Feature Papers in Journal of Developmental Biology 2026
A special issue of Journal of Developmental Biology (ISSN 2221-3759).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 416
Special Issue Editor
Interests: birth defects; developmental basis of congenital and acquired cardiopulmonary diseases; neonatal lung alveolar septation; transgenic mouse modelling; cell lineage tracing; neural crest; fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition; extracellular matrix
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Developmental biology continues to be one of the most rapidly evolving areas of the life sciences, providing fundamental insights into how organisms are formed, patterned, and maintained. Recent years have seen major conceptual and technological advances that have transformed the field, enabling unprecedented resolution in the study of developmental processes across spatial, temporal, and organizational scales. These advances are reshaping our understanding of cell fate decisions, tissue morphogenesis, and the molecular logic underlying development in both physiological and pathological contexts.
The Journal of Developmental Biology is pleased to announce the Special Issue “Feature Papers in Journal of Developmental Biology 2026”, which aims to highlight high-quality, impactful research and authoritative reviews that represent recent advances and emerging directions in developmental biology. This Special Issue will showcase selected contributions that advance the field conceptually, mechanistically, or methodologically, spanning studies from the molecular level to whole-organism development.
We particularly welcome submissions that address current and rapidly developing topics in developmental biology, including but not limited to, the following topics:
- Gene regulatory networks and signaling pathways controlling development and pattern formation;
- Single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, and multi-omics approaches in developmental systems;
- Cell fate specification, plasticity, and lineage tracing;
- Tissue morphogenesis, organoid models, and in vitro developmental systems;
- Stem cells and regeneration in development and disease;
- Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD);
- RNA-based regulation and post-transcriptional control in development;
- Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) and comparative developmental mechanisms;
- Development of the nervous system and neurodevelopmental disorders;
- Integration of developmental biology with genetics, molecular biology, and bioengineering.
This Special Issue invites original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and perspectives that provide novel insights, methodological innovation, or critical synthesis of recent progress in developmental biology. Contributions that bridge fundamental developmental mechanisms with translational or disease-related applications are especially encouraged.
By bringing together a curated collection of feature papers, this Special Issue aims to capture the state of the art in developmental biology in 2026, highlight emerging trends, and stimulate further research in this dynamic field.
We look forward to receiving your outstanding contributions.
Prof. Dr. Simon J. Conway
Guest Editor
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. Journal of Developmental Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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
- developmental biology
- cellular organization
- molecular mechanisms
- cell differentiation
- embryonic development
- tissue development
- organ development
- regenerative processes
- metamorphosis
- developmental genetics
- rare developmental disorders
- RNA biology
- transcriptomics
- evolution of development
- nervous system development
- developmental pathways
- molecular biology
- neurobiology
- genetic regulation
- disease models in development
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.
