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Announcements
11 December 2024
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Interview with the Authors—Mr. Lucas Akio Iza Trindade and Dr. Flavia Mori Sarti

Name: Mr. Lucas Akio Iza Trindade
Affiliation: School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
Name: Dr. Flavia Mori Sarti
Affiliation: School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 03828-000, Brazil
“Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in São Paulo City, Brazil”
by Lucas Akio Iza Trindade, Jaqueline Lopes Pereira, Jean Michel Rocha Sampaio Leite, Marcelo Macedo Rogero, Regina Mara Fisberg and Flavia Mori Sarti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091250
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/9/1250
The following is an interview with Mr. Lucas Akio Iza Trindade and Dr. Flavia Mori Sarti:
- Congratulations on your recent publication. Could you briefly introduce yourself and share your current research focus with our readers?
I’m a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil. My research revolves around evaluating public health systems, particularly access to and utilization of health services, with a focus on addressing inequalities.
In our recent study, we explored financial protection in healthcare by analyzing catastrophic health expenditures and impoverishment. We examined how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and smoking, influence these financial outcomes. - What are some key findings from your research?
We discovered that healthier lifestyles—such as meeting physical activity recommendations and avoiding smoking—can significantly protect households from catastrophic health expenditures. This link highlights how lifestyle factors not only improve health outcomes but also serve as financial protection mechanisms.
This insight is particularly relevant globally, as public health systems in low- and middle-income countries face increasing demand for cost-effective, sustainable healthcare. Promoting healthier lifestyles could help address these challenges by reducing financial burdens on households and improving population health. - What excites you the most about your work right now?
I’m particularly inspired by the potential for lifestyle interventions to play a central role in public health strategies. Our findings highlight how promoting physical activity and other healthy behaviors can alleviate financial strain on households while improving population health.
This approach is especially critical given the ongoing epidemiological transition in countries like Brazil, where non-communicable diseases are becoming more prevalent. Addressing these shifts through lifestyle-focused strategies could be transformative. - Have there been any unexpected findings or challenges in your research?
One surprising discovery was that, even with Brazil’s universal healthcare system, lower-income groups remain at risk of impoverishment due to healthcare costs. This underscores the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities.
On a positive note, we also found that lifestyle factors like regular physical activity can significantly protect vulnerable populations from financial hardship. This reinforces the need to promote healthy behaviors, especially among disadvantaged groups. - Do you think promoting physical activity as a preventive measure can be made sustainable on a larger scale?
Definitely. Sedentary lifestyles are a growing concern, particularly as younger populations face increasing risks of chronic diseases. Preventive measures focusing on physical activity, especially during leisure time, could reduce healthcare costs in the long term compared to traditional therapeutic approaches.
The challenge is that the benefits of these interventions take time to manifest. However, with aging populations and rising sedentary behaviors, the time to act is now. - What do you hope readers take away from your paper?
I hope it inspires more research into the intersections between impoverishment, catastrophic health expenditures, and lifestyle factors. While our study focused on physical activity, there’s a need to explore other aspects, such as dietary habits and mental health.
Ultimately, I want to emphasize that lifestyle interventions are not just health strategies—they’re financial protection mechanisms as well. This is particularly important for low- and middle-income countries where preventive measures could have a lasting impact on health equity and economic stability. - How was your experience with IJERPH?
It was excellent. IJERPH was highly recommended by my professors and colleagues at the University of São Paulo. I admire the journal’s emphasis on visibility and dialog, which contributes to the collective advancement of scientific knowledge.
As an early career researcher, I appreciate the opportunity to share my work through such a reputable platform.
We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Lucas Akio Iza Trindade, Dr. Flavia Mori Sarti and their research group for choosing International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: ISSN: 1660-4601) as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and inputs related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.
9 December 2024
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Interview with the Author—Dr. Liv Yoon

Name: Dr. Liv Yoon
Affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
“Responding to the Heat and Planning for the Future: An Interview-Based Inquiry of People with Schizophrenia Who Experienced the 2021 Heat Dome in Canada”
by Liv Yoon, Emily J. Tetzlaff, Carson Wong, Tiffany Chiu, Lucy Hiscox, Samantha Mew, Dominique Choquette, Glen P. Kenny and Christian G. Schütz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/8/1108
The following is an interview with Dr. Liv Yoon:
1. Congratulations on your published paper! Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and your research for our readers?
Sure! My name is Liv Yoon, and I’m an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. My background is in social sciences, which might surprise some because many people associate kinesiology with physiology, biomechanics, or neuroanatomy. But there’s also a sociocultural side to kinesiology, which looks at human movement in a broader context—how our different ‘bodies’ (different groups of people) are both shaped by, and shape, social, cultural, political, and historical contexts. When we walk into a room, we’re not just bodies made of bones and muscles; we carry with us our cultural identities, socioeconomic status, and ethnic backgrounds, all of which shape our experiences and how others perceive us.
2. What inspired you to pursue this field of research?
My current work explores the intersection of climate change, health, and social inequities, with a focus on intersections with the housing crisis as well. I’m particularly focused on how climate change disproportionately impacts people who are already facing social and economic hardships. It's those in low-income neighborhoods, racialized communities, and marginalized groups who suffer the most from climate-related risks. I’m motivated by a mix of feelings—resentment, anger—but also admiration for the resilience of these communities who, despite their struggles, continue to work for the benefit of all. I believe these emotions can be a powerful force for social change. I also want to emphasize that to truly understand these issues, we need to go beyond the biomedical and physiological views of health and incorporate social and political understandings of bodies and health.
3. How is your research going so far?
I’m a relatively new professor, having started in January 2023, so I’m still in the early stages of several projects. A lot of my work involves community engagement and participatory methods, working directly with those most affected. It’s humbling, and also energizing. The issues are urgent, and while it can feel overwhelming, it’s also motivating to see people—including students—respond with action instead of despair.
4. What do you hope readers will take away from your paper?
For people living with schizophrenia, in particular, the paper challenges the usual biomedical understanding of thermoregulation. I want to highlight that those living with schizophrenia, live with multiple forms of marginalization and discrimination that affect how they experience climate change. I hope readers come away understanding that health impacts from climate change are not just about biology but are deeply intertwined with social inequities. We need to consider the whole person and their life context, and how these are shaped by societal, structural forces.
