Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

We are pleased to share that MDPI will take part in the Nature 2025 conference, organized by the Young Scientist Association.

In the session titled “Scientific Publishing Exchange: Strategies for Effective Academic Writing and Editorial Communication”, our speakers—Dr. Weronika Gorka-Kumik and Ms. Monika Mazurek—will share valuable insights on the following:

• How to write clear and compelling academic manuscripts;
• Effective communication between authors and editors;
• Understanding the editorial process from a publisher’s perspective.

This session is designed to support early career researchers looking to improve their academic writing and navigate the publishing journey with confidence.

Together, they will explore key aspects of scholarly publishing, including the following:

• Best practices in academic writing;
• Editorial communication strategies;
• Insights into the publishing process at an international open access publisher.
  

Basic Information:

 Schedule: 

 MDPI Speakers:

MDPI is excited to host a scientific publishing exchange in partnership with Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska, Poland. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of MDPI and the Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska to academic research and scholarly publication. The session will provide valuable guidance to students on how to structure and write articles in English, offering essential tools and knowledge to support their publishing journeys. The session will cover topics such as “Citing References in Scientific Publications” and “Writing Scientific Papers in English.” All students and early-career scholars interested in learning the basics of publishing scientific work are warmly invited to attend.

Project Name	Scientific Publishing Exchange Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska
Date and Time (local Time)	13 May 2025; 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (CEST)
Online /Offline	Offline
Venue	Conference room of the Academic Library (Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska)
Institution	Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska, Poland
Institution Banner

 Schedule: 

 MDPI Speakers:

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

Workshop Highlights:

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

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

Program:

MDPI is proud to collaborate with the University of Siedlce to host an exclusive Online Scientific Publishing Exchange—a valuable opportunity for researchers, academics and students to deepen their understanding of the scholarly publishing process.

The event will offer practical insights into key aspects of academic publishing, ranging from manuscript preparation to navigating peer review and citation best practices.

Key topics:

• How to effectively structure a research article;
• Best practices for addressing reviewers’ comments;
• Common reasons for article rejection and how to avoid them;
• Proper citation and referencing in scholarly publications.

Whether you are new to publishing or looking to refine your approach, this exchange will provide guidance to support your success in the scientific publishing landscape.

Date: 16 May 2025
Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m. CEST
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86976434560

Schedule:

MDPI Speakers:

Klaudia Kasprowicz joined MDPI in October 2021, working at the Krakow office in Poland. She holds both a master’s and an engineering degree in forestry, specializing in the protection of forest resources, from the University of Agriculture in Krakow. Klaudia began her journey at MDPI as an Assistant Editor for Agronomy and was later promoted to Section Managing Editor. For two years, she has served as a Journal Relations Specialist (JRS) for Horticulturae, and over time, she has also been assigned to oversee Agronomy, Arthropoda, Poultry, and Agrochemicals in the same role. During her tenure, Kasprowicz has conducted 171 online meetings with Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and other collaborators, along with 25 in-person meetings held across various countries, including Germany, France, Poland, Romania, China, Greece, the US and Italy. She has attended ten conferences, earning the Senior Conference Representative Certification.

Ksenia Shubenkova joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor in October 2021, later becoming a Special Issue Editor in August 2023, and she has served as a Journal Relations Specialist since May 2024 for Sustainability. During this period, she has organized more than 100 online meetings with Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and other collaborators, as well as 16 in-person meetings. Shubenkova holds a Ph.D. degree in transportation process organization, specializing in sustainable transportation. Before she started working at MDPI, she visited more than 25 international conferences as a presenter. She maintains her active attitude to meeting our targets: besides editorial work, she helped with tutoring new members in 2023, and currently, her editorial PI is 340.5.

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.

The following is an interview with Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull:

1. Could you give a brief introduction of yourself to the readers? Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?
Hello, I am currently a professor of information and communication at the Open University of Catalonia in Barcelona. My research has evolved alongside the discipline itself and is now focused on two main areas, open science and academic publishing and disinformation.
Regarding open science, we have been studying it both as a movement and as a driver of public policy change aimed at disseminating scientific knowledge to society and reforming research evaluation systems. Increasingly, there is a push for higher quality research that addresses core issues in science, such as reproducibility and the “publish or perish” culture.
As for disinformation—both political and scientific—it has become a growing problem. This was evident in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. elections, where fake news played a significant role in shaping public opinion, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic’s accompanying infodemic.
In this broader context, it is also essential to reflect on the implications and reach of generative AI tools. These technologies impact how information is produced and disseminated and can serve as both sources of knowledge and vectors of disinformation. Therefore, it is a timely moment to assess how generative AI might transform scientific knowledge dissemination not only in terms of quality but also quantity, and whether it can help advance the values and principles of open science.

