Announcements

Name: Dr. Maddalena Buffoli
Affiliations: Architecture, Built environment and Construction engineering (ABC) - Design & Health Lab., Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Research interests: climate change, climate strategies, urban health, health promotion

“Integrated Climate Change Mitigation and Public Health Protection Strategies: The Case of the City of Bologna, Italy”
by Isabella Nuvolari-Duodo, Michele Dolcini, Maddalena Buffoli, Andrea Rebecchi, Giuliano Dall’Ò, Carol Monticelli, Camilla Vertua, Andrea Brambilla and Stefano Capolongo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111457
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/11/1457

Interview Questions:

1. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic?
Thank you so much for the interview. I’m Maddalena Buffoli, an Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano (the Polytechnic University of Milan), where I work in the Design & Health Lab in the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), under the leadership of Prof. Stefano Capolongo. My research focuses on urban health and its intersection with sustainable urban planning and climate change. In this study, we analyzed the policies and strategies adopted by cities like Bologna, one of the 100 cities committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, to mitigate climate change and its impact on environmental and public health. Bologna is one of the first cities in Italy to submit its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Just to add, Bologna was also one of the first to submit its climate change contract, and it’s one of the first cities to submit its Climate City Contract, a strategic document outlining actions and investments to reach this goal.
This is one of the reasons we chose Bologna for our study. The study highlights methods for evaluating municipal policies that simultaneously promote environmental sustainability and public health, in line with the Healthy Cities approach, which is very important for us.

2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
One of the main challenges in the Urban Health field is integrating health considerations into urban policies and climate strategies. It’s clear that climate change strategies and urban policies have significant impacts on public health, but there isn’t a clear framework to connect them. Most cities lack an integrated framework to evaluate the dual impact of these policies. Our study addresses this gap by providing a systematic method for mapping and analyzing urban planning documents to identify measures that address greenhouse gas emissions while promoting health. This methodology offers a replicable approach for other cities. It is a global issue. We are used to working in multidisciplinary teams, which is essential to tackle these challenges.

3. What motivated you to conduct this research?
My motivation comes from the growing need to address the interconnected challenges of climate change and public health in urban areas. Cities are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions, but at the same time, they are home to various health risks, such as non-communicable diseases, and we need to use a synergistic multidisciplinary approach to make them healthier and more resilient. By 2050, 70% of the global population will live in urban areas, as noted in a Lancet article. This underscores the importance of creating healthier, more sustainable cities that protect and promote the health of their current and future residents.
Speaking specifically about Italy, Italy has a high population density, and we have 14 metropolitan cities and over 40 medium-sized cities, many of which are very close to one another, making it easier for people to move between them for working or living. In Italy, most people live in cities, but after COVID-19, they prefer to live in medium-sized cities, with populations of around 100–200,000, because the quality of life is more accessible and more affordable compared to large cities like Milan, Naples, or Rome. Rural areas and the countryside have fewer residents, and the population density is much lower, and the population is decreasing. People are moving to the cities, particularly the medium-sized ones. The key motivation for this migration is better access to health services, education, and job opportunities. That is why we need to build a new concept of cities that are both healthier and more sustainable for all.

4. How do you evaluate research trends in your field, and what are your suggestions for young scholars?
My advice to scholars is to adopt integrated methodologies that evaluate both environmental and health impacts, as we've done in our studies. I believe this is one of the key goals for the future of this research field. Multidisciplinary collaboration between urban planners, policymakers, and public health experts will be crucial in driving meaningful change.

5. How was your publishing experience with IJERPH?
I became familiar with IJERPH due to its excellent reputation, particularly for publishing high-quality, interdisciplinary research. As I mentioned before, the interdisciplinary approach is crucial to us, and we value that the journal has an international readership. This visibility is important for us, as we want our research to reach a global audience.

MDPI will be attending NWO Life 2025, which will be held from 27 to 28 May 2025 in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands.

NWO Life is an annual scientific conference for life scientists that provides inspiration in many ways: Enjoy sessions with world-leading keynote speakers and researchers. Share your research with a diverse range of life scientists at all career stages. Gain new perspectives through fresh insights from other experts. 

NWO Life provides a platform for ease of access to scientific knowledge beyond your own field of study. The program for this two-day scientific conference is organized according to themes suitable for research in different contexts, making the sessions an ideal opportunity for gaining new insights. The conference caters to life science researchers at all career stages. Early career researchers will be given the opportunity to gain experience by presenting their findings, while more senior researchers will be able to discover new goals and forge new collaborations during plenary and poster sessions. There will be ample networking opportunities for all participants.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Biology;
• MPs;
• JDB;
• IJERPH;
• Organoids.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://nwolife.nl/.

Name: Dr. Yvonne Buunk-Werkhoven
Affiliations: Faculty of Medicine, Kauno Kolegija, LT-50468 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: promotion of oral health, oral hygiene behavior, oral discomfort, public health, social health, social psychology, behavioral sciences, applied research, interventions

Name: Prof. Dr. Abraham P. Buunk
Affiliations: Social Psychology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands
Interests: social psychology

“A Two-Dimensional Scale for Oral Discomfort”
by Yvonne A. B. Buunk-Werkhoven, Dick P. H. Barelds, Arie Dijkstra and Abraham P. Buunk
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(3), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030415
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/3/415

1. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic?
My name is Yvonne Buunk-Werkhoven, and I am an Associate Professor at Kauno Kolegija in the Faculty of Medicine in Lithuania. I am both a social psychologist and an oral hygienist. I earned my degree 15 years ago in the field of behavioral and social sciences. My current Public Health research focuses on the promotion of oral health, behavioral change in oral hygiene practices, and understanding oral discomfort. My work often explores the intersection between social psychology and oral hygiene, seeking ways to apply psychological theories to clinical oral health challenges.

