Jessica Winter: Editor-in-Chief

I am honoured to be named Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Materials Chemistry B and co-Editor-in-Chief of Materials Advances. Under the leadership of outgoing Editor-in-Chief Jeroen Cornelissen, both journals saw tremendous growth. Journal of Materials Chemistry B (JMC B) was created in 2013 after the split of Journal of Materials Chemistry into three distinct journals, with Jeroen serving at its helm from 2016 to the present. Under his leadership, the journal published more than 7500 articles with authors from 92 different countries/regions, while increasing its ISI impact factor from 4 to as high as 7.5 and establishing itself as a first quartile (Q1) biomaterials journal. Materials Advances (MA) launched in 2020 and since that time has published more than 3100 papers, receiving its first impact factor, 5, in 2023. I want to thank Jeroen for his service to the journals and aspire to emulate his leadership. Jeroen will continue to serve both journals as a member of the advisory boards.

As we look forward, I am very excited about the future of both journals. JMC B focuses on the intersection between materials and biology with an emphasis on materials chemistry that sets it apart from other biomaterials journals. JMC B offers a full suite of article types, including research papers, communications, reviews, highlights, perspectives, and comments, with particular strengths in polymer, nanoparticle, and dye-based materials. Building on these strengths, I envision JMC B as the premier community for biomaterials design, formulation, and characterization research, exemplified by our recent themed collections on injectable hydrogels, stimuli responsive materials, and biomedical polymers. At the same time, JMC B also has a strong emphasis in diagnostic, theranostic, and drug delivery materials (see for example our past collection on microneedles), which we will continue to expand. JMC B also publishes at the convergence of molecules into materials, supporting research on molecular self-assembly as evidenced by our collections on fluorescent materials, supramolecular systems, and protein cages.

Our field is rapidly advancing, and JMC B seeks to capture the latest advances, including application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to materials design and optimization. There has also been discussion in our community about materials validation and experimental repeatability.^1,2 With its dedication to data-driven quality, JMC B is a natural home for the science of materials validation and methods standardization in those investigations. There is growing interest in replacing animal models with validated in vitro systems. As materials chemists, we know that structure–property relationships will be crucial to developing in vitro systems that faithfully recapitulate human physiology, and JMC B is ready to lead the conversation on developing such systems. With the rise of mRNA vaccines during the Covid pandemic,³ we also strive to be the home for materials research in nanomedicine. In early 2025, we will mark George Whitesides’ 85th birthday with a themed collection and also release a collection on the Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials. You can find all our themed collections on the “Themed Collections” tab on our webpage as well as open calls that you can get involved with – check back frequently for updates. As with all Royal Society of Chemistry journals, JMC B is on a path to become a fully open access journal by 2028. With this transition, JMC B will join MA in further broadening readership and ensuring equitable access in publishing through open access.

MA serves as an open access home for broad materials research spanning topics related to all of the JMC journals, including JMC B. MA is currently experiencing a period of rapid growth, with a goal of providing a high-quality home for diverse topics. In the biological area, MA focuses on materials development and characterization, including work that may not yet have been fully validated in biological systems. MA also offers authors access to an expanded readership and is well suited for articles that span JMC divisions. This makes MA an ideal platform for disseminating innovative materials research across disciplines.

JMC B, MA, and the Royal Society of Chemistry are here to assist you through every step of the publishing process, with significant resources for author and reviewer support. The Royal Society of Chemistry recently piloted an author mentorship program, which I was pleased to participate in, and JMC B is planning an editorial for early 2025 on how to write impactful review articles. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, you can find resources on our reviewer hub and also indicate your willingness to serve. Whatever stage you are at in your publishing journey, we are poised to meet you.

As I step into the role of Editor-in-Chief, I must commend the exceptional Royal Society of Chemistry support staff and our distinguished Associate Editors who make all of this possible. Our staff not only facilitate publication efforts, but also provide invaluable support for researchers across the globe through conferences, workshops, and mentoring programs. Our Associate Editors, representing 9 different countries across 4 continents, are each expert in their respective fields. It is a privilege to work alongside them as we strive to advance materials chemistry at the intersection of biology and medicine. I warmly invite you to become part of our vibrant community by submitting a manuscript, serving as a reviewer, or simply exploring the wealth of articles that we offer.

References

1. Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Validation Workgroup Validation, Qualification, and Regulatory Acceptance of New Approach Methodologies, 2024 DOI:10.22427/NICEATM-2, https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_file_download.cfm? p:download_id=548786&Lab=CCTE.
2. S. Batista Leite, M. Zincke Dos Reis Fernandes Cipriano, D. Carpi, S. Coecke, M. Holloway, R. Corvi, A. Worth, J. F. Viegas Barroso and M. Whelan, Establishing the scientific validity of complex in vitro models, Luxembourg, 2021 DOI:10.2760/399535, https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC122394.
3. D. W. Zhou, K. Wang, Y. A. Zhang, K. Ma, X. C. Yang, Z. Y. Li, S. S. Yu, K. Z. Chen and S. L. Qiao, mRNA therapeutics for disease therapy: principles, delivery, and clinical translation, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11(16), 3484–3510,  10.1039/d2tb02782h.

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