Announcements

We are delighted to share some highly cited papers on diabetes research that were published in our journal Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989) in 2023–2024. In addition, some Special Issues related to this topic are currently open for submission. 

The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that we believe will interest you:

1. “The Relationship between Phthalates and Diabetes: A Review”
by Melissa Mariana and Elisa Cairrao
Metabolites 2023, 13(6), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13060746
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/6/746

2. “Salivary Metabolites Produced by Oral Microbes in Oral Diseases and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review”
by Bina Kashyap and Arja Kullaa
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050277
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/5/277

3. “Crucial Regulatory Role of Organokines in Relation to Metabolic Changes in Non-Diabetic Obesity”
by Hajnalka Lőrincz, Sándor Somodi, Balázs Ratku, Mariann Harangi and György Paragh
Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020270
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/2/270

4. “The Role of Organokines in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes and Their Functions as Molecular Transducers of Nutrition and Exercise”
by Ji Ye Lim and Eunju Kim
Metabolites 2023, 13(9), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13090979
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/9/979

5. “Evaluating the Relationship between Circadian Rhythms and Sleep, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disorders: Current Clinical Evidence in Human Studies”
by Maria Mentzelou, Sousana K. Papadopoulou, Dimitrios Papandreou, Maria Spanoudaki, Antonios Dakanalis, Georgios K. Vasios, Gavriela Voulgaridou, Eleni Pavlidou, Maria Mantzorou and Constantinos Giaginis
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030370
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/370

6. “Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) As a Prognostic Marker for Emerging Dysglycemia in Children with Overweight or Obesity”
by Robert Stein, Florian Koutny, Johannes Riedel, Natascha Dörr, Klara Meyer, Marco Colombo, Mandy Vogel, Christian Heinz Anderwald, Matthias Blüher, Wieland Kiess et al.
Metabolites 2023, 13(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13010100
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/1/100

7. “Comprehensive Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome: How Nutrition, Dietary Polyphenols, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle Modifications Address Diabesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Neurodegenerative Conditions”
by Giovanni Martemucci, Mohamad Khalil, Alessio Di Luca, Hala Abdallah and Angela Gabriella D’Alessandro
Metabolites 2024, 14(6), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14060327
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/6/327

8. “Long-Term Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Reduces 20-Year Diabetes Incidence: The ATTICA Cohort Study (2002–2022)”
by Ioanna Kechagia, Thomas Tsiampalis, Evangelia Damigou, Fotios Barkas, Georgia Anastasiou, Evrydiki Kravvariti, Evangelos Liberopoulos, Petros P. Sfikakis, Christina Chrysohoou, Costas Tsioufis et al.
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040182
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/4/182

9. “Risk Factors for Ankle Brachial Index and Carotid Artery Stenosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes”
by Vesna Đermanović Dobrota, Neva Brkljačić, Angelika Tičinović Ivančić, Maja Čavlović, Tomislav Bulum and Martina Tomić
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010059
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/59

10. “Understanding the Genetic Landscape of Gestational Diabetes: Insights into the Causes and Consequences of Elevated Glucose Levels in Pregnancy”
by Caroline Brito Nunes, Maria Carolina Borges, Rachel M. Freathy, Deborah A. Lawlor, Elisabeth Qvigstad, David M. Evans and Gunn-Helen Moen
Metabolites 2024, 14(9), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14090508
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/9/508

Special Issues:

“Metabolic Biomarkers in Type 2 Diabetes: From Discovery to Application” Guest Editors: Dr. Eiji Kutoh and Dr. Shengshuai Shan Submission Deadline: 2 April 2025	“Childhood Obesity and Its Associated Metabolic Complications” Guest Editors: Dr. Marina Ybarra and Dr. Tiago Jeronimo dos Santos Submission Deadline: 15 June 2025
“Metabolic Biomarkers in Type 2 Diabetes: From Discovery to Application” Guest Editors: Dr. Eiji Kutoh and Dr. Shengshuai Shan Submission Deadline: 2 April 2025	“Childhood Obesity and Its Associated Metabolic Complications” Guest Editors: Dr. Marina Ybarra and Dr. Tiago Jeronimo dos Santos Submission Deadline: 15 June 2025

