Interview with Dr. Satoshi Komasa—Winner of the 2023 MDPI Topics Award

We would like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Satoshi Komasa, Dr. Yoshiro Tahara, Prof. Dr. Tohru Sekino and Prof. Dr. Joji Okazaki who won the 2023 MDPI Topics Award for their Topic “Advances in Biomaterials”.

Name: Dr. Satoshi Komasa
Affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics and Occlusion, Osaka Dental University, Osaka, Japan
Research interests: implant; titanium; zirconia; PEEK; HA coating; nano structure; bacteria

 

Name: Dr. Yoshiro Tahara
Affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan
Research interests: drug delivery; biomaterials; vaccine; tissue engineering; transdermal delivery

 

 

 

Name: Prof. Dr. Tohru Sekino
Affiliation: Department of advanced hard materials, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
Research interests: ceramics; nanostructured materials; multifunctions; hybrid materials; structure-function relations

 

 

Name: Prof. Dr. Joji Okazaki
Affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics and Occlusion, Osaka Dental University, 1 Chome-4-4 Makinohonmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1144, Japan
Research interests: dental materials; dental implants; surface analysis; in vivo analysis; denture materials

 

 

The following is a short interview with Dr. Satoshi Komasa:

1. Could you please briefly introduce your winning Topic to our readers? What inspired you to lead this Topic?

Biomaterials are materials that are put into the body for medical purposes, such as artificial joints, dentures, artificial blood vessels, artificial skin, and artificial organs. Research on biomaterials is conducted via biomedical engineering. Research on materials that can be used is carried out by putting them in the body and seeing if they have the desired function, for example, if they can be used as joints and blood vessels, which is the basis of this Topic. Such research is carried out for different types of materials such as polymer/fiber materials. This research is conducted in research fields that focus on the functions of materials, such as structural/functional materials, mechanical materials/the strength of materials, and composite materials/surface interface engineering. In this Special Issue, we aimed to introduce biomaterials that are expected to be useful in future medical treatment.

2. What has been your impression of the publishing experience with MDPI Topics? Do you have any suggestions for improving its development?

I had experience as a Guest Editor, but this was my first experience as an editor of a Topic. I think we were able to receive a large number of topical papers submitted by many researchers. I think it was very easy for the professors to submit their papers since we had a variety of journals with different impact factors participating in the Topic. The fast response time was also very good.

3. What advice would you offer to young investigators who aspire to achieve similar recognition in their research careers?

I am still a young researcher, so I am just starting out. However, I am fortunate that many professors from other universities have cooperated with me. I recommend that you carry out a lot of collaborative research in other fields.

4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

I think research on biomaterials will continue. I also believe that experiments using AI will continue to develop. We would like to create new Topics in these areas.

5. What are your thoughts on the evolution of open access publishing in academia? How do you see it impacting the dissemination of future research?

While open access has made it easier for young researchers to see many papers, it is also true that there are many malicious article companies. We would like to see thorough peer review processes as well as a consideration of lowering submission fees.

6. Do you have anything else you would like to share with readers?

Thank you very much for this well-deserved award. Many professors at the university, including the president of the university, are very pleased. I hope to receive such an award again.