5. What advances would you like to see in your field over the next decade?
I hope we see more efforts to connect the dots between various social inequities and the climate crisis. In Vancouver, for example, there’s a big intersection between the housing crisis and climate vulnerability. Affordable housing is often the least climate-resilient, and those living in it typically also face other forms of marginalization. Addressing these issues isn’t just about solving one problem—it’s about understanding how these crises intersect and finding solutions that address multiple needs at once.
6. What made you choose to publish in IJERPH, and how was your experience with the journal?
I’ve been a long-time reader of IJERPH, and I know the journal publishes high-quality research. There was no question that we wanted to submit here. The publication process was fantastic. The reviewers and editors were very responsive, and the turnaround was quick—everything was done in less than two or three months. Overall, it was a really positive experience.
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Liv Yoon and her research group for choosing IJERPH as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and inputs related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.
6 December 2024
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #18 - MDPI UK, Basel Job Fair, CETEF'24

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
MDPI’s First UK Summit Held in Manchester
On 29 November, we hosted our first annual MDPI UK Summit, bringing together over 30 Chief Editors and Editorial Board Members (EBMs) to discuss MDPI’s mission, achievements, and collaborations in the UK.
Throughout the day we had talks from several members of MDPI, roundtable discussions on the peer-review process and upholding research integrity, and an engaging presentation from the Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of MDPI journal Mathematics, Francisco Chiclana, about his involvement with the Research Excellence Framework.
“This was a great first summit for MDPI UK and received excellent feedback”
In the following I highlight some of the sessions and the discussion topics covered in each session.
Session 1: Opening Speech and Introduction to MDPI
I shared an overview of MDPI’s mission, achievements, and commitment to quality. The Q&A touched on key topics such as perception and reputation management, expanding our arts and humanities portfolio, and funding challenges for open access (OA) in the UK.
A takeaway from this session was that in 2025, we will circulate a mini annual report to all editors, helping them understand MDPI’s mission and achievements beyond the context of their specific journals.
Session 2: MDPI and the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
Prof. Francisco Chiclana (EiC of Mathematics) highlighted MDPI’s role in REF, its purpose, and future directions.
Session 3: Editorial Process, Ethics, and Research Integrity
Dr. Giulia Stefenelli presented on the various editorial roles and responsibilities, quality metrics, and procedures for dealing with misconduct. The Q&A centred on AI in publishing, institutional roles in research integrity, and better data management practices.
Session 4: Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP)
Becky Castellon presented on IOAP benefits, including MDPI’s partnership with JISC, which includes more than 60 UK institutions, and highlighted the advantages of pure OA over transformative agreements.
Session 5: Round Table Discussion
Colleagues from our MDPI Manchester office Jaime Anderson and Dr. Michael O’Sullivan, along with colleagues from our Basel office Damaris Critchlow and Giulia Stefenelli, discussed innovations in peer review, challenges in maintaining scientific integrity, and future solutions.
Session 6: MDPI PR and the Voice of the Customer
I recapped our customer satisfaction drivers, including speed and editorial support. I also spoke about tackling misinformation about OA and MDPI in general, and outlined a way forward for us all to participate in advocating for open science.
This was a great first summit for MDPI UK and received excellent feedback from our EiCs, SEiCs, and EBMs. A BIG thank-you to our Manchester team (pictured below) and everyone else involved in organizing this event. Their hard work and dedication are much appreciated!
Impactful Research
MDPI and UK Publications
The UK is an important market for MDPI, ranking ninth in total submissions to MDPI and eighth in total MDPI publications, with over 72,200 publications to date. As at October 2024, there were more than 3,600 EBMs from the UK, 48% of whom have an H-index above 26. We also have 46 EiCs, and 63 SEiCs in the UK, some of whom joined us in Manchester for the UK Summit.
The UK is a strong advocate of OA publishing, with nearly three quarters of all articles in 2023 published on open access platforms. The country enjoys a large academic market, producing high-quality papers, and is home to some of the world’s top universities. Among MDPI’s 825 IOAP agreements, over 60 of these are in the UK, facilitated through our partnership with JISC.
“The UK is a strong advocate of OA publishing”
Visit to MDPI’s Manchester Office
Last week, I visited our Manchester office to see the expanding office space, connect with our staff, and present at the MDPI UK Summit held in Manchester.
Throughout the day, I met with various teams to better understand their work and discuss their future development plans in greater depth. Hearing from group leads about the progress we have made and the challenges we face offered many valuable insights. I also had the chance to connect personally with members of the content team. It’s great to see how this young and ambitious team is coming together.
I also took the opportunity to address the entire office about the role of MDPI UK within the wider company. During this session, I answered questions about growth and public relations initiatives. Giulia Stefenelli joined us to address questions about the role of AI in MDPI’s future.
Jaime Anderson (Office Manager) and the Manchester team have done a great job of growing the office since its establishment in 2019. Today, it has around 150 staff members across various departments, including English editing, editorial services, marketing and communications, and IOAP. The team is highly active in local marketing initiatives, such as author training sessions, scholar visits, and conferences.
For more information and updates on our Manchester office, follow MDPI UK on LinkedIn.
Inside MDPI
Basel Job Fair
In November, the HR team from our Basel office connected with over 300 young professionals at the Basel Job Fair 2024. This is my biased opinion, of course, but we had the best branded booth and merchandise, which drew a lot of attention from young talent wanting to learn about current and future job opportunities at MDPI.
Our HR team also helped review CVs on the spot, providing advice on how to improve them and making a positive impression on the future workforce in Basel.
This is a reminder that MDPI is not only focused on supporting young researchers but that we also recruit and develop young talent. We have seen MDPI HR do this really well throughout all of our offices, from Asia Pacific to Europe and North America.
HR plays an important role in our growing company, helping us meet our recruitment targets as well as providing support for local teams, guidance on management and best practices, a safe space for employees, and brand recognition for MDPI, among many other things.