We are delighted to share some of the highly cited papers from the Section “Lipid Metabolism” that were published in Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989) from 2023 to 2024. The following is a list of high-quality articles and Special Issues that we believe will be of interest to you:

1. “High-Density Lipoprotein Alterations in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity”
by Damien Denimal, Serge Monier, Benjamin Bouillet, Bruno Vergès and Laurence Duvillard
Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020253
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/2/253

2. “Neurotransmitters in Type 2 Diabetes and the Control of Systemic and Central Energy Balance”
by Amnah Al-Sayyar, Maha M. Hammad, Michayla R. Williams, Mohammed Al-Onaizi, Jehad Abubaker and Fawaz Alzaid
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030384
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/384

3. “Atherosclerosis Calcification: Focus on Lipoproteins”
by Jaap G. Neels, Georges Leftheriotis and Giulia Chinetti
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030457
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/457

4. “Exosomes in Cardiovascular Disease: From Mechanism to Therapeutic Target”
by Allison B. Reiss, Saba Ahmed, Maryann Johnson, Usman Saeedullah and Joshua De Leon
Metabolites 2023, 13(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13040479
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/4/479

5. “Severe Hypertriglyceridaemia and Chylomicronaemia Syndrome—Causes, Clinical Presentation, and Therapeutic Options”
by Bilal Bashir, Jan H. Ho, Paul Downie, Paul Hamilton, Gordon Ferns, Dev Datta, Jaimini Cegla, Anthony S. Wierzbicki, Charlotte Dawson, Fiona Jenkinson et al.
Metabolites 2023, 13(5), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13050621
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/5/621

6. “The Integration of Metabolomics, Electronic Tongue, and Chromatic Difference Reveals the Correlations between the Critical Compounds and Flavor Characteristics of Two Grades of High-Quality Dianhong Congou Black Tea”
by Shan Zhang, Xujiang Shan, Linchi Niu, Le Chen, Jinjin Wang, Qinghua Zhou, Haibo Yuan, Jia Li and Tian Wu
Metabolites 2023, 13(7), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13070864
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/7/864

7. “Porokeratoses—A Comprehensive Review on the Genetics and Metabolomics, Imaging Methods and Management of Common Clinical Variants”
by Paweł Pietkiewicz, Katarzyna Korecka, Natalia Salwowska, Ihor Kohut, Adarsha Adhikari, Monika Bowszyc-Dmochowska, Anna Pogorzelska-Antkowiak and Cristian Navarrete-Dechent
Metabolites 2023, 13(12), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13121176
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/12/1176

8. “Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)”
by Majid Mufaqam Syed-Abdul
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010012
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/12

9. “ApoB100 and Atherosclerosis: What’s New in the 21st Century?”
by Dimitris Kounatidis, Natalia G. Vallianou, Aikaterini Poulaki, Angelos Evangelopoulos, Fotis Panagopoulos, Theodora Stratigou, Eleni Geladari, Irene Karampela and Maria Dalamaga
Metabolites 2024, 14(2), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14020123
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/2/123

10. “Lipidome Changes Associated with a Diet-Induced Reduction in Hepatic Fat among Adolescent Boys with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease”
by Helaina E. Huneault, Chih-Yu Chen, Catherine C. Cohen, Xueyun Liu, Zachery R. Jarrell, Zhulin He, Karla E. DeSantos, Jean A. Welsh, Kristal M. Maner-Smith, Eric A. Ortlund et al.
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040191
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/4/191

11. “Comparative Lipidomics of Oral Commensal and Opportunistic Bacteria”
by Paul L. Wood, Annie Le and Dominic L. Palazzolo
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040240
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/4/240

12. “Interaction between α-Synuclein and Bioactive Lipids: Neurodegeneration, Disease Biomarkers and Emerging Therapies”
by Chiara Sanluca, Paolo Spagnolo, Romina Mancinelli, Maria Ilenia De Bartolo, Marina Fava, Mauro Maccarrone, Simone Carotti, Eugenio Gaudio, Alessandro Leuti and Giorgio Vivacqua
Metabolites 2024, 14(7), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14070352
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/7/352

We are delighted to share some highly cited papers on Alzheimer’s disease research that were published in our journal Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989) in 2023–2024. In addition, some Special Issues related to this topic are currently open for submission.

