Announcements

Conference: 5th MMCS: New Trends in Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery
Date: 14–17 May 2026, Beijing Time
Conference website: https://sciforum.net/event/MMCS2026

This conference is organized by the MDPI journal Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049, IF: 4.2, and CiteScore: 7.4) and will take place in Beijing, China, from 14 to 17 May 2026 (Beijing time).

Conference Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Xiaoguang Lei, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, China;
• Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Spain.

Topics of interest:
S1. Chemical biology for drug discovery;
S2. AI for drug discovery;
S3. New proximity-based drug modalities;
S4. Natural products in drug discovery;
S5. Biocatalysis for natural product and drug synthesis;
S6. Drug discovery targeting GPCRs and ion channels;
S7. DNA-encoded libraries in drug discovery;
S8. Medicinal chemistry tales.

Important dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: 16 January 2026;
Abstract acceptance notification: 9 February 2026;
Early bird registration deadline: 11 February 2026;
Covering author registration deadline: 11 February 2026;
Registration deadline: 14 May 2026.

Guide for authors:

To submit your abstract, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1319.

To register for the event, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/MMCS2026?section=#registration.

For more information, you may refer to the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/MMCS2026.

For any inquiries regarding the event, please contact mmcs2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the 5th MMCS: New Trends in Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery.

MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.

About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.

Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.

About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.

We are honored to recognize the 2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers—scholars whose exemplary commitment to rigorous and constructive peer review is vital in upholding the highest standards of academic publishing.

Selected from a distinguished pool of 215,000 reviewers from 65 countries and regions worldwide, these honorees stand out for their exceptional expertise, diligence, and dedication to advancing research through timely and thoughtful reviews. Their constructive and impartial feedback ensures the publication of high-quality, impactful research, while their timely reviews facilitate swift revisions and faster publication of innovative work.

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. With gratitude and respect, we celebrate these 1000 scholars who made that foundation stronger in 2024. We respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

Conference: ACS Spring 2026
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 22−26 March 2026
Place: Atlanta, GA, USA
Booth: #726

A number of MDPI journals will be attending ACS Spring 2026 as exhibitors, an exciting event being held in Atlanta, GA, USA, from 22 to 26 March 2026.

ACS Meetings & Expositions are the prime location for chemistry professionals to meet in order to exchange ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of professionals in the field of chemistry, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for peers to engage with one another and share their passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies and helping to advance careers in this ever-changing global field.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• IJMS;
• DDC;
• Analytica;
• AppliedChem;
• ChemEngineering;
• Colorants;
• Materials;
• Metals;
• Microplastics;
• Molbank;
• Reactions;
• Separations;
• Alloys.

If you are attending the above conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth, booth #726. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the International Journal of Molecular Sciences Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program enables early career researchers (who must hold a PhD in a related field) to gain experience in editing a Special Issue in MDPI Journals under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program provides an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience and to cultivate their ability to edit scientific research. It is important to note that, within this program, the mentor will hold the title of Guest Editor (GE), while the mentee will be recognized as the Guest Editor Assistant (GEA).

Guest Editor assistant’s responsibilities:

• Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting with the GE Mentor to prepare a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Special Issue;
• Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
• Preparing a list of scholars that may be interested in the Special Issue and personally e-mailing the invitations on behalf of the GEs;
• Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue together with mentor;
• Providing opinions and suggestions to the GE mentor to assist them with making their final decisions (but they cannot make decisions during paper processing, and the GE Assistant will not be listed in the published papers as an Academic Editor).

Guest Editor mentor’s responsibilities:

• Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
• Performing editorial control of the Special issue and quality control of the publications in a timely manner;
• Providing suggestions to the GE Assistant if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
• Regularly organizing video calls with the GE Assistant and the Editorial Office to discuss problems and suggestions for improvement for the Special Issue.
• Making and submitting decisions for the submissions with the assistance of the mentees.

Certificates and awards:
After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates for all the GE Mentors and GE Assistants.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the IJMS Editorial Office (ijms@mdpi.com), and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS, ISSN: 1422-0067) will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals focusing on hot research topics.

Conference: Plant & Animal Genome Conference 33
Organization: Scherago International
Date: 9–14 January 2026
Place: Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, CA, USA

MDPI journals will be attending the Plant & Animal Genome Conference 33 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held at the Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, CA, USA, from 9 to 14 January 2026.

The Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG) builds on 30+ years of momentum, bringing together leading scientists and researchers across plant, animal, and related genomic fields. The conference features 6 plenary talks presented by world-renowned authorities in plant and animal genomics; 200+ scientific sessions, industry workshops, and digital tools and resources sessions; a poster gallery; and an expo of companies and organizations in genomics and related industries.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Genes;
• Stresses;
• Taxonomy;
• Agronomy;
• Epigenomes;
• Current Issues in Molecular Biology;
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences;
• Animals;
• International Journal of Plant Biology;
• Crops;
• Horticulturae;
• Grasses;
• Insects;
• BioChem;
• DNA;
• Poultry.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

We are pleased to announce updates to our article template, aimed at improving the readability and visual appeal of our publications. The following updates will be applied to articles published in volumes in 2026, starting from 19 December 2025.

Left information bar:

• Updated the logo and URL for “Check for updates”;
• Removed the “Citation” section (Note: Citation details remain accessible via “Cite” in the online article version);
• Changed the link in “Copyright” to a hyperlink format.

Footer:

• Added a DOI link at the bottom-right corner of each page.

The updated template is now available for download from the Instructions for Authors page of each journal.

We hope that the new version of the template will provide users with better experience and make the process more convenient.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact our production team at production@mdpi.com.

We are pleased to announce that the 2^nd International Conference on Bioengineering (BIOENG 2026) is back and it will take place from 11 to 13 November 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.

This conference is organized by MDPI’s open access journal Bioengineering (ISSN: 2306-5354, Impact Factor 3.7). Following the success of IOCBE 2024, an earlier edition in this series, BIOENG 2026 aims to gather leading minds from around the world once more to discuss transformative advances in bioengineering at the intersection with AI.

Conference Chairman:

• Prof. Dr. Anthony Guiseppi-Elie, Texas A&M University, USA.

Session topics of interest:
S1. Regenerative engineering;
S2. Biochemical engineering;
S3. Biosignal processing;
S4. Biomedical engineering and biomaterials;
S5. Biomechanics and sports medicine.

Important dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: 7 July 2026;
Abstract notification of acceptance: 6 September 2026;
Deadline for Early Bird registration: 7 September 2026;
Deadline for covering author registration: 17 September 2026;
Deadline for registration: 4 November 2026.

Guide for authors:

To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1424.

To register for the event, please visit the following website: https://sciforum.net/event/BIOENG2026?section=#registration.

For details regarding abstract submission, poster and slide submission, and publication opportunities, please refer to the “Instructions for Authors” section: https://sciforum.net/event/BIOENG2026?section=#instructions.

We welcome you to partake in this opportunity to contribute to and shape the AI-enabled evolution of bioengineering.

For any enquiries regarding this event, please contact bioeng2026@mdpi.com.

1 December is World AIDS Day, the day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care around the world. It has become one of the most widely recognized international health days.

In recognition of this day, we recommend the following related articles, Special Issues, and journals spanning multidisciplinary fields, including clinical medicine and biology. We believe that sharing such research can raise the public’s awareness and understanding of AIDS. The aim is to strengthen scientific cooperation in response to increased awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

“Progress and Challenges in HIV-1 Vaccine Research: A Comprehensive Overview”
by Alex C. Boomgarden and Chitra Upadhyay
Vaccines 2025, 13(2), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13020148

“Drug-Drug Interactions Between HIV Antivirals and Concomitant Drugs in HIV Patients: What We Know and What We Need to Know”
by Emanuela De Bellis, Danilo Donnarumma, Adele Zarrella, Salvatore Maria Mazzeo, Annarita Pagano, Valentina Manzo, Ines Mazza, Francesco Sabbatino, Graziamaria Corbi, Pasquale Pagliano et al.
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010031

“High Prevalence of High-Risk HPV Among People with and Without HIV: Insights into Risk Factors for Tailored Screening Approaches”
by Elena Bruzzesi, Federica Gandini, Sara Diotallevi, Riccardo Lolatto, Massimo Cernuschi, Caterina Candela, Angelo Roberto Raccagni, Flavia Passini, Andrea Marco Tamburini, Roberto Burioni et al.
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122571

“Association Between Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Positive Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy”
by Madalina-Ianca Suba, Bogdan Hogea, Ahmed Abu-Awwad, Voichita Elena Lazureanu, Ovidiu Rosca, Daniela Gurgus, Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin and Alina Abu-Awwad
Diseases 2024, 12(12), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12120313

“NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent”
by Randilea Nichols Doyle, Vivian Yang, Yetunde I. Kayode, Robert Damoiseaux, Harry E. Taylor and Oliver I. Fregoso
Viruses 2024, 16(11), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111783

“HIV Self-Testing: A Discussion on the Benefits, Limitations, and Implications for Public Health with a Focus on Poland”
by Aleksandra Kozieł, Igor Domański, Aleksandra Szymczak, Tomasz Dudzik, Brygida Knysz and Bartosz Szetela
Diagnostics 2024, 14(22), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14222475

“Tumor Initiation and Progression in People Living on Antiretroviral Therapies”
by Seun E. Olufemi, Daniel A. Adediran, Temitope Sobodu, Isaac O. Adejumo, Olumide F. Ajani and Elijah K. Oladipo
Biologics 2024, 4(4), 390-406; https://doi.org/10.3390/biologics4040024

“J3ExoA: A Novel Anti-HIV Immunotoxin Fusion of Anti-Gp120 J3VHH and PE38 Fragment of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A”
by Seth H. Pincus, Kun Luo, Tami Peters, James T. Gordy, Frances M. Cole, Grant Klug, Kelli Ober, Tamera K. Marcotte and Richard B. Markham
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(9), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18091305

“A Memo on Factors Associated with Perception of Stigma Attached to PrEP: Evidence from the Keeping It LITE Study”
by Shahin Davoudpour, Gregory L. Phillips II, Pedro A. Serrano, Audrey L. French and Sybil G. Hosek
Sexes 2024, 5(3), 300-316; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes5030023

“Effects of E-Cigarettes on the Lung and Systemic Metabolome in People with HIV”
by Aline Zaparte, Courtney J. Christopher, Connie Arnold, Lauren Richey, Adairre Castille, Kyle Mistretta, Christopher M. Taylor, Huiyi Lin, Steve Nelson, John P. Kirwan, John W. Apolzan, Shawn R. Campagna and David A. Welsh
Metabolites 2024, 14(8), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14080434

“Bone Tissue Changes in Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS: The Importance of a Hierarchical Approach in Investigating Bone Fragility”
by Jelena Jadzic, Gordana Dragovic, Relja Lukic, Bozana Obradovic and Marija Djuric
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(8), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14080791

“Advanced Therapies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus”
by Daniel Josef Lindegger
Med. Sci. 2024, 12(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci12030033

“Antiretroviral Therapy Switch in HIV-Infected Adults from a Regional HIV/AIDS Center in NE Romania”
by Isabela Ioana Loghin, Șerban Alin Rusu, Andrei Vâţă, Mihaela Cobaschi, Ion Cecan, Carmen Manciuc and Carmen Mihaela Dorobăţ
Medicina 2024, 60(6), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60060854

“Alterations in the Gut Microbiome Composition of People Living with HIV in the Asia–Pacific Region: A Systematic Review”
by Paul Benedic U. Salvador, Patrick Josemaria d. R. Altavas, Mark Angelo S. del Rosario, Eric David B. Ornos and Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio
Clin. Pract. 2024, 14(3), 846-861; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14030066

“Systematic Review: HIV, Aging, and Housing—A North American Perspective, 2012–2023”
by Arthur S. Chaminuka, Gayle Prybutok, Victor R. Prybutok and William D. Senn
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12100992

“The Role of MicroRNAs in HIV Infection”
by Nicolas Morando, Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit, Maria A. Pando and Jens Allmer
Genes 2024, 15(5), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15050574

“HIV-TB Co-Infection and Pediatric Pathogen Dynamics” Guest Editor: Dr. Boris Kevin Tchounga Submission deadline: 15 March 2026	“HIV Expression in Diverse Cell Types: Mechanisms, Regulation, and Pathogenesis” Guest Editor: Dr. Rosemary Kiernan Submission deadline: 20 March 2026
“Research on HIV/AIDS Vaccine” Guest Editors: Dr. Portia Chipo Mutevedzi and Dr. Nagesh Kolishetti Submission deadline: 31 May 2026	“Gene and Cell Therapy: New Findings from Medical Research and Treatment” Guest Editors: Dr. Lorella Tripodi and Dr. Antonio Di Stasi Submission deadline: 30 June 2026
“Emerging Knowledge on Human Immunodeficiency Virus” Guest Editors: Dr. Giota Lourida and Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Paraskevis Submission deadline: 22 July 2026	“Nutrition Intervention in HIV Patients” Guest Editors: Dr. Meena Mahadevan Submission deadline: 10 August 2026

MDPI would like to invite all Guest Editors, as esteemed experts in their respective disciplines, to participate in the 8th MDPI Guest Editor Club. This forum intends to highlight exciting topics in a comprehensive but efficient manner to allow Guest Editors to present their experience and discuss their achievements.

The Guest Editor Club will bring together a group of multi-disciplinary Guest Editors from all over the world to present and exchange ideas reported in Special Issues. We have, therefore, put together this platform to aid in your interactions with the journal, leading you through the most important aspects of the role and providing information on what you can expect from the process of editing a Special Issue. We are pleased to provide an exciting opportunity for all our Guest Editors to propose and develop new approaches, exchange perspectives, and encourage new lines of research, with a focus on publishing under the Chemistry & Material Science subject.

Date: 20 November 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. CET | 8:00 a.m. EST | 9:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 840 2216 6365
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MGEC2025-8-chem-materials

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email outlining how to join this webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Invited Speakers:

• Dr. Sanja J. Armaković, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad;
• Dr. Manuel Simões, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Portugal;
• Dr. Simone Carradori, Department of Pharmacy, D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, Italy.

Relevant Special Issues:

“Mechanisms in Biofilm Formation, Tolerance and Control: 3rd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Manuel Simões and Dr. Lúcia Chaves Simões
Deadline for submission: 20 February 2026

“Application of NMR Spectroscopy in Food Analysis”
Guest Editors: Dr. Giacomo Di Matteo, Dr. Anatoly P. Sobolev and Dr. Simone Carradori
Deadline for submission: 28 February 2026

“Computational and Experimental Research on Materials for Environmental Applications”
Guest Editors: Dr. Sanja J. Armaković, Dr. Stevan Armaković and Dr. Maria M. Savanović
Deadline for submission: 30 April 2026