2. Based on your experience, which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Undoubtedly, the value we assign to scientific knowledge and truth—both socially and academically—will remain highly relevant. This value underpins the societal consensus necessary for functioning democracies, enabling us to distinguish fact from opinion beyond emotional, fearful, or biased responses. In such complex geopolitical times, quality information and knowledge are vital tools against polarization and hate speech.
Just as society's initial enthusiasm for social networks has given way to a more skeptical perspective, we now need to find a conscious and informed balance in using these platforms. Research into how generative AI enhances or undermines information quality will be critical in this scenario.
Equally important will be strategies in media literacy, which must be supported by research to enhance their effectiveness and impact evaluation. Within this realm of information and knowledge, I believe academia should continue fostering critical thinking supported by scientific evidence and proposals for social improvement.
Finally, the social and political use of social media demands new research approaches that can effectively improve the quality of information shared on these platforms, including algorithmic models that support more pluralistic digital content consumption.

3. What qualities do you think an Editorial Board Member needs?
I believe an Editorial Board Member must be committed to quality and be empathetic toward the community of authors that constitute the publication’s academic field. They must be responsive with deadlines—fast enough to facilitate author progress but slow enough to ensure the quality of the work being published. Diligence in decision-making is key.
The voluntary nature of academic editorial and peer-review work must be realistically integrated into the demanding schedules of scholars, who are increasingly burdened with bureaucracy and quality controls. Therefore, editors must reserve time for this important responsibility.
We often see academic publishing as a system of altruistic time exchanges—authors, editors, reviewers—and balance is essential. Being a reviewer, for instance, makes one a better author.
Lastly, an editor should possess the sensitivity and insight to uncover the underlying value of a manuscript—value that authors may not yet have fully articulated. Through constructive dialog with authors, editors can help substantially improve the final article.

4. Could you please share with us your experience as an Editorial Board Member for Publications?
From the very beginning, the process was smooth thanks to the support of the technical team, who handle the editorial workflow so efficiently that Editorial Board Members can focus solely on reading, reviewing, and validating manuscripts.
The clear ethical guidelines and protocols have been particularly reassuring. They define each step in the editorial chain, delineating boundaries to prevent conflicts of interest or inappropriate pressure from any party involved.
Ultimately, success lies in balancing speed with quality. Achieving this requires dedication and the ability to carve out quality time within our already overloaded academic agendas.

5. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?
I would simply like to thank the entire technical team for their work and my colleagues on the Editorial Board for their collaboration. The trust in your team allows you to focus on your own contributions with peace of mind. We are not isolated individuals—we are part of a team.

The editorial team of Publications (ISSN: 2304-6775) is pleased to recognize Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull as the recipient of the 2024 Editor of Distinction award.

Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull serves as an associate professor in the Faculty of Information and Communication Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and a bachelor's degree in information science from the UOC. He serves as the director of the UOC's bachelor's degree program in information science and is a member of the Learning, Media and Entertainment (GAME) research group at the UOC.

On behalf of the entire Editorial Board, we would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Dr.Alexandre López-Borrull.

Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and deep involvement in journal affairs. Beyond his meticulous peer-reviewing of manuscripts in relevant fields, he has made outstanding contributions to academic promotion and publishing innovation: In 2024, he captivated audiences as a keynote speaker at the MDPI online webinar “The 4th Basel Sustainability Publishing Forum Webinar: AI in Open Access” delivering insights that garnered widespread attention. To foster deeper integration between AI technology and open science, he spearheaded the launch of a journal Special Issue under the same title, systematically publishing cutting-edge research in this domain. Additionally, he is the chair of the 4th Sustainable Publishing Forum, where he is leading the development of sustainable publishing development and driving industry transformation with a strategic vision. Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull exemplifies the mission of an exceptional editorial board member through his multifaceted practice, which integrates academic rigor, platform building, and industry leadership.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for his ongoing contributions and once again pay tribute to this remarkable leader in the academic publishing landscape.

Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Andrew Kirby
Publications Editorial Office

World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books—a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures. On this occasion, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry—publishers, booksellers and libraries—select the World Book Capital for a year to maintain, through its own initiatives, the impetus of the Day’s celebrations.

Books, in all their forms, allow us to learn and to keep ourselves informed. They also entertain us and help us to understand the world, while offering a window into otherness. With the active involvement of all stakeholders, such as authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs and the mass media, and all those who feel motivated to work together in celebration of books and authors, World Book and Copyright Day has become a platform to rally together millions of people all around the world.

In celebration of this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including scholarly publication, human intelligence, and education science. By sharing these findings, we pay tribute to books and authors, encouraging everyone to access books.

At the same time, we invite you to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day with Preprints.org. From 23 April to 23 May, join researchers and scholars worldwide for a month of reading, connection, and exploration. Starting 23 April, the new Reading List feature invites you to take part in the Preprints Reading Marathon and Reader’s Choice programs—curate reading lists, engage in peer-driven discussions, and earn recognition for your contributions.

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