The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that we believe will interest you:

1. “Obesity-Induced Brain Neuroinflammatory and Mitochondrial Changes”
by Luisa O. Schmitt and Joana M. Gaspar
Metabolites 2023, 13(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13010086
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/1/86

2. “Metabolomic Footprint of Disrupted Energetics and Amino Acid Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Perspectives for Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Therapy”
by Patrycja Maszka, Magdalena Kwasniak-Butowska, Dominik Cysewski, Jaroslaw Slawek, Ryszard T. Smolenski and Marta Tomczyk
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030369
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/369

3. “The Role of Dietary Antioxidants and Their Potential Mechanisms in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment”
by Emily Knight, Thangiah Geetha, Tom L. Broderick and Jeganathan Ramesh Babu
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030438
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/438

4. “A Comprehensive NMR Analysis of Serum and Fecal Metabolites in Familial Dysautonomia Patients Reveals Significant Metabolic Perturbations”
by Stephanann M. Costello, Alexandra M. Cheney, Annie Waldum, Brian Tripet, Maria Cotrina-Vidal, Horacio Kaufmann, Lucy Norcliffe-Kaufmann, Frances Lefcort and Valérie Copié
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030433
Available Online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/433

5. “In Vitro Astroglial Dysfunction Induced by Neurotoxins: Mimicking Astrocytic Metabolic Alterations of Alzheimer’s Disease”
by Jéssica Taday, Fernanda Telles Fróes, Marina Seady, Carlos Alberto Gonçalves and Marina Concli Leite
Metabolites 2024, 14(3), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14030151
Available Online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/3/151

6. “Metabolomic Signatures of Brainstem in Mice following Acute and Subchronic Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure”
by Dong-Suk Kim, Cristina M. Santana Maldonado, Cecilia Giulivi and Wilson Kiiza Rumbeiha
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010053
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/53

Special Issues:

“Metabolic Biomarkers and Nutrition in Degenerative Conditions and Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery” Guest Editors: Dr. Irene Lidoriki, Dr. Dimitrios Schizas and Dr. Maximos Frountzas Submission Deadline: 31 March 2025	“The Comorbidity of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Anna Serefko and Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Szopa Submission Deadline: 31 May 2025
“Advancing Metabolite Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Disease: Discovery, Integration, and Therapeutic Potential” Guest Editor: Dr. Robert Logan Submission Deadline: 31 May 2025	“Energy Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases” Guest Editors: Dr. Marta Tomczyk and Dr. Magdalena Podlacha Submission Deadline: 30 July 2025

1. “Tryptophan Metabolism and Gut Microbiota: A Novel Regulatory Axis Integrating the Microbiome, Immunity, and Cancer”
by Yingjian Hou, Jing Li and Shuhuan Ying
Metabolites 2023, 13(11), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13111166
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/11/1166

2. “Simultaneous Quantitation and Discovery (SQUAD) Analysis: Combining the Best of Targeted and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics”
by Bashar Amer, Rahul R. Deshpande and Susan S. Bird
Metabolites 2023, 13(5), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13050648
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/5/648

3. “Explainable Artificial Intelligence Paves the Way in Precision Diagnostics and Biomarker Discovery for the Subclass of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetics”
by Fatma Hilal Yagin, Seyma Yasar, Yasin Gormez, Burak Yagin, Abdulvahap Pinar, Abedalrhman Alkhateeb and Luca Paolo Ardigò
Metabolites 2023, 13(12), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13121204
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/12/1204

4. “Is Lipid Metabolism of Value in Cancer Research and Treatment? Part II: Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Inflammation, Infections, and Cancer”
by Muhammad Usman Babar, Ala F. Nassar, Xinxin Nie, Tianxiang Zhang, Jianwei He, Jacky Yeung, Paul Norris, Hideki Ogura, Anne Muldoon, Lieping Chen et al.
Metabolites 2024, 14(6), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14060314
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/6/314

5. “Analysis of the Fecal Metabolomic Profile in Breast vs. Different Formula Milk Feeding in Late Preterm Infants”
by Giuseppe De Bernardo, Gilda D’Urso, Simona Spadarella, Maurizio Giordano, Giuseppina Leone and Agostino Casapullo
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010072
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/72

