Announcements

Conference: Nutrients 2026—Clinical Nutrition: From Research to Practice
Date: 22–24 October 2026
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026

We cordially invite you to attend this event organized by MDPI’s Nutrients (ISSN: 2072-6643, impact factor: 5.0, CiteScore: 9.1). It will take place from 22 to 24 October 2026 at UAB Casa Convalescencia, Barcelona, Spain.

Conference Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Maria Luz Fernandez, University of Connecticut, USA;
• Prof. Dr. Lluis Serra Majem, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
• Dr. Francisco Jose Perez Cano, University of Barcelona, Spain.

The topics of interest:
S1. Personalized nutrition based on diet–gene interactions;
S2. Innovations in clinical nutrition;
S3. Novel dietary recommendations for specific chronic diseases;
S4. Understanding the role of microbiota in clinical practice;
S5. The potential role of AI in clinical practice;
S6. Lifestyle and prevention of chronic diseases.

Plenary speaker announcement:
We are honoured to have Dr. Carlo La Vechia, from the University of Milan (“La Statale”), Italy, as Nutrients 2026 Plenary Speaker for Session 6: Lifestyle and prevention of chronic diseases.

Other renowned researchers from internationally prestigious universities and institutes, including Yale School of Public Health, University of Connecticut, Qatar University, Icahn Medical School of Mount Sinai, and many more, are contributing with us as keynote speakers and scientific committee members.

To view all contributing researchers, please click the following links:
https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#event_chairs .

Academic supporters:
Nutrients 2026 is currently supported by and partnered with esteemed universities, institutes, and societies.

To view all supporting organizations and partners, please click on the following links:
https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#sup_org.

Important dates:
Deadline for abstract submissions: 24 June 2026;
Notification of acceptance: 20 July 2026;
Deadline for early bird registration: 24 July 2026;
Deadline for covering author registration: 24 July 2026.

Guide for authors:
To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1496.

To register for the event, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#registration.

For details regarding abstract submission, poster and slide submission, and publication opportunities, you may refer to the “Instructions for Authors” section below: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#instructions.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact nutrients2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at Nutrients 2026.

Conference: Nutrients 2026—Clinical Nutrition: From Research to Practice
Date: 22–24 October 2026, CEST, Barcelona, Spain
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026

We cordially invite you to attend this event organized by MDPI’s Nutrients (ISSN: 2072-6643, impact factor: 5.0, CiteScore: 9.1). It will take place on 22 to 24 October 2026, CEST, in Barcelona, Spain.

Conference Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Maria Luz Fernandez, University of Connecticut, USA;
• Prof. Dr. Lluis Serra Majem, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

The Topics of Interest:

S1. Personalized nutrition based on diet–gene interactions;
S2. Innovations in clinical nutrition;
S3. Novel dietary recommendations for specific chronic diseases;
S4. Understanding the role of microbiota in clinical practice;
S5. The potential role of AI in clinical practice;
S6. Lifestyle and prevention of chronic diseases.

Important Dates

Deadline for abstract submissions: 24 June 2026;
Notification of acceptance: 20 July 2026;
Deadline for early bird registration: 24 July 2026;
Deadline for covering author registration: 24 July 2026.

Guide for Authors

To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1496.

To register for the event, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#registration.

For details regarding abstract submission, poster and slide submission, and publication opportunities, you may refer to the “Instructions for Authors” section below: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients2026?section=#instructions.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact nutrients2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at Nutrients 2026.

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and the main content of your current research?

I graduated first in chemistry and later in physics from the University of Łódź in central Poland. For many years, I worked in the Department and later the Institute of Biophysics, where my research initially focused on aging at the cellular level. Over time, my scientific interests shifted toward reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, which remain the primary focus of my work today.

At the beginning, I worked mainly on synthetic antioxidants, especially nitroxides, but gradually my research moved more toward natural antioxidants and their mechanisms of action, as well as methods used to estimate antioxidant activity and antioxidant content.

Throughout my academic career, I also had opportunities to work internationally. I spent some time at Texas A&M University in the United States, then later in Düsseldorf, Germany, and also at Macquarie University in Australia. For a period, I worked simultaneously at the University of Łódź and at the University of Rzeszów in southeastern Poland.

Although I am now retired from the University of Łódź, I continue working at the University of Rzeszów, specifically at the Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition. At present, my research is still focused mainly on natural antioxidants and their biological actions.

