Molecular Autopsy: Genetic and Genomic Approaches to Sudden Unexpected Death
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 99
Special Issue Editors
Interests: pathology; bioethics; sudden cardiac death; forensic; research ethics; telocytes; stem cells; organoids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Many sudden, unexpected deaths, particularly in young individuals, remain unexplained even after a thorough conventional autopsy. Molecular autopsy addresses this gap by applying genetic and genomic analysis to postmortem samples, aiming to identify heritable conditions such as channelopathies and cardiomyopathies that predispose people to fatal arrhythmias. Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing now allow comprehensive interrogation of both coding and non-coding regions, revealing novel variants and polygenic risk architectures that traditional gene panels miss. Transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of cardiac tissue further adds functional layers, helping distinguish pathogenic variants from benign background variation. This Special Issue brings together perspectives from forensic pathology, clinical cardiology, and genomic medicine to examine current sequencing protocols, bioinformatic pipelines for variant prioritization, and the ethical dimensions of returning incidental genomic findings to bereaved families. Beyond establishing the cause of death, the molecular autopsy enables cascade screening of surviving relatives, transforming a forensic procedure into a preventive medical tool.
We welcome original research articles, short communications, reviews, and case reports addressing these aspects of molecular autopsy.
Prof. Dr. Sorin Hostiuc
Prof. Dr. Ruxandra Jurcut
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- molecular autopsy
- sudden cardiac death
- forensic pathology
- cardiac channelopathies
- inherited cardiomyopathies
- postmortem genetic testing
- whole-genome sequencing
- functional genomics
- cascade screening
- variant interpretation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
