?
I spend a lot of time trying to craft comments that include constructive suggestions rather than limitations. In fact, I rarely talk about limitations directly unless it’s coupled with what I think a remedy would be, and offer that to the authors. They are in the more exposed position, having their work peer-reviewed.

I have had my peer-reviewed work come back needing remediation, and I know how the process works after a number of years.  So I really try to cultivate a positive kind of orientation in the reviews and offer as constructive a set of suggestions as I can make. Usually, I number them so they’re clear and have no run-on narratives. I like to give them what’s basically a checklist of things they need to attend to in their next round.

3. In addition to "error correction", what unique value do you think excellent peer review can provide to the academic community?
Generally, in the areas that I cover, two potential weaknesses may need strengthening in manuscripts. One is that they may have difficulty with the logic, because they’ve tried to fit too much in, and so there is a drift away from the central issues. Being very careful with the logic and sequence in the discussion, and how it is presented as an argument are critical features that I look for first. Besides the logic, other patterns that I see in need of critical assessment are details in reporting that have been overlooked or omitted.

Typically, then, my reviews will have two kinds of comments: One comment is about the logic and addressing a core set of claims, trimming away the unnecessary information, and focusing on the paper’s main argument. The second set of claims will have to do with areas where more information is needed, such as when something was underreported. Whether it’s a justification for a particular method, the selection of a variable, or the creation of an indicator—we need to know about that process and the reasons behind it.  By and large, the revisions requested will be of those two kinds.

4. For submissions from non-English speaking researchers, what factors that may affect the quality of scientific expression will you pay special attention to?
There are a few things I’ve noticed. I review a lot of manuscripts from Chinese investigators, and translation into English may be difficult. This can include the use, or coining, of new expressions that don’t have a direct parallel in English. Maybe a technical term will have an ending added to it in translation. Although it’s not a proper English word, it expresses something important not to miss. I try to figure out what that is and then suggest word substitutes that might be made with only a minor correction.

The other practice that I see is the omission of definite/indefinite articles and prepositions which help make English flow. I’ll find some nouns and verbs that have no linkage, or no prepositions, etc. However,  these can usually be deciphered, so the authors can have some suggestions.

I haven’t found that either of these minor translation imperfections impinge on the scientific quality of the research. That would usually be a function of other kinds of factors, such as research design, the data used as evidence, and the questions that they’re trying to answer. I haven’t had a problem with any of the submissions that have come in more recently. The exception is when the manuscript doesn’t meet the threshold for publication or revision. Those are generally pieces that represent research fragments that can’t stand on their own. Either it is an incomplete treatment of data, or the data themselves are just inadequate for the kinds of questions that are being asked. Those generally get rejected out of hand. But, it is not so much the quality as it is the fragmentary nature of the piece that leads to an outright rejection.

5. In your research career, is there an experience in which the review opinions promoted research breakthroughs?
I can think of at least two kinds of suggestions that were made. One was a framing suggestion. I hadn’t made the association with another field of research that was highly relevant and the suggestion of reframing made a significant difference.

I have also had suggestions regarding references that were in a related field that I was unaware of that made a difference in the direction that I pursued. Both of those had a positive impact on my research.

Throughout the first quarter of 2025, research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) was featured over 167 times in news articles published by reputable media sources, such as U.S. News, New York Post, National Geographic, Forbes, and BBC News.

Learn more about this research below.

“”Children are attracted to fast-paced, stimulating violent content, which often features appealing characters like superheroes who commit and are rewarded for aggressive acts, thus increasing the likelihood of exposure”, the researchers wrote in their paper, which appears in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.”
U.S. News—“TV Violence Linked To Aggression In Teenage Boys”
IJERPH—“Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls“
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/1/129

“Focusing on the hip flexors is crucial to maintaining mobility in our golden years. A 2021 analysis found that stretching and strengthening the hip flexors positively affects the joints, ligaments and muscles around the hip, improving balance and reducing lower back pain.”
New York Post—“These 4 simple movements can help with hip pain, according to a physical therapist.”
IJERPH—“The Influence of Stretching the Hip Flexor Muscles on Performance Parameters. A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1936

“All cooking involves heat that generates a large amount of indoor pollutants. Gas stoves are especially problematic, because they release nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde that affect a person’s airways. Nearly 13 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. have been linked to gas stoves; in some states, like Illinois and California, the figure is closer to 20 percent. ”
National Geographic—“Winter brings more air pollution inside. Here’s how to minimize your risks”
IJERPH—“Population Attributable Fraction of Gas Stoves and Childhood Asthma in the United States”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/75

“A 2022 review found that prolonged stress and burnout significantly increase anxiety and depression, with burnout rates reaching 74% in high-pressure environments. While focused on teachers, the study reflects a larger issue—the relentless pressure to keep up takes a toll on mental and physical health. At its core, time sickness is the overwhelming sense that life is slipping away in a race you can never win.”
Forbes—“3 Ways To Fight ‘Time Sickness’—By A Psychologist”
IJERPH—“Stress, Burnout, Anxiety and Depression among Teachers: A Scoping Review”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10706

“Yoga therapy, she says, can help PTSD sufferers to tolerate the physical or sensory experiences associated with their trauma. Giving people the means to control their symptoms in this way, say experts, indicates yoga has an "important role to play in the field of trauma recovery". Yoga is often used in tandem with other types of treatment. Just one of a list of complementary interventions – such as acupuncture, guided imagery and hypnotherapy – yoga can offer a second-line treatment option.”
BBC News—“The mind-altering power of yoga could improve your mental health”
IJERPH—“A Rapid Review Exploring the Role of Yoga in Healing Psychological Trauma”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/16180