Department of Medical Science, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalBiotechnology; clinical biochemistry; metabolomics; proteomics; peptidomics; mass spectrometry; biomarkers; bioinformatics; body fluids; head neck cancer; therapeutic peptides
Dr. Rui Vitorino works in the Department of Medical Sciences at the University of Aveiro, where he is the principal investigator. His expertise in OMICS, especially in proteomics and bioinformatics, makes him a pioneer in this field. Dr. Vitorino's research focuses on the detailed analysis of biofluids, such as saliva and urine, to decipher molecular pathways associated with different disease phenotypes. He employs a variety of multidisciplinary techniques for protein enrichment and biofluid analysis, all aimed at improving the detection and understanding of disease biomarkers. Since receiving his PhD in biochemistry in 2004, Dr. Vitorino has made significant contributions to proteomics. His innovative work has been instrumental in overcoming previous analytical challenges and potentially changing the landscape of early disease detection and risk assessment through the creation of comprehensive multimarker panels. His research spans a broad range of areas, including molecular and cell biology. His work is characterised by its thoroughness, from conducting detailed mechanistic studies to performing preliminary investigations and confirmatory studies, all underpinned by sound methodology and the addition of valuable data and insights that have the potential to influence future research. Dr. Vitorino’s academic track record is marked by over 240 publications, more than 7400 citations and an h-index of 38. He is involved in over 40 scientific projects, many of which are supported by the European Union and involve international collaborations. Dr. Vitorino is known for his expertise in the field of proteomics. He has collaborated with various research groups worldwide and has been instrumental in major projects such as the EU-ETN and COST Actions. His work is a testament not only to his deep knowledge of the field, but also to his commitment to promoting scientific understanding and collaboration.
This special issue will focus on the integration of clinical bioinformatics, clinical trials, and the emerging field of micropeptides to advance precision medicine and innovative therapeutics. It aims to bring together cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary approaches that harness bioinformatics, omics technologies, and clinical trial methodologies to address challenges in human and animal health.
The special issue will highlight the transformative potential of micropeptides—short peptides encoded by small open reading frames (sORFs)—in disease diagnostics, therapeutic target identification, and drug development. Emphasis will also be placed on the role of clinical bioinformatics in analyzing complex datasets and designing robust clinical trials that translate omics discoveries into real-world applications.
Key Topics
Submissions are invited on the following themes:
Micropeptides in Health and Disease
- Discovery and functional characterization of micropeptides in human and animal health.
- Micropeptide roles in cancer, metabolic diseases, and neurological disorders.
- Development of micropeptide-based therapeutics and drug delivery systems.
Clinical Bioinformatics
- Integration of multi-omics data for biomarker discovery and patient stratification.
- Bioinformatics pipelines and tools for analyzing micropeptide datasets.
- Computational modeling of micropeptide interactions and pathways.
- Ethical considerations in bioinformatics for clinical trials.
Clinical Trials in the Omics Era
- Omics-guided design of precision medicine clinical trials.
- Innovative trial methodologies incorporating biomarkers and omics data.
- Real-world data applications and adaptive trial designs.
- Case studies: Translating omics discoveries, including micropeptides, into clinical interventions.
Multi-Omics and Artificial Intelligence
- AI-driven approaches for identifying therapeutic micropeptides.
- Systems biology insights from integrating genomics, proteomics, and micropeptide data.
- Machine learning in predicting micropeptide functionality and disease relevance.
Regulatory and Translational Challenges
- Navigating regulatory pathways for micropeptide-based therapies.
- Harmonizing bioinformatics standards across clinical research.
- Translational challenges in adopting omics findings into clinical practice.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and short communications. Submissions should demonstrate a clear connection between bioinformatics, clinical trials, and translational outcomes, with a particular focus on micropeptides.