“MDPI is not only focused on supporting young researchers: we also recruit and develop young talent”
This is a quick appreciation post to all HR staff working to support MDPI and our colleagues, cultivating talent and supporting careers at every stage. Thanks HR staff, keep up the great work!
Coming Together for Science
Pharmaceuticals 2024 – Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences Towards a Healthy Life (The 20th Anniversary)
I am pleased to share that the Pharmaceuticals 2024 – Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences Towards a Healthy Life took place from 27 to 29 November 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. It was chaired by Prof. Dr. Amelia Pilar Rauter from the Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Dr. Alfredo Berzal Herranz from Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN) CSIC, Spain; and Prof. Dr. Mary Jane Meegan from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
The conference took place in Casa Convalescència, a part of the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. The three-day event included three plenary sessions and eight invited speakers, from eight countries, and 29 selected talks. Of the presentations on site, there were 32 posters and 29 oral presentations.
The main goal of the ‘Pharmaceuticals 2024’ international conference was to cover the newest technologies and research areas including medicinal chemistry, natural products, organic synthesis, radiopharmaceuticals, pharmacology, toxicology, and biomolecular and glycosciences, in a meeting that brought together experts to present their latest findings on combatting infection, inflammation, pain, and neurodegeneration, to mention just a few of the topics that were discussed.
“The main goal of ‘Pharmaceuticals 2024’ was to cover the newest technologies and research areas”
20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals
The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Pharmaceuticals – a journal dedicated to medicinal chemistry and related drug sciences, which is published monthly online by MDPI. To honour this milestone, we are reflecting on our past accomplishments and embarking on an exciting new chapter. This celebration is also one of the reasons why we organized the conference Pharmaceuticals 2024. With an Impact Factor of 4.3 and a CiteScore of 6.1, the journal is covered in Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Embase, CAPlus/SciFinder, and other databases. Pharmaceuticals has published over 6,000 papers from more than 37,000 authors. More than 10,000 reviewers have reviewed for it at least once.
20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals: The Video
This video captures the experiences of the conference chairs, honorary guests and committee members of the conference.
Thank you to our partnering societies
A special thank-you is due to our partnering societies the Spanish Society Of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT) and the Spanish Society For Biochemistry And Molecular Biology (SEBBM) for their support of the Pharmaceuticals 2024 conference. I am also pleased to report that we presented two awards, sponsored by the journal Pharmaceuticals, including the Best Presentation Award and the Best Oral Presentation Award, recognizing the contributions of our participants.
Closing Thoughts
Presenting at the 4th Central European Technology Forum
I visited Krakow, Poland in November to participate in the 4th Central European Technology Forum (CETEF’24), which took place on 18 and 19 November.
CETEF is an international conference that has been jointly organized since 2014 by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Advanced Technologies (IZTECH) and the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations, with the support of the European Parliament and the European Commission, in cooperation with universities, research institutes and the high-tech industry. The 2024 event focused on presentation to advance the European science and technology agenda for 2025–2030.
MDPI participated as a key publishing sponsor. We had an exhibition booth and held two key presentations during the conference. On Monday, I presented MDPI’s vision, purpose, and achievements.
On Tuesday, Dr. Giulia Stefenelli shared how MDPI supports advancements in high technology and energy transition, highlighting our portfolio, services, tools and initiatives for promoting progress and interdisciplinary collaboration.
We received positive feedback from scientists and government representatives in attendance.
A big thank-you goes to our colleagues from the Krakow office for their support in organizing our participation and managing the MDPI booth.
Special thanks are owing to Weronika Gorka-Kumik, Igor Matic, Vincent Di, Agnieszka Rydz, Ksenia Shubenkova, Anna Krakowka and Klaudia Kasprowicz.
Below is a photo with the President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce conference (centre), along with MDPI colleagues Giulia Stefenelli, Weronika Gorka-Kumik, and Igor Matic (left to right).
“This year’s event focused on ideas and proposals to advance the European science and technology agenda for 2025–2030”
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
4 December 2024
685 MDPI Editors Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2024

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 685 Editorial Board Members of our journals – from 39 different countries and territories – who have been recognized as Highly Cited Researchers for 2024 by Clarivate. This distinction highlights their exceptional scientific achievements and significant contributions, which transcend academic boundaries to advance global knowledge, sustainability, security, and well-being.
Clarivate's annual Highly Cited Researcher™ list identifies the most influential scientists of the past decade, whose work has had a profound and widespread impact across various scientific and social science disciplines. Their impactful papers rank among the top 1% by citations in one or more of the 21 fields analyzed within the "Essential Science Indicators," marking them as leaders in their respective domains.
"Highly Cited Researchers have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research," according to Clarivate. In 2024, a total of 6,886 Highly Cited Researcher designations were awarded to 6,636 individuals.
The following is a list of MDPI's Editorial Board Members named Highly Cited Researchers in 2024. We congratulate them for their achievement and their contributions to advancing knowledge in their respective fields.
Abate, Antonio |
Jiang, Lianzhou |
Song, Jibin |
5 November 2024
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #17 - OA Week, Basel Open Day, Beijing Graphene Forum

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Open Access Week: Forging the Future of Open Access through Global Reach and Collaboration
From 21 to 27 October, we celebrated International Open Access Week (OAW), highlighting the importance of making research accessible to everyone. This campaign reinforced our commitment to advancing open access (OA) and showcased how we are helping research communities worldwide adopt OA as their standard.
“OA publishing is now a cornerstone of global research”
Throughout the week, we featured MDPI’s efforts to support quality open research through blog posts on topics such as how Research Integrity Promotes OA Practices, our Preprints.org platform, and supporting societies with different OA models. These initiatives capture our commitment to making research more inclusive and accessible to all.
OA publishing is now a cornerstone of global research, with more researchers choosing OA over traditional paywalled models, and embracing new, community-driven models.
Benefits of Open Access and Open Research
- Accelerated Discoveries: OA speeds up scientific progress by allowing immediate access to findings, enabling researchers to build on each other’s work faster.
- Community-Led Innovation: Open research empowers communities to manage their own platforms, creating collaboration and shared knowledge.
- Increased Visibility: OA broadens the reach of your research, leading to greater recognition, collaboration, and impact.