2. When and how did you first become aware of Nutrients? What attracts you most about this journal?

It is actually difficult for me to remember exactly when I first became aware of Nutrients, because within the field of antioxidants and natural antioxidants, it has long been a very well-known and respected journal.

My own research often fits more closely with journals such as the International Journal of Molecular Sciences or Foods, especially because much of our work focuses on mechanisms of antioxidant action. Nevertheless, we regularly considered Nutrients as a possible publication venue, and the journal has always had a very strong reputation in our field.

In Poland, Nutrients is a highly respected journal. One important practical factor is that at our university, publication costs can be reimbursed when the journal has a sufficiently high impact factor. Since Nutrients has a strong impact factor and excellent standing in the field, it fully meets these criteria.

What attracts me most is the journal’s scientific reputation, its visibility, and the efficiency of its editorial process. It is a journal that researchers in my field recognize and respect.

3. Could you share with us your feelings about winning the award? What does this award mean to your academic career?

Winning the Reviewer Award was truly both an honor and a surprise for me. During a certain period, Nutrients kindly sent me many manuscripts for review, most of them closely related to my expertise, which made the reviewing process both interesting and intellectually rewarding.

Reviewing often required me to consult additional literature and verify details carefully. I really enjoyed being involved so actively with the journal, but I certainly did not expect such recognition.

At this stage of my life, my academic career is naturally approaching its later phase, but this award still means a lot to me professionally. Recognition of this kind strengthens appreciation within the university environment and contributes positively to one’s academic standing and reputation.

I was therefore genuinely very pleased and grateful to receive this distinction.

4. What role do you think reviewers play in the process of paper publication?

I believe the role of reviewers is extremely important. As both an author and reviewer, I have seen how peer review can significantly improve the quality of a scientific paper.

Some reviews focus mainly on editorial corrections or stylistic improvements, which are also valuable. However, the most important reviews are those that ask deep scientific questions and encourage authors to reconsider interpretations, improve methodologies, clarify conclusions, or better explain their results.

Very often, reviewers help authors notice problems or weaknesses that they themselves overlooked. In my own field, for example, I have often observed that methodological descriptions are incomplete or insufficiently precise. Usually, this is not because authors wish to hide anything, but simply because they unintentionally omit details. A reviewer’s task is to identify such issues and ensure that the methods and results are described properly and transparently.

Reviewers also play a major role in maintaining scientific quality standards. Of course, rejecting a paper is never pleasant because authors invest enormous effort into their research, but sometimes rejection is necessary if the work does not meet the required standards of a journal.

Overall, I think peer review is essential because it improves manuscripts, strengthens scientific rigor, and protects publication quality.

5. How do you balance the comprehensiveness and efficiency of review? Can you share some specific methods or principles for reviewing?

One thing I appreciate very much about MDPI journals is the efficiency of the review and publication process. Compared with traditional journals, where publication may take many months or even years, the MDPI system is remarkably fast and efficient.

In my experience, the standard one-week review period is usually sufficient for preparing a solid review. Often, even if one initially thinks more time is needed, the actual detailed review can realistically be completed within a few focused days.

My own reviewing method usually begins with a first reading of the manuscript in order to obtain a general impression of the work—whether it is scientifically interesting, what may be lacking, and what its strengths are. Then I perform a second, much more detailed reading. During this stage, I annotate specific comments, questions, and concerns throughout the manuscript.

I generally structure my reviews by starting with broad overall comments and then moving toward more detailed line-by-line observations. While I do not focus excessively on minor typographical issues, I still point out language or stylistic problems whenever they are relevant.

In the early years of my reviewing activity, I must admit that sometimes my reviews were too brief. However, editorial feedback encouraged me to make them more comprehensive and detailed, and I believe this improved my reviewing approach considerably.

Of course, comprehensive reviewing requires time and careful analysis, but I think efficiency and quality can coexist when the reviewer is organized and focused.

6. In your view, what characteristics typically define a high-quality peer review report? Drawing upon your extensive experience, what specific details or clues do you look for to determine whether a report might have been generated by AI?

A high-quality review should be detailed, constructive, balanced, and scientifically meaningful. It should not simply state whether a paper is good or bad; it should explain clearly why improvements are needed and provide guidance that helps the authors strengthen their work.

