Announcements

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 have expanded our open access portfolio with eight new journals publishing their inaugural issues in December 2025, as well as three journal transfers. These additions span physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, environmental and Earth sciences, medicine and pharmacology, and public health and healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who are shaping these journals’ direction. All journals uphold strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new initiative—the Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3271) Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program enables early career researchers (who must hold a PhD in a related field) to gain experience 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).

The mentee’s responsibilities include:

• Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting with the 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 the mentor;
• Providing opinions and suggestions to the mentor to assist them with making their final decisions (they cannot make decisions during paper processing, and the mentee will not be listed in the published papers as an Academic Editor).

The mentor’s responsibilities include:

• 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 mentee if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
• Regularly organizing video calls with the mentee 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 mentors and mentees.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Medical Sciences Editorial Office 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, Medical Sciences will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals based on hot research topics in the field as usual.

In order to further enhance the international influence of the journal Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3271), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Medical Sciences is inviting interested and eligible early career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

A total of 30 Early Career Editorial Board Members are planned to be recruited. Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application eligibility:

• Completed their doctorate/PhD degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Served as the first author on at least five peer-reviewed and published manuscripts;
• Have a strong and impactful portfolio of publications in their field of research;
• Currently (at the time of application) an assistant professor, research assistant professor, associate research scientist, post-doctoral fellow, or equivalent early career position;
• Willingness to dedicate their time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).

Benefits of being an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members will be publicized on the journals’ various media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• Opportunities to be promoted to a full Editorial Board Member will be provided contingent upon contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who have participated in the peer-review process on the website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing media content for their promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Identifying potential reviewers for specific papers, and assessing any potential ethical or policy-based questions that might arise due to the papers’ content;
• Supporting the development of the journal through various means, such as providing suggestions and promoting the journal via academic networks, academic conferences, and new media channels;
• Inviting submissions from world-leading scientists in their respective research fields through both local and global networks;
• Learning about the scholarly publishing landscape, including gaining an awareness of the manuscript review process, ethical considerations, and the strategies used by publishers.

Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to medsci@mdpi.com with the subject of “Medical Sciences Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 31 July 2026.

Selection process and announcement:
The selection process: initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline and the results will be announced on the journal website.

MDPI will be attending the ESCMID Global 2026, which will be held from 17 to 21 April 2026, in Munich, Germany.

ESCMID Global 2026 stands as the largest international conference in the fields of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, dedicated to connecting scientists, doctors, veterinarians and other healthcare professionals worldwide. Centered on combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), this annual congress serves as a pivotal platform for driving innovation and collaboration in the sector.

The conference covers a wide spectrum of key areas, including scientific research, infection management, and innovations in therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines. Attendees will have the opportunity to access the latest scientific breakthroughs, transformative treatments and rapid diagnostic technologies, making it an essential event for those looking to connect, learn and lead the future of infectious disease control.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Antibiotics;
• JCM;
• Microorganisms;
• COVID;
• Hygiene;
• JMP;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Diseases;
• Immuno;
• Medical Sciences;
• Vaccines.

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth at #G46 and have 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 link: https://www.escmid.org/congress-events/escmid-global/munich-2026/.

Welcome message from the Chair:

Welcome to the Corticosteroid’s webinar organized by the ournal of Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3271). This webinar will cover controversial topics such as the administration of corticosteroids in sCAP, a frequent respiratory infection and a very lethal disease.

After a short introduction by myself, Prof. Marco Confalonieri from Triestre will review the complex issue of the physiology of corticosteroids administration in critically ill patients, and Prof. François-Dequin from Tour will provide an in-depth review on the current evidence, including the pros and the cons, for administering corticosteroids in sCAP.

Following the two presentations, there will be a debate and a Q&A session with our two speakers.

Date: 17 12 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CET | 11:00 a.m. EST
Webinar ID: 836 7053 6137

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the 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 Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Antoni Torres, ¹ Institut D investigacions August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Pulmonology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; ² Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
• Prof. Dr. Marco Confalonieri, Department of Pulmonology, University of Trieste, Italy;
• Prof. Dr. Pierre François Dequin, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University of Tours, France.

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.

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 will be attending the 2025 ISBI Regional Conference, which will be held from 3 to 4 December 2025, in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The ISBI 2025 Regional Conference, hosted by International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI), has the theme “Improving the Quality of Burn Care from Admission to Discharge and Beyond”. This international burn care scientific conference will focus on quality in burn care along the continuum of care. Topics to be discussed include burn wound debridement, closing the burn wound, burn critical care management, burn reconstruction, burn rehabilitation, and burn nursing, among others. Delegates from around the world will have the opportunity to discuss topics in burn care and exchange knowledge on how to best care for burn survivors. Industry partners will have the opportunity to showcase their latest burn care products, services, and technology and interact with medical professionals from around the world.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• EBJ;
• Healthcare;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Dermato;
• Diseases;
• Emergency Care and Medicine;
• Hospitals;
• IJERPH;
• J. Aesthetic Med;
• Medical Sciences;
• Surgeries;
• Surgical Techniques Development;
• Trauma Care.

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth and have 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 https://worldburn.org/conferences/isbi_regional_conference.aspx.