- Cross-Disciplinary Connections: By removing financial and geographical barriers, OA unites diverse fields, sparking innovation across disciplines.
MDPI Singapore Celebrates Open Access Week
MDPI Singapore also hosted its first-ever OAW event at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, bringing together academics, researchers, and students to discuss the future of open scholarship. Conversations focused on the potential of new publishing models, alternative funding strategies, and the importance of communicating research to wider audiences.
As OA evolves, MDPI remains a committed partner in advancing open science and creating a transparent, inclusive research environment. For a full recap of the week’s highlights and resources, visit our campaign page.
Impactful Research
MDPI Connection to Nobel-Winning Protein Research
David Baker, an American biochemist, and Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, two scientists from Google DeepMind, have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking advancements in better understanding the structure of proteins, the molecular engines of life’s processes.
One half of the prize was awarded to Professor David Baker from the University of Washington for his development of revolutionary protein design software enabling the creation of novel proteins for vaccines, nanomaterials, and sensors. Prof. Baker co-authored a 2016 paper in MDPI’s Toxins journal on protein-based therapeutics.
Meanwhile, DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper received recognition for AlphaFold, the AI model that predicts protein structures from amino acid sequences, fulfilling a long-held scientific dream.
“We congratulate this year’s Nobel laureates for their groundbreaking contributions to the study of life”
Nobel Prize Laureates Entrust MDPI with Their Research
As at October 2024, 45 Nobel laureates had contributed to more than 115 articles across
35 MDPI journals. The privilege of hosting the research of such contributors, who significantly influence the open access movement, resonates deeply with our editorial teams.
We are proud to list the names of Pierre Agostini, Hiroshi Amano, Werner Arber, Aaron Ciechanover, Robert H. Grubbs, Oliver Hart, Gerard ‘t Hooft, Michael Houghton, Harald zur Hausen, Katalin Karikó, Jean-Marie Lehn, Gérard Mourou, Ferid Murad, Shuji Nakamura, William Nordhaus, Kostya S. Novoselov, Giorgio Parisi, Charles M. Rice, Alvin E. Roth, Donna Strickland, K. Barry Sharpless, George F. Smoot, Anne L’Huillier, Drew Weissman, Kurt Wüthrich, Ada Yonath, Tomas Lindahl, Thomas C. Südhof, Stanley B. Prusiner, Roger Kornberg, Robert F. Engle, Richard J. Roberts, Ōmura Satoshi, Kenneth J. Arrow, John B. Goodenough, Jennifer Doudna, Hamilton Othanel Smith, Eric R. Kandel, Carlo Rubbia, Bernard Feringa, Barry J. Marshall, Anthony J. Leggett, Andrew Victor Schally, and David Baker.
Notable MRNA Published in Cells
On 7 October 2024, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
MicroRNAs are proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function. Some interesting papers about microRNA research are published in the MDPI journal Cells. I invite you browse through the notable papers related to microRNA research in Cells.
Inside MDPI
Basel Open Day
On 21 October, we held the Basel Open Day at our headquarters, welcoming a group of journal Editors-in-Chief (EiC) and Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for a full-day workshop. The event featured presentations and discussions on MDPI’s latest editorial updates, data integrity policies, society collaborations, and local market insights.
The following MDPI journals were represented during the visit: Physics, Journal of Personalized Medicine (JPM), Sci, Remote Sensing, Animals, Cells, Buildings, Histories, Sensors, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH).
This was a great opportunity to showcase our new office space while gathering feedback from leading journal stakeholders. To get everyone on the same page, we took 60 minutes for round-table introductions, which helped set a collaborative tone and ground us in MDPI’s mission of disseminating open science.
“This was a great opportunity to gather feedback from leading journal stakeholders”
The general feedback from the day highlighted positive developments around our editorial and ethics policies, as well as areas for improvement, including flexibility regarding reviewer deadlines. There was a genuine appreciation and push for our ongoing efforts to share more about MDPI, including company updates and promoting high-quality research through our blog, announcements, and social media channels, which we have been growing and expanding.
Our Basel Open Day was a positive experience, bringing together key journal stakeholders and gathering insights to guide MDPI’s continued engagement with the academic community. We look forward to hosting future events of this kind and welcoming more scholars to our headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.
Coming Together for Science
ncRNA 2024 Conference in Basel
I am pleased to share that we held Non-coding RNA World 2024: Exploring Mechanisms, Designing Medicines (ICM 2024) in Basel, Switzerland this past 7–9 October.
The three-day event attracted just over 100 attendees, including two Chairs, 10 invited speakers and two keynotes from Prof. Mauro Giacca and Prof. Ling-Ling Chen. Of the presentations on site, there were 35 posters and 44 oral presentations.
The overall feedback was positive, with people enjoying the intimate event and the unique activities offered, including a guided tour around Basel’s Old Town (a must-see for anyone visiting the city) and a memorable conference dinner.
It was cool to see the winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine announced during the conference days. This was exciting for attendees, as the winners discovered a new class of RNA molecules (miRNAs). As one invited speaker put it, “It's exciting to be among fellows when something that important for the field is announced.”
“It's exciting to be among fellows when something that important for the field is announced”
Every attendee receives a conference survey, and I’m always pleased to see a high percentage of ‘Very Satisfied’ responses when asked about ‘treatment from conference personnel’. Kudos to our conference team for meeting our attendees’ needs. These events are a great opportunity for us to reach new audiences, as 92% of the respondents had never been to an MDPI conference, so I am thrilled to see us connecting with a new demographic of your researchers in the RNA field.
A special thank-you to our partnering societies The Epigenetics Society, The French Society of Genetics, LS2 / USGEB (Union of Swiss Societies for Experimental Biology), and The RNA Biology Group, as well as to our sponsors New England Biolabs and Arraystar for their support of the ncRNA 2024 conference. I am also pleased to report that we presented two awards, including the Best Presentation Award and two Best Poster Award, recognizing the contributions of our participants.