The best reviews usually demonstrate that the reviewer has genuinely engaged with the manuscript, considered the methodology carefully, examined the logic of the conclusions, and evaluated the significance of the findings within the broader scientific context.

Regarding artificial intelligence, I know that journals now require reviewers to declare the use of AI tools. Personally, I do not use AI to generate reviews because I believe that doing so would currently be intellectually dishonest, except perhaps for minor grammar or language corrections after the review is completed.

AI can certainly help identify missing details, compare publications, or detect editorial inconsistencies. However, in my opinion, AI is still unable to adequately evaluate the true novelty, importance, or scientific significance of a paper.

One indication that a report may have been generated by AI is when the review sounds overly generic, formulaic, or lacks deep engagement with the specific scientific content of the manuscript. AI-generated reviews may also focus excessively on formal aspects while failing to provide nuanced scientific judgment or field-specific insight.

Human reviewers bring scientific experience, intuition, contextual understanding, and critical judgment that AI still cannot fully reproduce. Of course, AI systems will continue to improve, so this situation may evolve in the future.

7. Please briefly describe your experience with our services and journals so far.

My experience with MDPI journals and services has generally been very positive. I have worked with several MDPI journals, including Nutrients, Foods, Molecules, Processes, and the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

What I appreciate most is the efficiency of the editorial workflow, proofreading process, and online publication system. In situations where rapid publication was important—for example, for grant applications or PhD defenses—the speed of publication was extremely valuable.

I also think the reviewer recognition system is very good and motivating. The journal communicates efficiently with reviewers and authors, and the editorial offices are generally very supportive.

One aspect I am somewhat more critical about is the very large number of Special Issues organized across MDPI journals. Sometimes researchers receive numerous invitations to contribute to Special Issues. In my opinion, this approach can occasionally feel too aggressive, but I can understand why the journals are using it.

Nevertheless, overall, my experience with the journals and services has been very positive, and I greatly appreciate the professionalism, efficiency, and support provided by the editorial teams.

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and the main content of your current research?
   I am a professor in human nutrition, wellness, and public health at the University of the Aegean in Limnos Island, Greece. My academic background includes studies in chemistry, followed by two PhDs, one in medicinal chemistry and another in human pathophysiology.
   My current research mainly focuses on human nutrition and the impact of dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, on human health. I am especially interested in the relationship between nutrition and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, to support preventive healthcare and public health strategies.
2. When and how did you first become aware of Nutrients? What attracts you most about this journal?
   I became aware of Nutrients several years ago through my academic work in nutrition and public health research. What initially attracted me to the journal was its open-access model, which allows researchers worldwide to access scientific information freely.
   Another important aspect was the efficiency of the peer-review and publication process. Nutrients combines a relatively fast editorial process with rigorous scientific standards and high-quality peer review, which I highly appreciate as both an author and a reviewer.
3. Could you share with us your feelings about winning the award? What does this award mean to your academic career?
   Receiving the Outstanding Reviewer Award was a great honour and a very positive experience for me. I have served as a reviewer for scientific journals for approximately twenty years, and this is the first reviewer award I have received. Therefore, I truly appreciate this recognition.
   Although such awards may not directly influence academic promotion within my institution or country, the recognition itself is meaningful because it acknowledges the effort, responsibility, and scientific contribution involved in the peer-review process. It also motivates me to continue contributing actively to the scientific community.
4. What role do you think reviewers play in the process of paper publication?
   Reviewers play a fundamental role in scientific publishing. Drawing on their expertise and independent perspective, reviewers critically evaluate manuscripts and identify both strengths and weaknesses in the research.
   In my opinion, peer review is not only an evaluation process but also an important scientific contribution. Constructive reviewer comments can significantly improve the scientific quality, clarity, methodology, and interpretation of a manuscript, ultimately strengthening both the publication and the research itself.
5. How do you balance the comprehensiveness and efficiency of review? Can you share some specific methods or principles for reviewing?
   My reviewing process usually follows several structured steps. First, I read the manuscript quickly to obtain a general overview of the study and its objectives. During the second reading, I focus particularly on the introduction to evaluate the novelty and scientific relevance of the research question.
   I then carefully examine the methodology section, which I consider one of the most critical parts of any scientific paper. I evaluate whether the methods are appropriate, clearly described, and scientifically valid. I also devote considerable attention to the discussion section, particularly the interpretation of results, the connection to the previous literature, and the presentation of the study’s strengths and limitations.
   Additionally, I pay attention to language clarity. I believe scientific writing should remain accessible and understandable to an international audience, including researchers whose native language is not English.
6. In your view, what characteristics typically define a high-quality peer-review report? Drawing upon your extensive experience, what specific details or clues do you look for to determine whether a report might have been generated by AI?
   A high-quality peer-review report should contain clear scientific reasoning, balanced criticism, and constructive recommendations for improvement. Reviewers should evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of a manuscript and provide practical suggestions that help authors improve the quality of their work.
   Regarding AI-generated reviews, certain indicators may suggest the use of artificial intelligence tools. For example, reviews with perfectly polished language and no natural inconsistencies may appear suspicious. More importantly, AI-generated comments often lack deep scientific interpretation and may struggle to logically connect study findings with the previous literature.
   In my experience, nuanced scientific discussion, contextual interpretation of results, and discipline-specific critical thinking remain areas where genuine expert evaluation is essential.
7. Please briefly describe your experience with our services and journals so far?
   My overall experience with Nutrients and its editorial services has been very positive, both as an author and as a reviewer. I have submitted several manuscripts to the journal and have also reviewed many papers over the years.
   I particularly appreciate the efficiency and organization of the submission and peer-review platform, which I find highly user-friendly compared to many other journals. The structured reviewer forms are also very useful because they guide reviewers systematically through the evaluation process and ensure that all important scientific aspects are addressed.
   Overall, my collaboration with the journal has been excellent, and I look forward to continuing this collaboration in the future.

