Gene & Protein in Disease (GPD) journal is honored to have William Cho, as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal. In this interview. Dr. Cho shared his visions for GPD, as well as his thoughts and suggestions for the journal.

Interview content

Q1: Would you please do a self-introduction?

I have primarily focused my research on cancer studies with the aim of identifying biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, treatment prediction, and prognosis. As an experienced researcher, I have employed various disciplines such as molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, immunology, bioinformatics, and Chinese medicine to conduct my cancer research. I am proud to have contributed over 600 peer-reviewed SCI papers to journals including Lancet, Lancet Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Advanced Science, Nature Communications, Science Advances, PNAS, Molecular Cancer, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, Clinical Cancer Research, Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, Theranostics, etc, among others. These publications cover a wide range of topics including cancer biomarkers, proteomics, non-coding RNAs, extracellular vesicles, and Chinese medicine. Additionally, I have authored a number of books, including "MicroRNAs in Cancer Translational Research", "An Omics Perspective on Cancer Research", "Supportive Cancer Care with Chinese Medicine", and "Drug Repurposing in Cancer Therapy: Approaches and Applications", to name a few. I’m listed as one of the top 2% of most influential scientists in the world since 2017. Recently, I’m also listed in the Highly Cited Researchers in 2023 by Clarivate (there are 6,849 top researchers in the world in this list).

Q2: Could you give us a brief description of your research that is currently under way?

I pursue cancer research, especially on cancer biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment response as well as prognostications. Currently, I’m using genomics technologies in studying colorectal cancer, brain tumor and lung cancer. Besides, drug repurposing is another interesting area of my favor.

Q3: What do you think of GDP differ with other journals in this field? How to build a competitive advantage journal?

1. Unique Focus: Our journal focuses on both genes and proteins in various diseases. This ranges from basic research towards preclinical and translational research. In technologies, these areas are blooming, there are interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge developments in this area.

2. Rigorous Peer-Review: We demand a robust, high-quality peer-review process to ensure the publication meets the highest standards.

3. Fast Turnaround: Minimize review and publication timelines to provide authors with a quicker path to disseminating their work.

4. Visibility and Discoverability: Optimize the journal's online presence, indexing, and marketing to improve its visibility and discoverability for researchers.

5. Added Value Features: Offer value-added features like data repositories, multimedia content, commentary/discussion sections, etc. to enhance the reader experience.

6. Ethical Standards: Maintain the highest ethical standards in publishing to build trust and credibility.

Q4: Could you share with us for some ideas and suggestions to promote the development of GPD?

1. Strengthen the Editorial Board: Recruit respected, influential researchers in the field to serve on the editorial board. This can help attract high-quality submissions and increase the journal's credibility.

2. Enhance Online Presence: Invest in the journal's website, making it visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines. Incorporate multimedia content, data repositories, and interactive features.

3. Improve Indexing and Visibility: Ensure the journal is indexed in major academic databases and search engines to improve discoverability. Actively promote the journal at conferences and through relevant academic networks.

4. Leverage Social Media: Utilize social media platforms to share journal updates, promote new articles, and engage with the research community.

5. Foster Partnerships: Explore collaborations with relevant professional societies, research institutions, or other journals to cross-promote and expand the journal's reach.

6. Continuously Improve the Review Process: Streamline the peer-review process to ensure timely, high-quality feedback to authors.

Q5: Could you share with us about the concrete measures on improving the cohesion of the journal editorial board team?

1. Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities:

• Ensure each editorial board member has a well-defined role and set of responsibilities within the board.
• Establish clear guidelines and expectations for their involvement and contribution.

2. Foster Regular Communication:

• Implement a schedule of regular editorial board meetings (in-person).
• Encourage open and transparent communication among the board members.
• Provide updates on the journal's performance, goals, and strategic initiatives.

3. Encourage Collaborative Initiatives:

• Identify opportunities for the editorial board to work together on special projects or new journal features.
• Facilitate brainstorming sessions to generate ideas for improving the journal.
• Delegate specific tasks and initiatives to subgroups of the board.

4. Recognize and Appreciate Contributions:

• Publicly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and contributions of individual board members.
• Consider implementing a system of awards or recognition for outstanding service.

5. Continuously Evaluate and Refresh the Board:

• Regularly review the composition and expertise of the editorial board.
• Identify any gaps or areas that could be strengthened through new board member recruitment.
• Establish a process for rotating or replacing board members to bring in fresh perspectives.

6. Foster a Sense of Ownership and Commitment:

• Encourage editorial board members to feel a sense of ownership and investment in the journal's success.
• Emphasize the importance of their individual and collective contributions.

Q6: As an editor, what do you look for most when deciding whether a paper can be published in a journal?

1. Novelty and Significance:

• Is the research question novel and fills a gap in the current knowledge?
• Does the work make a meaningful contribution to the field?
• Are the findings significant and impactful?

2. Methodological Rigor:

• Are the research methods sound, well-designed, and appropriately applied?
• Is the data collection, analysis, and interpretation robust and reliable?
• Do the conclusions logically follow from the presented evidence?

3. Clarity and Coherence:

• Is the manuscript well-organized, with a clear and logical flow?
• Are the writing style, language, and presentation of information clear and accessible?
• Do the figures, tables, and supplementary materials effectively support the narrative?

4. Fit with Journal Scope and Readership:

• Does the manuscript align with the journal's scope, aims, and target audience?
• Will the paper be of interest and relevance to the journal's readership?
• Does the work complement the existing content published in the journal?

5. Potential Impact and Audience:

• What is the likely impact and reach of the research findings?
• Will the paper attract attention and generate discussion within the scientific community?
• Does the work have the potential to influence future research or clinical practice?

6. Overall Quality and Presentation:

• Is the manuscript well-written, with minimal typographical or grammatical errors?
• Are the figures and tables clear, informative, and appropriately formatted?• Have the authors followed the journal's formatting and submission guidelines?

Q7: Could you recommend 1-2 current hot topics related to GPD?

1. Precision Medicine and Pharmacogenomics:

• The integration of genomic information to guide personalized treatment and drug selection for specific patient populations.
• Investigating the genetic and molecular factors that influence an individual's response to drugs, and how this can be leveraged to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

2. Epigenetic Modifications in Disease:

• Exploring the role of epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, in the development and progression of various diseases.
• Elucidating how epigenetic alterations can be used as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

3. Gene-Environment Interactions in Disease Pathogenesis:

• Understanding how the interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences (e.g., diet, lifestyle, toxins) contributes to the development and manifestation of complex diseases.
• Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these gene-environment interactions.

4. Advances in Genome Editing Technologies:

• Exploring the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 and other genome editing tools for correcting genetic defects and treating genetic disorders.
• Addressing the challenges and ethical considerations surrounding the application of these technologies.

5. Multi-Omics Approaches in Disease Research:

• Integrating and analyzing data from various "omics" technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms.
• Developing novel bioinformatics and computational methods to extract insights from these large, complex datasets.

Thanks to Dr. William Cho for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the interview with editorial department of GPD, and providing support and suggestions for the development of the journal. Here, we sincerely wish Dr. Cho every success in his scientific research.

Gene & Protein in Disease Editorial Office

4th July 2024