Upcoming In-Person Event
27–29 November 2024
Pharmaceuticals 2024 – Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences Towards a Healthy Life
Location: Barcelona, Spain
The discovery of new molecules, their properties, and actions to enhance human health and quality of life.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Closing Thoughts
Beijing Graphene Forum 2024
I am pleased to share that we had a successful time at the Beijing Graphene Forum 2024, which drew around 1,000 attendees, including Konstantin Novoselov (2015 Nobel Prize in Physics) and other high-profile scholars in materials science and chemistry. It was a great opportunity to present MDPI on the big stage, with university presidents from institutions such as Peking University also in attendance.
I had the honour of awarding Prof. Zhongfan Liu, Chairman of the Chemical Science Committee, with a medal and presenting certificates to the members of the Chemical Science Committee; this is an important initiative to help expand MDPI’s journals and influence in China. These are highly respected scholars, and we enjoyed connecting with them over lunch as well.
“This is an important initiative to help expand MDPI’s journals and influence in China”
I also had the chance to speak about MDPI and open access, giving a five-minute speech during the opening ceremony and a 20-minute presentation at the close. MDPI hosted a sub-forum where both academic scholars and MDPI members shared insights, and we engaged with attendees at our MDPI booth.
This was a great opportunity to spotlight MDPI as the main publishing partner for the event, and I was proud to represent us on stage. We also met with scholars to discuss topics such as their publishing needs and institutional policies, open access, impact journals, and IOAP.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
4 November 2024
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with the Author—Dr. Christine Camacho

Name: Dr. Christine Camacho
Affiliation: Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Interests: measurement of community resilience
“Adapting the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC) Framework for England: Development of a Community Resilience Index”
by Christine Camacho, Roger T. Webb, Peter Bower and Luke Munford
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081012
The following is an interview with Dr. Christine Camacho:
1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you start by introducing yourself and your current research to our readers?
Thank you! I work as a consultant in public health in the NHS in England and I’m also pursuing a Ph.D. with the Applied Research Collaboration in Greater Manchester, which is part of the NIHR infrastructure. I have done research focusing on various public health issues, from early child development to “deaths of despair”. In my latest research, which is featured in the paper we’re discussing, we developed a Community Resilience Index for England. It examines how different regions across the country are able to adapt to various shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or economic hardships, and how robust these communities are in facing such challenges.
2. What aspects of this work are you most excited about right now?
One of the most exciting aspects is that this research provides the first-ever comprehensive look at resilience across England. It’s the first time we’ve been able to measure community resilience in such a systematic way. What’s particularly intriguing is the potential for local authorities and policymakers to use this index to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their communities. This data could inform interventions that help support these areas. Additionally, the timing of the study is significant, given that the UK government is currently conducting a resilience review, partly spurred by the COVID-19 inquiry. There are important questions being raised about how prepared we were going into the pandemic, and how we can better build resilience for future challenges.
3. What unexpected findings did you come across during your research?
One surprising finding was the strong regional variation in resilience scores. While we expected some differences due to known inequalities in the UK, the results highlighted a pronounced north–south divide, with the north of England showing lower resilience than the south. We also noticed that coastal areas tended to have lower resilience scores, which suggests specific vulnerabilities that might require tailored interventions. Another interesting result came from comparing resilience scores with deprivation levels. While we generally expected more deprived areas to have lower resilience, there were some outliers—mostly in London—where areas with high deprivation had unexpectedly high resilience. This led us to consider whether a “capital city effect” might be at play, where better infrastructure and economic resources could boost resilience even in more deprived neighborhoods.
4. What do you think is the innovation of this paper? How did you find innovation in writing the paper?
This paper was innovative in several ways. We adapted the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC) model, originally developed in the US, and tailored it for the English context. We considered the types of hazards relevant to the UK, which are different from those in the southeastern US where BRIC was initially used. For example, instead of focusing on natural disasters like hurricanes, we looked at more chronic issues like the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the effects of Brexit. Methodologically, we wanted our approach to be as evidence-based as possible, relying on a systematic review and using principal component analysis to define sub-indices and weight indicators. This rigorous methodology ensures the index is robust and reliable.
5. What do you hope that readers will gain from your paper?
I hope readers gain an understanding of how complex it is to measure community resilience—it’s not something you can measure directly. A composite index is a useful tool for capturing this complexity. We also want to encourage others to not shy away from tackling such difficult issues. While there are always strengths and weaknesses in any methodology, we’ve worked hard to ensure this index is robust. Another important point is that this research measures resilience at a single point in time, but we recognize that the resilience we observe today is shaped by historical events, like the deindustrialization of mining communities. Lastly, we’ve developed an interactive tool to make the data accessible for local authorities and others who want to explore resilience at a more granular level. I’ll share the link with you—it would be great to include it with the paper! (https://christine-l-camacho.github.io/CRI_England/)
6. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Resilience is definitely going to remain a key area, particularly from a policy perspective. One potential direction is refining the Community Resilience Index to measure resilience at smaller geographical scales, like neighborhoods. We also see a lot of potential in involving communities more directly in this research. While we used national datasets for this study, having community participation could add valuable insights about what it’s like to live in certain areas. Another interesting possibility is to repeat this study over time, creating longitudinal data that can help us assess whether interventions actually improve resilience.
7. How did you hear about IJERPH? And what is your impression of your publishing experience with IJERPH?
I consulted with some colleagues and reviewed the journal's website, which seemed like a perfect fit for my research. My Ph.D. is in public health, and I was particularly drawn to this journal because it takes a broad view of public health. My work on community resilience aligns well with the journal's focus on the intersection between people, place, and social environments. Additionally, I was impressed by the journal's statistics, particularly the quick publication times, which is important for getting research out promptly. Overall, my experience was very positive; I found the peer review process and the support from the editorial team to be excellent and efficient.
8. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts authors?
I believe open access is significant. I’m fortunate that my Ph.D. funding covers the costs of open access publishing. For research aimed at policymakers and community stakeholders—who might not have access to paid journals—making information widely accessible is crucial.
1 November 2024
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Papers Cited in the News in Q3 of 2024

Throughout the third quarter of 2024, research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) was featured over 471 times in news articles published by reputable media sources, such as Forbes, New York Post, and National Public Radio.
You can learn more about the cited papers below.
