Announcements

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.

Conference: The 14th Conference of the European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology
Date: 21–25 July 2025
Location: Riga, Latvia

MDPI will be attending the 14th Conference of the European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology (EUSFLAT 2025) as an exhibitor, welcoming researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas.

The conference is organized by the European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology. The aim of the 14th Conference of the European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology, EUSFLAT 2025, which will take place in Riga, Latvia, is to provide a forum for researchers addressing the theory and applications of computational intelligence, fuzzy logic, fuzzy systems, and soft computing to discuss their work. EUSFLAT 2025 brings together researchers, practitioners, and students from around the world to exchange ideas and advance the state of the art in fuzzy logic, soft computing, computational intelligence, and related fields. With a dynamic program of keynote talks, special sessions, workshops, and social events, the conference provides the perfect platform for collaboration and innovation.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:
Axioms;
Mathematics;
Algorithms;
AppliedMath;
Applied Sciences;
Computers;
International Journal of Topology;
J. Imaging;
Logics;
Stats.

Name: Dr. Bo Yu
Affiliation: Hunan University of Technology, China
Research interests: scientific engineering computation

The following is an interview with Dr. Bo Yu:

1. Could you provide a brief introduction of yourself to our readers? Could you describe your current research direction and share an update on your progress?
Currently, my research is focused on developing efficient numerical algorithms for large-scale scientific computation in engineering, particularly in numerical solutions to matrix equations. For example, my group is working on structured algorithms for large-scale computations with applications in fluid dynamics and materials science. We have made progress in reducing computational costs while maintaining accuracy through novel structured techniques.

2. Can you share your thoughts and feelings regarding this award?
I am deeply honored to receive this award, as it recognizes the collaborative efforts of my students and colleagues. Scientific computing is a team endeavor, and this achievement reflects the collective impact of our work in developing novel numerical methods for solving real-world problems. It also motivates me to continue pushing boundaries in both theoretical foundation and practical implementation.

3. Could you offer some insights into your approach to reviewing manuscripts? How do you strike a balance between thoroughness and efficiency?
Balancing thoroughness and efficiency is critical. My approach mainly involves the following two stages:

• Assessing the paper’s novelty, technical soundness, and clarity. If the work is outside my expertise or lacks rigor, I typically decline the paper early;
• For promising submissions, my group verifies derivations, numerical experiments, and reproducibility. We focus on whether the methodology is well justified, and if the results are significant. 

4. In your opinion, what are some key qualities that make a review outstanding?
I think an outstanding review should be objective. The report should focus on science, not personal preferences. Also, the review should provide context by comparing the work to the state-of-the-art and highlighting broader implications. Moreover, it should be concise—avoiding vague critiques—and use examples or references to support any claims.

5. Based on your experience, which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
In my perspective, I foresee growing interest in AI-aided scientific computing, particularly in integrating machine learning with traditional numerical methods.

6. What is your opinion on the open access model of publishing?
Open access (OA) is vital for democratizing knowledge, especially in publicly funded research. However, challenges remain, such as the acceleration of dissemination, high article processing charges (APCs), etc. I fully support community-driven OA models (e.g., arXiv, institutional repositories).

The application deadline for the Mathematics Women Mathematician Award is approaching (31 May 2025).

This prize will be awarded to one woman mathematician who has achieved a great deal in the field. The winner will receive CHF 2000, an electronic certificate, and an APC fee waiver to publish a peer-reviewed paper in 2025 in the journal Mathematics (ISSN: 2227-7390). More information regarding the Women Mathematician Award, including the eligibility and requirements, required documents, and application procedures, can be found on the award page of the Mathematics website.

Please ensure that you submit your application for the Women Mathematician Award online by 31 May 2025. The winner will be announced on the Mathematics website by the end of July 2025.

The application deadline for the Mathematics Best Ph.D. Thesis Award is approaching (31 May 2025).

This prize will be awarded to one Ph.D. student or recently qualified Ph.D. who has produced a highly anticipated thesis with great academic potential. The winner will receive CHF 500, an electronic certificate, and a voucher for free article processing fees, valid for one year. More information regarding the award, including the eligibility and requirements, required documents, and application procedures, can be found on the award page of the Mathematics (ISSN: 2227-7390) website.

Please ensure that you submit your application for the Mathematics Best Ph.D. Thesis Award online by 31 May 2025. The winner will be announced on the Mathematics website by the end of July 2025.

MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.

Workshop Highlights:

• Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
• How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
• How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
• Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
• How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

Conference: IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation
Date: 8–12 June 2025
Place: Hangzhou, China

MDPI will be attending the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Hangzhou, China, from 8 to 12 June 2025.

The annual IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation is a world-class event in the field of Evolutionary Computation. It provides a forum to bring together researchers and practitioners from all over the world to present and discuss their research findings on evolutionary computation. Topics include the following: algorithms, machine learning for optimization and evolutionary learning, optimization, related topics and theory.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Mathematical and Computational Applications (MCA);
• AI;
• Algorithms;
• AppliedMath;
• Applied Sciences;
• BDCC;
• Biomimetics;
• Computers;
• Digital;
• Data;
• Games;
• Future Internet;
• Information;
• Mathematics;
• Robotics.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.cec2025.org/.

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.

The Nonlinearity, Nonlocality, and Ultrametricity International Conference on the Occasion of Prof. Branko Dragovich’s 80th Birthday will be held from 26 to 30 May 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia, and is organized by the Faculty of Mathematics (University of Belgrade), Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics (University of Niš), and Serbian Academy of Nonlinear Sciences (SANS).

Prof. Branko Dragovich celebrated his 80th birthday on 11 March 2025. To commemorate this joyous occasion, his co-authors, colleagues, and friends have organized this international scientific conference that will be held in Belgrade. The conference program will focus on scientific research areas of interest to Prof. Dragovich, as well as related fields. Topics will primarily cover theoretical and mathematical physics areas, with an emphasis on nonlinearity, nonlocality, and ultrametricity.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Symmetry;
• QuBS;
• Mathematics;
• Axioms;
• Particles.

If you are planning to attend the above-mentioned conference, we warmly welcome you to visit our booth and engage with our representatives. We look forward to meeting you in person and are here to assist with any questions that you may have. For more information about this conference, please visit the official website at http://dragovich80.matf.bg.ac.rs/.