Information about the winner:
Name: Dr. Maria Spanoudaki
Affiliation: International Hellenic University, Greece

1. Congratulations on winning the Nutrients Travel Award! What does this recognition mean to you, and how has it impacted your research and professional development? Can you share with us your feelings about winning the award?
   Thank you very much, truly from the bottom of my heart. For me, it is a great honor to have won the award, and I feel deeply grateful. This recognition means a lot, especially because it reflects the work and consistency I have dedicated to over the past years.
2. Where did you learn about how to apply for this journal award? Can you briefly introduce which conference or conferences you plan to attend with this award?
   I first came across it on the MDPI website, and I also received information from my supervisor, who encouraged me to apply. I was already familiar with the process, so I was very happy to submit my application.
   The award allows me to attend the ESPEN Congress in Berlin, which is a major opportunity. It enhances my visibility within the scientific community and provides a platform to present my research to international experts.
3. Attending international conferences is an essential part of scientific collaboration and growth. How did the Travel Award support your participation in ESPEN Congress 2026, and how do you plan to promote the journal at the conference? Do you have any thoughts on how the promotion of the journal at conferences could be more effective?
   I plan to include the Nutrients logo on all my presentation slides and acknowledge the journal during my talk. I will also promote it through my social media channels. In addition, I intend to share the journal through my academic networks, including Aegean College and the International Hellenic University. I believe these are effective ways to reach a wide audience and increase visibility.
4. How did you first learn about the journal Nutrients? What were your initial impressions of it?
   My journey with MDPI has been extensive and very positive. I have published around 20 articles in MDPI journals, six of them in Nutrients. My experience with Nutrients in particular has been excellent. I feel a strong professional connection with the journal, and receiving this award feels like recognition of my research efforts over the past four years. I especially appreciate the efficiency of the review process—the speed and quality of feedback are very important for researchers.
   Initially, the impact factor attracted me to publish in Nutrients, as it is well-recognized globally. However, the most important reason was the scientific content. My research focuses on metabolism, biochemistry, and clinical nutrition, and Nutrients publishes high-quality work in these areas. I had been following the journal for a long time, and it was actually one of my goals to publish there.
5. What challenges have you encountered in your work, and how did you overcome them?
   One of the main challenges has been bridging the gap between mechanistic research and clinical application—translating complex biochemical findings into practical dietary recommendations is not easy. I addressed this by adopting a multidisciplinary approach and collaborating closely with clinicians. My background also helped me manage these challenges. I have about 40 years of clinical experience and previously served as Director of the Clinical Dietetics Department at a military hospital in Thessaloniki.
6. What trends or developments in nutrition do you find most exciting right now?
   I am particularly interested in the gut microbiome and precision nutrition. Moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach toward personalized nutrition is very promising, especially for managing chronic diseases and even mental health. I am also interested in metabolism, muscle wasting, sarcopenia, and obesity-related conditions. These are highly relevant and evolving areas in modern nutrition science.
7. As the winner, you will have an opportunity to publish your work for free in Nutrients. When do you plan to submit it?
   Very soon. I am currently finalizing a manuscript from my PhD research and expect to submit it within the next few days. I am very grateful for the opportunity to publish it with the support of this award. Although I have recently retired, I remain very active in research. I am currently completing my PhD and working on new studies, including research on sarcopenia in obese populations. Retirement has actually given me more time to focus on research and writing, which I find very fulfilling.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to this webinar linked to our Special Issue “Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Cardiac Metabolism”. 

The growing global burden of cardiovascular disease highlights the urgent need to better understand how dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors influence cardiac metabolism and overall heart health. Emerging research continues to demonstrate that key nutrients—such as omega–3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and dietary fiber—play a fundamental role in reducing inflammation, improving lipid profiles, and supporting vascular function. At the same time, excessive consumption of processed foods, refined sugars, and saturated fats has been strongly associated with metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. Beyond nutrition, lifestyle factors such as physical activity, stress management, sleep quality, and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol intake are increasingly recognized as critical modulators of cardiometabolic health. 

This webinar aims to explore the complex interplay between nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular function. We seek to highlight current advances in research, discuss evidence–based dietary and lifestyle strategies, and identify future directions for improving cardiac health and preventing disease. Key themes will include the role of specific nutrients and dietary patterns, mechanisms linking metabolism to cardiovascular outcomes, and the impact of holistic lifestyle interventions on long–term heart health. 

We hope this session will foster meaningful discussion and collaboration, contributing to a deeper understanding of how integrated nutritional and lifestyle approaches can optimize cardiometabolism and support cardiovascular well–being. 

Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to an engaging and insightful webinar. 

Date: 21 May 2026 | 1:00 p.m. CEST | 7:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 829 4127 7216
Webinar Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Nutrients–28?subscribe

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’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Christina Chrysohoou, 1st Cardiology Clinic, Hippokration Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece;
• Dr. Christos Fragoulis, 1st Cardiology Clinic, Hippokration Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece;
• Dr. Evangelia Damigou, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece;
• Dr. Marilena Giannoudi, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, UK;
• Dr. Ioana Cristina Daha, Cardiology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania.

Relevant Special Issue:
“Exploring the Key to Healthy Cardiac Metabolism: Managing Diet, Nutrients, and Lifestyle Choices”
Guest Editor: Christina Chrysohoou
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026

Nutrients (ISSN: 2072-6643) is pleased to announce the addition of the following researchers to the journal’s Early Career Editorial Board. We would like to congratulate them on becoming part of the Nutrients community!

Conference: The 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD 2026)
Organization: European Association for the Study of Diabetes
Date: 28 September–2 October 2026
Place: Allianz MiCo—Milan Convention Centre, Milan, Italy
Booth Number: L.03

The 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is set to take place from 28 September to 2 October 2026 at the Allianz MiCo - Milan Convention Centre in Milan, Italy. This global diabetes conference will convene thousands of delegates from all across the globe to explore the latest advancements in diabetes research, treatment, and care.​

The scientific programme will feature hundreds of presentations, including keynote lectures, symposia, and oral sessions, offering insights into cutting-edge developments in both basic and clinical diabetes research. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across the international diabetes community.​

The Organization of this conference, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes e.V. (EASD), is a membership-based academic non-profit organization. It was founded in 1965 and is based in Düsseldorf, Germany. The aims of EASD are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, the rapid diffusion of acquired knowledge and to facilitate its application.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Biomedicines;
• Diabetology;
• JCM;
• Medicina;
• Endocrines;
• IJERPH;
• Antioxidants;
• Biomolecules;
• Epidemiologia;
• JMAHP;
• Nutrients;
• Trends in Public Health.

If you are attending the 62nd EASD Annual Meeting, we invite you to visit us at our booth #L.03. Our representatives will be available to discuss publishing opportunities, the benefits of open access, and answer any questions that you may have.

Join us in Milan to discover what is next in diabetes science and care! For more information about the conference, please visit its official website at https://www.easd.org/annual-meeting/easd-2026/.