“Prevention can go a long way toward reducing the negative effects of stress. Encourage your employees to make time for healthy habits outside of work to prevent stress from becoming out of hand.”
Forbes—“Workplace Stress: Causes, Impacts And Solutions”
IJERPH—“Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1780
“In fact, a staggering 68% of child-bearers report experiencing body and weight dissatisfaction after welcoming bundles of joy, per a report from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.”
New York Post—“I hated my body after having a baby — doing a postpartum boudoir shoot restored my confidence”
IJERPH—“Perception of the Body Image in Women after Childbirth and the Specific Determinants of Their Eating Behavior: Cross-Sectional Study (Silesia, Poland)”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/10137
“Light pollution is the latest in a list of environmental factors that studies suggest could be linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, including living near green spaces, long-term exposure to air pollution and chemical exposures.”
Forbes—“Alzheimer’s Risk Linked To Light Pollution, New Study Finds”
IJERPH—“Environmental Risk Factors for Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia: A Case-Control Study in Northern Italy”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/7941
“Another factor contributing to these workers’ trauma is “moral injury,” a term first applied to soldiers who experienced intense guilt after carrying out orders that betrayed their values. It became common among health care workers in the pandemic who weren’t given ample resources to provide care.”
National Public Radio—“Nursing aides plagued by PTSD after ‘nightmare’ COVID conditions, with little help”
IJERPH—“The Association of Moral Injury and Healthcare Clinicians’ Wellbeing: A Systematic Review”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/13/6300
17 October 2024
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with the Author—Prof. Dr. Courtney Cronley

Name: Prof. Dr. Courtney Cronley
Affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Interests: experiences of women, youth, and families in situations of homelessness; housing insecurity; health disparities; social determinants of health
Published Paper:
“Persons Experiencing Homelessness during Extreme Temperatures: Lessons for Promoting Socially Inclusive Adaptive Capacity”
by Courtney Cronley, Amanda Fackler, Jennifer M. First, Sangwon Lee and Iris Tsouris
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080984
The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Courtney Cronley:
- Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers? Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?
I'm a professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, and my research focuses on equity within the built environment. The built environment includes all the man-made infrastructure that shapes our society. My primary interest is in equity within our housing and transportation systems, specifically how access to affordable, quality housing and transportation resources affects people's ability to thrive and access essential goods and services.
The United States has a long history, particularly in the 20th century, of using practices like redlining to create structural disparities along racial lines. As a result, black, indigenous, and communities of color are less likely to live in areas with high-quality housing and are more likely to be in food deserts, healthcare deserts, and areas with lower-quality education and healthcare. Our transportation systems have often reinforced these disparities, with physical barriers like highways dividing predominantly African American communities from white ones, making it difficult for those without personal vehicles to access necessary resources.
These redlined communities also tend to have higher concentrations of environmental hazards, leading to increased health risks. My research examines how the built environment can put people at higher risk for environmental hazards and poor health. One particularly vulnerable group is people experiencing homelessness, who lack access to permanent housing and are often exposed to the elements, relying heavily on public transportation.
The paper I published focuses on how people living outside in the Southeast U.S. navigate their communities during extreme weather conditions to access shelter and relief. I found that the infrastructure in these areas often lacks the adaptive capacity to protect people from extreme temperatures. Public spaces that could offer relief, such as parks with tree canopies or benches, are often heavily policed, leaving people with few options other than huddling under bridges, which can lead to dangerous conditions. The study also highlighted the chronic exposure to less extreme, but still challenging, temperatures. For instance, in Knoxville, where the study took place, people experiencing homelessness have access to daytime shelter only when temperatures reach certain thresholds, like 32°F or 90°F. However, if the temperature stays at 43°F for an extended period, these individuals are exposed to the elements day and night without relief, which can be unbearable. This has led me to consider how we define risk, particularly in the context of extreme heat. Current definitions often reflect the perspectives of housed individuals, but for those without housing, the chronic exposure to even moderate temperatures can significantly heighten their risk.
- What do you think is the biggest challenge currently in your area of research?
Considering my research, the most commonly cited barrier and challenge is access to affordable housing. This is a critical issue, as the lack of access to affordable, quality housing is the common denominator in homelessness. While various behavioral health factors can increase the risk of homelessness, the underlying issue remains the shortage of affordable housing.
In the context of a warming climate, the problems associated with the lack of housing are becoming more acute, particularly concerning health. Being without permanent shelter is incredibly detrimental to one’s health; it’s likely one of the highest risks for poor health outcomes. Humans need shelter—it’s a basic necessity. However, in American communities, where there is no guaranteed right to housing and it’s left to the private market, it becomes challenging.
Developers, who are in the business of building housing, often lack incentives to build affordable housing because it’s costly, and the profits are much lower compared to market-rate housing, which can be four or five times as expensive. Without a guaranteed right to housing in the United States, the private market will never meet the demand for affordable housing, particularly for those living at or below the poverty level.
- Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
I think climate change is increasingly becoming a critical area of study, but there’s surprisingly little research on homelessness and climate change—only a couple dozen studies exist. This is an emerging field, and more attention is likely to be drawn to it as the impacts of climate change become more apparent.
For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is already hosting webinars on how to address extreme weather and the need for more daytime shelters. However, there are currently no comprehensive policies within HUD specifically addressing the health impacts of climate change on individuals experiencing homelessness. This is a significant gap that will likely lead to important policy recommendations as more empirical evidence on the physical, mental, and behavioral health impacts of climate change emerges.
One area that has been understudied is the nexus between climate change and behavioral health. In my research, I’ve found that as winters become more inclement—not necessarily colder, but wetter—people experiencing homelessness often find themselves confined to their tents. This confinement can lead to boredom and anxiety, which some individuals cope with through activities like adult coloring books or reading. However, when those distractions run out, cravings for substances can set in. People have reported using substances as a coping mechanism in extreme weather, whether it’s too hot to sleep, too cold, or they’re isolated for extended periods.
Looking ahead, I think artificial intelligence will play a role in this field as well. AI-driven climate models could help better predict extreme weather and redefine what constitutes extreme weather for different populations, whether housed or unhoused. Currently, there’s no effective way to warn people living in camps about impending extreme weather because they often lack cell phones and live off the grid. Developing mechanisms to inform and protect these vulnerable populations is crucial.
