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.

The editorial office of Medical Sciences would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all reviewers who contributed to the improvement of the journal quality by providing their expert opinion and evaluation of the submitted research.  

We appreciate that thorough peer review demands considerable time and intellectual investment from our reviewers. In 2025, Medical Sciences received 2042 review reports from contributors across 62 countries and territories, demonstrating the breadth of international expertise and scholarly engagement that has strengthened our publication standards.

The reviewers who agreed to have their names published this year are listed below in alphabetical order by first name. The editorial team acknowledges with gratitude all reviewers, named and anonymous alike, for their vital role in maintaining the scholarly standards of Medical Sciences.

The AACR Annual Meeting is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other healthcare professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine. From population science and prevention to cancer biology, translational and clinical studies, survivorship and advocacy, the AACR Annual Meeting highlights the work of the best minds in cancer research from institutions all over the world. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Cancers;
• IJMS;
• Biomedicines;
• Clinics and Practice;
• Medical Sciences;
• Diseases;
• Epigenomes;
• Biologics;
• Diagnostics;
• Cells;
• Gastrointestinal Disorders;
• Onco;
• Radiation. 

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #3645 at the conference and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about this event, please visit the following website: https://www.aacr.org/meeting/aacr-annual-meeting-2026.

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.