6. “Changes in Plasma Free Amino Acid Profile in Endurance Athletes over a 9-Month Training Cycle”
by Krzysztof Kusy, Monika Ciekot-Sołtysiak, Jan Matysiak, Agnieszka Klupczyńska-Gabryszak, Szymon Plewa, Ewa Anna Zarębska, Zenon J. Kokot, Paweł Dereziński and Jacek Zieliński
Metabolites 2024, 14(7), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14070353
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/7/353

7. “Identification of Spatial Specific Lipid Metabolic Signatures in Long-Standing Diabetic Kidney Disease”
by Yiran Zhang, Hai-Long Piao and Di Chen
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110641
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/641

8. “Longitudinal Metabolomics Data Analysis Informed by Mechanistic Models”
by Lu Li, Huub Hoefsloot, Barbara M. Bakker, David Horner, Morten A. Rasmussen, Age K. Smilde and Evrim Acar
Metabolites 2025, 15(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15010002
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/1/2

9. “Bioactive Metabolite Survey of Actinobacteria Showing Plant Growth Promoting Traits to Develop Novel Biofertilizers”
by Teresa Faddetta, Giulia Polito, Loredana Abbate, Pasquale Alibrandi, Marcello Zerbo, Ciro Caldiero, Chiara Reina, Guglielmo Puccio, Edoardo Vaccaro, Maria Rosa Abenavoli et al.
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030374
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/374

10. “Bilirubin Nanoparticle Treatment in Obese Mice Inhibits Hepatic Ceramide Production and Remodels Liver Fat Content”
by Zachary A. Kipp, Genesee J. Martinez, Evelyn A. Bates, Agil B. Maharramov, Robert M. Flight, Hunter N. B. Moseley, Andrew J. Morris, David E. Stec and Terry D. Hinds
Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020215
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/2/215

11. “VAMS-Based Blood Capillary Sampling for Mass Spectrometry-Based Human Metabolomics Studies”
by Chiara Volani, Christa Malfertheiner, Giulia Caprioli, Søren Fjelstrup, Peter P. Pramstaller, Johannes Rainer and Giuseppe Paglia
Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020146
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/2/146

12. “Serum-Based Lipid Panels for Diagnosis of Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease”
by Lina A. Dahabiyeh, Refat M. Nimer, Maha Rashed, Jeremiah D. Wells and Oliver Fiehn
Metabolites 2023, 13(9), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13090990
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/9/990

13. “Life-Threatening Cardiogenic Shock Related to Venlafaxine Poisoning—A Case Report with Metabolomic Approach”
by Romain Magny, Bruno Mégarbane, Pauline Guillaud, Lucie Chevillard, Nicolas Auzeil, Pauline Thiebot, Sebastian Voicu, Isabelle Malissin, Nicolas Deye, Laurence Labat et al.
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030353
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/3/353

14. “mGWAS-Explorer 2.0: Causal Analysis and Interpretation of Metabolite–Phenotype Associations”
by Le Chang, Guangyan Zhou and Jianguo Xia
Metabolites 2023, 13(7), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13070826
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/7/826

15. “Gut Microbiota–Gut Metabolites and Clostridioides difficile Infection: Approaching Sustainable Solutions for Therapy”
by Bijay Gurung, Maranda Stricklin and Shaohua Wang
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/74

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989) held an online meeting with the Section Editor-in-Chief Dr. Leonardo Tenori regarding the “Advances in Metabolomics” Section on 20 December 2024. Dr. Tenori has always supported the work of the journal, and we are grateful for his significant contributions. We would like to invite everyone to review our summary of this meeting.

The meeting began with a presentation on the development of the Section “Advances in Metabolomics”.

The following topics were discussed:

1. The Section’s publication statistics and an analysis of the author distribution (2020–2024);
2. An overview of Section EBMs, their journal-related activites, and section development statistics;
3. The performance of our Special Issues;
4. The publication of relevant field and marketing analyses;
5. Hot topics and related marketing analyses.

To further promote the development of the “Advances in Metabolomics” Section, the following topics were discussed at this online meeting:

• Development Strategy for the “Advances in Metabolomics” Section: The importance of Environmental Metabolomics was emphasized. The key role that Guest Editors play in the success of Special Issues was highlighted, and focusing on impactful topics while considering the competitive academic landscape was advised. We also discussed recruiting new Editorial Board Members and motivating inactive members with the benefits provided by the journal. Opportunities to meet Editorial Board Members in person were emphasized.
• Improving the Journal’s Reputation and Attracting High-Quality Papers: Concerns were raised about the perception of MDPI in certain scientific communities. Suggestions were made to focus on increasing the journal’s impact factor, enhancing the paper quality, and establishing connections with scientific societies to attract more submissions. Collaboration with scientific societies was discussed as a potential strategy, as it could improve the journal’s credibility and visibility. Participants were encouraged to share suggestions for potential society collaborations.

We sincerely thank the Section Editor-in-Chief for his active participation. Owing to your participation, we have been able to make significant achievements from face-to-face communication. We look forward to more Editorial Board Members joining us to discuss the development of our journal in the future and provide valuable opinions. This will help move the journal towards a higher level of development.

Join us as we engage with our Metabolites Exceptional Reviewer 2024, Dr. Shuang Zhao, to discuss his scholarly insights and journey as a reviewer for Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989).

Name: Dr. Shuang Zhao
Affiliation: The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC), Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
Interests: metabolomics; lipidomics; mass spectrometry; liquid chromatography; analytical chemistry; biomarker discovery; multi-omics 

The following is an interview with Dr. Shuang Zhao: 

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and the main content of your current research?
I am a lifelong learner with a passion for developing innovative metabolomics solutions and advancing both population and personalized health through cutting-edge technologies. Currently, I serve as a senior research scientist and node manager at The Metabolomics Innovation Centre in Canada. My research is centered on developing advanced LC-MS-based metabolomics methodologies to provide an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the metabolome.
Beyond method development, a key focus of my work is making these unique and innovative technologies accessible to the broader community by translating them into robust and user-friendly assays. Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in applying these technologies to population-based studies, with the aim of driving health advancements through biomarker discovery and precision health.

2. What interdisciplinary research trends are there in your field? What impact do you think these trends have on metabolomics research?
The metabolomics field is inherently interdisciplinary, and this trend is becoming even more pronounced. From a methodological perspective, metabolomics stands at the intersection of chemistry, biomedicine, bioinformatics, and other disciplines. This fusion makes the field dynamic and filled with both exciting challenges and uncertainties. The process of integrating novel technologies and approaches from diverse disciplines into metabolomics is not only thrilling but also crucial for advancing the field.
What I find particularly fascinating is the application of these innovative technologies in various research areas. Metabolomics has become a powerful interdisciplinary tool, providing insights across domains. These applications also feed back into methodology development, driving the creation of more user-friendly tools that lower the expertise barrier, allowing broader accessibility to metabolomics for researchers from different fields.
Additionally, the rise of multi-omics integration is significantly expanding the scope and impact of metabolomics. This trend not only enhances our ability to uncover biomarkers and pathways but also strengthens the role of metabolomics in precision medicine and other emerging areas of research.

3. When and how did you first become aware of the Metabolites journal? What attracts you most about this journal?
I first became aware of Metabolites when I began my Ph.D. program in 2014. As I was starting my academic journey in metabolomics, I explored journals dedicated to this field and was fortunate to come across Metabolites. Over the years, both my colleagues and I have had the opportunity to publish our research in this journal, deepening my appreciation for its scientific impact and rigorous editorial standards.
What attracts me most to Metabolites is its open access model and its fast yet thorough review process. The journal’s commitment to making published research freely available ensures that new scientific discoveries can reach a wider audience, particularly those with limited access to academic resources. This fosters greater collaboration, drives innovation across disciplines, and promotes academic equity. Additionally, the journal’s efficient peer-review and publication process—thanks to the dedication of its editors and reviewers—helps accelerate the dissemination of high-quality research, making it an excellent platform for advancing metabolomics knowledge. 

4. From the reviewer’s perspective, what specific writing skill suggestions do you have for authors when writing papers?
I would encourage authors to structure and present their manuscripts in a logical and engaging manner, incorporating both clarity and a storytelling approach. A well-organized manuscript enhances readability, making it easier for readers to follow the research flow while also strengthening its scientific impact.
A storytelling approach, when used appropriately, can make the manuscript more compelling and accessible, especially for readers who may not be experts in the exact same field. This helps broaden the reach and impact of the work.
Additionally, from a more detailed perspective, I recommend conveying information concisely and clearly. Precision in writing ensures that key messages are effectively communicated without unnecessary complexity. By combining strong structural organization with clear and concise writing, authors can produce high-quality manuscripts that effectively convey their scientific contributions.

5. Have you had any international cooperation experience in your research process? What benefits do you think international cooperation has for metabolomics research?
Yes, as a national metabolomics facility in Canada, we have had the privilege of collaborating with researchers from around the world. These collaborations allow us to develop tailored methodologies that address specific research needs while also working together to analyze data and deliver meaningful results. International cooperation, both in method development and application, brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, making the research process not only productive but also intellectually stimulating.
For instance, through collaborations with outstanding researchers in Europe, we are working to unravel the metabolic complexities of ALS, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Our joint efforts aim to enhance the understanding of its metabolic underpinnings, ultimately improving diagnosis and treatment strategies. Achieving such progress would be significantly more challenging without international collaboration, as it allows us to pool expertise, share resources, and accelerate discoveries that have global impact.

6. What is your view on the transformation and application of metabolomics research results? What challenges and opportunities do you think exist in the transformation of results at present?
Metabolomics has been widely applied across various domains, particularly in biomedical research, which is both promising and encouraging. However, despite its advancements, several challenges remain in translating metabolomics research into real-world applications.
One key challenge is the limited integration of metabolomics findings into clinical practice, particularly for disease diagnosis. While metabolomics has shown great potential for biomarker discovery, its clinical utility requires extensive validation in large, diverse population-based studies to ensure robustness and reproducibility. On the other hand, emerging technologies in high-throughput and comprehensive metabolomics analysis offer significant opportunities. These advancements are making large-scale population studies more feasible, which in turn strengthens the reliability and applicability of metabolomics discoveries. As the field continues to evolve, I believe that these innovations will accelerate the successful translation of metabolomics research into practical applications, ultimately benefiting precision medicine, diagnostics, and other fields.

MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

• Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
• Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
• Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

• Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;

• Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
• Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.

The meeting started with a presentation about the development of the Section “Bioinformatics and Data Analysis”. The following topics were discussed:

• Section status, publication and Special Issue statistics (2020–2024);
• Section marketing overview;
• Section EBM overview.

The discussion with Section Editor-in-Chief Dr. Hunter N. B. Moseley encapsulated several key insights, plans and topics for improving editorial practices and promoting collection.

Firstly, Dr. Moseley cautioned against over-reliance on COVID-era data, emphasizing the importance of including pre-COVID data to ensure a balanced analysis. He acknowledged improvements in the editorial workflow but highlighted challenges faced by reviewers due to a lack of expertise, which he mitigates by supplementing reviews.

Additionally, Dr. Moseley noted the difficulty of maintaining an engaged Editorial Board, with some prominent members often unresponsive due to professional commitments. To address these challenges, he suggested encouraging inactive board members to be more active through targeted outreach and setting a minimum expectation of one editorial decision per year. He also proposed considering early career researchers who review well for board membership. The editorial staff also made a suggestion that Dr. Moseley could contact some EBMs to try to encourage them to be more active.

The editorial staff introduced the idea of using webinars to promote the collection “Metabolome Mining”, with Dr. Moseley expressing openness to chairing a session and assisting in finding speakers. However, he emphasized the need for careful planning, considering different time zones and avoiding conflicts with other academic events.

Regarding his research, Dr. Moseley discussed his lab’s novel work in predicting metabolic pathways through new annotations for metabolite features, leading to impactful publications in metabolomics. He emphasized the importance of clearly defined Special Issue descriptions to attract quality submissions and mentioned submitting papers to the collection “Metabolome Mining” in the future.

Overall, the discussion painted a picture of an evolving editorial landscape, balancing challenges with ongoing improvements and planning for future directions.

Metabolites Editorial Office