So, in summary, the impacts of climate change on physical, mental, and behavioral health, policy recommendations, community responses, and the role of AI in predictive modeling and outreach to hard-to-reach populations are all critical areas of focus moving forward.
- Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?
I would say that collecting primary data is one of the best approaches. When you talk to people and hear their stories, many of your assumptions can be dispelled, refined, or changed. This firsthand insight gives you a deeper understanding of the issues. Seeing the conditions people are living in—whether it's without permanent shelter, in crumbling affordable housing, or after being evicted—provides invaluable perspective. Experiencing situations like standing at a bus stop in 90-degree heat with cars speeding by, because public transportation is the only option, further illustrates the challenges people face. In addition to collecting data, I strongly recommend reading extensively. The more you read about what others are doing, the better you'll understand the direction of the research and the field as a whole. These are the two best pieces of advice I can offer.
- What is your impression of the publishing experience with the IJERPH journal?
I thought the experience was quite positive. The journal and I went back and forth on revisions, and I appreciated their commitment to pushing me to produce the most critically thoughtful piece possible. This demonstrated a genuine dedication to the peer review process rather than a profit-driven publishing approach.
- What is your opinion of the open access model of publishing?
I believe the open access publishing model, combined with rigorous peer review, represents the gold standard for the future of scholarly communication. Information should not be restricted by privilege or positionality, ensuring that everyone has access. However, this doesn’t mean that just anyone should be able to publish anything and claim it as science. Peer review is crucial because it ensures that what is published is rigorous, valid, honest, and critically evaluated. While mistakes can still occur, the peer review process provides a necessary framework for maintaining the quality of scholarship. Therefore, rigorous peer review within an open access framework is likely the best model for the future of science.
16 October 2024
MDPI's Newly Launched Journals in September 2024
Five new journals covering a diverse range of subjects launched their inaugural issue in September 2024. Like other journals in MDPI’s portfolio, these journals are dedicated to sharing the latest research through open access, reflecting our commitment to making knowledge accessible to all.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board Members for their dedication to the launch and development of our new journals. Each journal will ensure its high-quality output via excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes so that the published articles achieve significant impact and broad visibility.
We invite you to explore and learn more about these new journals below.
Journal | Founding Editor-in-Chief | Journal Topics (Selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Nejat Düzgüneş, University of the Pacific, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | biological therapy and stem-cell therapy; drug therapy; chemotherapy; radiation and other nonsurgical therapeutic strategies | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Magda Tsolaki, Greek Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease, Greece; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Editorial | view inaugural issue | surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | ice as a mineral; atmospheric ice; sea ice; freshwater ice; ice sheets; ice caps and ice shelves | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Dr. Francisco Epelde, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Spain; University Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue | hospital management; hospital facilities; hospital services; hospital risk management; health law | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Nicola Ferri, University of Padova, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue | lipids in cells and whole organisms; lipid structure and function; lipid products and processes; dietary lipids and nutrition | view journal scope | submit an article |
We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com) if you would like to create more new journals.
4 October 2024
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #16 - UNGA79 Science Summit, OASPA, Peer Review Week

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
MDPI Joins the Science Summit at UNGA79 (23–27 September 2024, New York)
On Friday 27 September, I had the privilege of giving the opening talk at the “Youth at the Science Summit” panel during the Science Summit conference, held in New York at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Together, we discussed the future of science, publishing, innovation, and sustainable development.
It was a great opportunity to learn from our young leaders, whose voices must be included in the conversation as science shapes the future of artificial intelligence, climate mitigation, healthcare, technology, and more. This was also a powerful reminder of how essential global collaboration is in solving the major challenges we face. I left inspired by the dedication of these young researchers to making the world a better place!
Today’s youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they are already leading the change today.
Stefan Tochev (second from left) at the UNGA Science Summit 2024: “A great opportunity to learn from our young leaders.”
MDPI Supports the Future Generation of Scientists
This aligns with MDPI’s mission to support the next generation of scientists and early-career researchers by recognizing their achievements through our various MDPI awards, including the Young Investigator Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Travel Awards, and more.
Our presence at this global event showed our commitment to advancing Open Science as a key driver for sustainable development. As a leading Open Access (OA) publisher, MDPI’s role at the summit was to emphasize the critical importance of democratizing scientific knowledge, making it accessible to all, and promoting global collaboration.
Through OA publishing, we aim to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, public health, and inequality, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We aim to address pressing global challenges”
MDPI and the SDGs
In 2020, the SDG Publishers Compact was launched to accelerate implementation of the SDGs by promoting content that informs, develops, and inspires action. MDPI joined this initiative in 2021 and subsequently launched the MDPI SDG Hub in 2022, offering free access to recent research within the scope of each of the 17 SDGs.
During the summit, we highlighted the connection between Open Science and the SDG Publishers Compact, supporting the core objective to “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB). The transformative promise of the SDGs relies heavily on the Open Access model, which serves as a fundamental enabler of Open Science. We advocate for the wider adoption of Open Science practices in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
Impactful Research
Presenting at the 1st International Conference of Environmental Medicine
In September, MDPI and our journals IJERPH and Diseases sponsored and participated in the 1st International Conference of Environmental Medicine: Environmental Threats to Human Health: From Genetics to Epigenetics, held in Chieti, Italy.
The conference was organized in collaboration with various societies, including the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), one of more than 160 societies partnering MDPI journals.
The conference brought together influential figures from the Italian scholarly community, such as Antonio Felice Uricchio (President of the National Agency for University Research Assessment [ANVUR]), Alessandro Miani (President of SIMA), and Liborio Stuppia (Director of ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara), among others.
MDPI was the sole publishing sponsor of the conference, at which I had the opportunity to present on behalf of the company. I provided an overview of MDPI, covering key facts and figures, the peer-review process, our strong collaboration with the Italian market, and insights into Nobel Prize winners who have published with MDPI, ahead of Sir Richard Roberts’ Nobel lecture.
