What is this collection about?
This Collection highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms that establish, maintain, and relinquish pluripotency, drive differentiation in vivo and in vitro, and enable reprogramming, including natural reprogramming in vivo and experimentally induced reprogramming. We welcome work that links these processes to early embryonic organization and to applications in disease modelling, cell therapy, and regeneration.
Submissions are welcomed until 17th March 2027. Authors requiring more time to submit can contact the Managing Editor, Chess Law: chess.law@springernature.com
Why is this Collection important?
“We are particularly excited to be launching this Collection together with seven international experts who serve as Guest Editors, bringing together diverse and complementary expertise in pluripotency, differentiation, reprogramming, embryonic development and tissue regeneration.
A call for papers on the topic is timely and important to capture the growing momentum in the field as recent advances are reshaping our understanding of how cellular identity is established, maintained, and can be manipulated in development and disease.
Notably, today marks exactly twenty years since the 25 August 2006, when Takahashi and Yamanaka reported their creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in their landmark paper (Takahashi K and Yamanaka S, Cell, 2006;126(4):663–76). The initial and the subsequent studies demonstrating that it was possible to reprogram adult cells into a pluripotent-like state, have revolutionized the field, as they have enabled researchers to study human development and disease in the lab, generate patient-specific cell models, and advance regenerative biology without relying on embryonic stem cells.
Twenty years later, as we have come closer to understanding how cell identity and tissue organization are regulated, we at BMC Biology are delighted to mark this milestone discovery with our call for papers. We are keen to work alongside our Guest Editors and Reviewers to critically evaluate all submitted articles and facilitate the publication of solid and insightful studies that will advance the field a bit further, both technically and conceptually.
Moreover, we are especially grateful to our Guest Editors who have worked as a team to co-author an Editorial on “Pluripotency, differentiation and reprogramming: 20 years of induced pluripotent stem cells” to accompany the Collection and mark this special anniversary. The piece explores how two decades of research following the generation of iPSCs have transformed our understanding of cell identity and highlight the new questions, technologies, and translational applications that are shaping the field's next phase, many of which we hope will be addressed and advanced through contributions to this Collection.”
—Dr Anna Melidoni, Lead Editor
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
Why submit to a collection?
Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors and In-House Editors who are experts in their fields. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores.
Who is involved?
Guest Editors:
- Sekyu Choi, Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea
- Ge Guo, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
- Sarah Hainer, University of Pittsburgh, United States
- Masaki Kinoshita, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Stanley Strawbridge, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Chengchen Zhao, Westlake University, China
- Fan Zhou, Tsinghua University, China
In-House Editor:
- Anna Melidoni, BMC Biology, UK
How can I submit my paper?
Visit the Collection page for more information on the Collection, and how to submit your article.
As part of this Collection-specific initiative, researchers may apply for 3 APC waivers and discounts by contacting Chess Law (chess.law@springernature.com), ideally at the time of submission or shortly thereafter. The available waivers and discounts are limited and will be requested on a first-come, first-served basis, so early submissions are encouraged. Approved waivers aren't a guarantee of publication, and the manuscripts will undergo normal peer review.