2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in your research field?
A key challenge in our field is aligning psychological measurement tools with clinical practice. In behavioral science, we often rely on questionnaires and models but applying these findings in the clinic isn’t always straightforward. A real breakthrough comes when we manage to integrate both evidence-based and practice-based approaches, bridging theory with what’s truly needed in day-to-day patient care. The innovation lies in that dual perspective—scientific rigor combined with practical relevance.

3. What motivates you to conduct research in this field?
Initially, I worked as an oral hygienist and later transitioned into social psychology. This blend of backgrounds inspired me to better understand how people adopt and maintain oral hygiene habits. Changing health behavior is deeply personal and influenced by many contextual factors—culture, environment, individual differences. I’m especially motivated by the need to tailor interventions to specific populations, respecting their unique circumstances. For me, oral health is a key part of general health and social well-being.

4. How do you evaluate current research trends in your field, and what advice would you give young scholars?
Currently, the field leans heavily toward prevention, which is important, but I believe we also need to promote positive health outcomes. I encourage young scholars to shift focus from illness and care toward health and behavior. Starting from the premise that oral health exists by default—and is disrupted by various influences—can lead to more proactive, empowering research. Oral health impacts everything from physical health to self-confidence and interpersonal relationships. Young researchers should embrace holistic and behavioral approaches.

5. How did you hear about our journal, and what was your impression of the publishing experience with IJERPH?
We found the journal through Abraham’s involvement as a member of the Editorial Board. When we were looking for a suitable venue for our manuscript, he suggested submitting it to IJERPH. The publishing experience was excellent—the reviewer comments were especially constructive and helped us refine our work. One reviewer even remarked on the potential impact of our research on dental clinical practice. We were also pleased to see our adapted measurement scale receive positive attention. While the editorial system could be simplified a bit, overall, we’re very happy with the process and plan to submit more work soon.

Name: Dr. Doris Yuet Lan Leung
Affiliations: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: qualitative research, mental health, palliative end-of-life, cultural sensitivity

“The Risk Perception of the Chinese Diaspora during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Targeting Cognitive Dissonance through Storytelling”
by Doris Yuet Lan Leung, Shoilee Khan, Hilary Hwu, Aaida Mamuji, Jack Rozdilsky, Terri Chu and Charlotte Lee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050556
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/5/556

1. Congratulations on your published paper! Could you introduce yourself and your current research to our readers?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my work! I am an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic School of Nursing, where I have been involved in research on social vulnerability for the past ten years. Social vulnerability refers to the combination of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors—such as income, immigrant status, and age—that place individuals at greater risk of poor health outcomes.
My research also focuses on educating healthcare professionals in cultural sensitivity, both in practice and research.

2. What are the major challenges and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
Traditionally, social and psychological research has been dominated by quantitative methods, but my work is primarily qualitative, collecting and analyzing personal narratives.
One breakthrough in my research has been the adoption of critical realism, a theoretical lens that examines how social structures and personal choices intersect in healthcare. This approach helps explain why health outcomes vary among different groups despite similar circumstances. Critical realism allows me to combine subjective and objective evidence to understand how people cope with adversity. While this framework has been around since the 1990s, it remains relatively underutilized in my field, making it an exciting area for exploration.

3. Speaking of adversity, could you elaborate on what types you focus on in your research?
When I talk about adversity, I refer to the social factors that create vulnerability—especially stigma. Stigma can take many forms, including public stigma, self-stigma, and structural stigma embedded within healthcare policies and practices.
For example, many healthcare norms and institutional policies are shaped by social structures that dictate how patients are treated. When individuals experience social vulnerability—whether due to economic barriers, immigration status, or age—these structures can intensify adversity. My research examines how such stigma affects patient experiences and how we can create pathways for resilience.

4. What motivates you to pursue this research?
Much of my inspiration comes from personal experience. I am a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience primarily in psychosocial mental health. Being a third-generation Chinese–Canadian has also shaped my perspective on cultural influences in healthcare.
Through my work, I collect and analyze personal narratives to understand stigma and its effects. My Ph.D. research focused on palliative and end-of-life care, which also carries cultural stigma. This combination of interests naturally led me to investigate how stigma operates as a form of adversity in healthcare.

5. How do you see the future of research in your field? What advice would you give to new scholars?
The field is evolving to acknowledge the complexity of healthcare decision-making. Historically, research has oversimplified these complexities, but we need more theoretical models that address how social vulnerabilities shape health outcomes.
For new scholars, my biggest advice is start with your passion. A Ph.D. is a long and intense journey, and your research should be something you deeply care about, as it will likely shape your career for decades.
Additionally, researchers should focus on intersections—for example, how stigma influences whether people disclose mental health conditions. While promoting openness is generally beneficial, some individuals face real risks in disclosing their conditions due to social and structural barriers. Understanding these complexities is essential for driving meaningful change.

6. How did you learn about IJERPH, and what was your experience with the editorial process?
I first learned about IJERPH through a Ph.D. student I co-authored a paper with. She had a great experience publishing in the journal, which led me to submit my own work here.
I’ve found the editorial process to be efficient and professional. Compared to other journals, where reviews can take six to nine months, IJERPH has a fast response time of two to three months, which is incredibly valuable for researchers.
I also appreciate that the journal welcomes diverse methodologies, including qualitative research like mine, and allows a reasonable word count—essential for conveying the depth of qualitative studies.

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.

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.

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

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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.