“As at September 2024, 44 Nobel laureates have contributed to over 115 articles across 35 MDPI journals”
The keynote speaker at the event was Sir Richard Roberts, Nobel Laureate and 1993 Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, recognized for his discovery of split genes.
Nobel Laureates’ Contributions to MDPI
As at September 2024, 44 Nobel laureates have contributed to over 115 articles across 35 MDPI journals. I’ll share more details on this in the October newsletter.
Hosting such prominent figures in their respective fields, who play a significant role in advancing the OA movement, of which we are leaders in, resonates deeply with our editorial teams.
Sponsoring and supporting academic conferences is something we do on a large scale, and it continues to grow. Attending and speaking about MDPI shows our commitment by taking the time to connect with the scholarly community in person.
MDPI’s Presence in Italy
Italy ranks third globally in total MDPI publications, with nearly 130,000 contributions. We collaborate with about 12,000 Editorial Board Members in Italy, over 6,100 of whom have an H-index of more than 25.
We have 83 Editors-in-Chief and 209 Section Editors-in-Chief from Italy. We also support 20 Italian universities through our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreements with major institutions such as Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Milan, and the University of Pisa, among others.
Inside MDPI
Celebrating Peer Review Week, 23–27 September 2024
As we conclude another productive month at MDPI, I am pleased to highlight our participation in this year’s Peer Review Week (PRW), which took place from 23–27 September 2024. This global, community-driven celebration underscores the vital importance of peer review in maintaining the integrity and reliability of academic work. PRW provide a platform for institutions, publishers, and scholars to come together and reflect on the processes that uphold the quality of scholarly communication.
“We remain committed to enhancing the peer review process”
The theme for PRW 2024 was ‘Innovation and Technology in Peer Review.’ At MDPI, we were proud to contribute through various online and in-person events, including webinars from Europe, Asia-Pacific, and a roundtable discussion on innovation and technology in peer review. These events offer an opportunity to explore new tools and technologies that are shaping the future of peer review, particularly the integration of AI. As a company, we remain committed to enhancing the peer review process with innovative solutions while preserving the essential human expertise that makes it effective.
Peer Review Innovation and Technology at MDPI
Our efforts to improve peer review extend beyond the activities of this week. We also released a blog article discussing New Tools for Advancing Research Integrity and Peer Review, where we highlight two tools that MDPI has developed to support research integrity: Eureka – Reviewer Recommender and Online Proofreader. We are continually refining SuSy, our in-house submission system, to provide a seamless experience for authors and reviewers alike.
Listening to MDPI’s Authors and Reviewers
We highly value the time of our reviewers, and so do the authors who contribute to our journals. Our editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of over 6,000 diligent, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform designed to ensure efficient processes.
We make it a point to continually improve the experiences of both our authors and our reviewers throughout the entire editorial process, from submission to publication. This is why we regularly ask for feedback by conducting surveys. Here is what some of our respondents recently had to say about working with MDPI:
Coming Together for Science
ICM 2024 – Advances in Material Innovation
I am pleased to share that we held The 5th International Conference on Materials: Advances in Material Innovation (ICM 2024) in Basel, Switzerland this past 25–27 September.
This intimate event brought together leading scientists, researchers, and industry experts to exchange insights on recent advancements in materials characterization, processing, and manufacturing. Key focus areas included nanotechnology in material sciences and engineering, optical, electrical, and magnetic materials, soft, biological, and biomaterials, fibres, membranes, thin films, sensing materials, as well as materials and devices for energy and solar fuels. In addition, discussions featured the integration of AI and machine learning in materials research.
We received 90 abstract submissions. Over the course of the three-day event, 18 posters were displayed, and 34 talks were delivered, including three plenary speeches, seven invited talks, and 24 selected oral presentations.
A special thank-you to our partnering societies The Polish Membrane Society and The North American Thermal Analysis Society, as well as our sponsor, Nanomegas, for their support of the ICM conference. I am also pleased to share that we presented three awards, including the Best Presentation Award and two Best Poster Awards, recognizing the outstanding contributions of our participants.
Upcoming In-Person Event
7–9 October 2024
Non-coding RNA World 2024: Exploring Mechanisms, Designing Medicines
Location: Basel, Switzerland
ncRNA 2024 will explore the latest advances in the field, covering topics from basic biology to medical and technological applications.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Closing Thoughts
Reflections from OASPA 2024 Conference in Lisbon (16–18 September)
Amidst my September travels, I also had pleasure of attending the OASPA 2024 Conference in Lisbon from 16–18 September. It’s the first in-person Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) event in five years, and being in the sunny city of Lisbon made it even better! MDPI has long been a member of OASPA, and attending this conference gave us an opportunity to connect with other key members of the organization to see the latest developments in the OA movement.
“I believe that publishers have a lot to offer in terms of data and insights”
Main Themes from OASPA 2024
The main themes covered were equity and inclusivity, diamond OA, AI and openness, OA books, research integrity, and how OA can address broader societal challenges such as climate change. While it was great to see the latest developments in these areas, it was also clear that certain voices were missing, particularly those of major publishers. Although it’s not easy to incorporate every perspective, I believe that publishers, including MDPI, have a lot to offer in terms of data and insights. During the membership meeting, a few of us raised the point that large-scale publisher input could add value to these discussions.
It’s important to participate in industry conferences such as OASPA in order to be part of the discussions and remain at the forefront of the OA movement.
It’s an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with organizations that share our commitment to OA.
While sponsorship is one way to show our support, it’s clear that being part of the conversation through participating in the OASPA groups and committee is what really makes a difference.
It took the last 20 years for more than 50% of the world's research to be published via open access. This provides a sobering reminder that flipping the remaining 50% will be a big challenge.
An important takeaway for me was that there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution for OA challenges: different regions and different stakeholders need different forms of support, whether it is infrastructure, funding, education, or policy, for example. I also enjoyed Rebecca Ross' presentation on how OA can drive action on climate. A few panellists shared the need for transparency in the peer-review process, advocating for open review reports, which is something we have been offering since 2014.
Speaking of openness, we are excited to celebrate Open Access Week 2024 with the scholarly community from 21–27 October. I look forward to sharing a recap of our activities in the next newsletter.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG