At the International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference (IBEC) 2026: Exercise and Healthspan, npj Exercise Medicine and Health was proud to recognise outstanding early career researchers whose work reflects the forefront of innovation in exercise science.
As part of our commitment to supporting emerging talent, the journal sponsored two Poster Presentation Awards, celebrating scientific excellence and the next generation of leaders in the field.
We warmly congratulate our 2026 award recipients:
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🏆 Jonathan McLeod (Queen's University, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Canada) for his presentation:
"Exploring the Dynamic Proteome During Differential Loading in Young Healthy Women"ÂLeft: Prof. Zhen Yan (Associate Editor, npj Exercise Medicine and Health); Right: Dr. Jonathan McLeod. (Photo credit: Conference photos shared with permission from the conference organizers.)
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🏆 Max Ullrich (PhD Fellow, Molecular Exercise Biology, Ghent University, Belgium) for his presentation:
"Recruitomics – Spatial Profiling of Single Motor Unit Stimulation Reveals Transcriptional Activation in Non-Recruited Muscle Fibers"Left: Prof. Zhen Yan (Associate Editor, npj Exercise Medicine and Health); Right: Max Ullrich.(Photo credit: Conference photos shared with permission from the conference organizers.)
Their work exemplifies how rapidly advancing technologies are enabling unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms that underpin exercise adaptation.
From Scientific Momentum to a New Research Focus
The breadth and depth of research presented at IBEC 2026 highlighted a defining shift in the field towards precise, molecular-level understanding of how exercise influences human biology. This momentum provides the foundation for an important new initiative.
In response, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Collection:
🧬Molecular Biology of Exercise
Aligned with the theme of the conference, this Collection seeks to capture and amplify cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of exercise at the molecular and cellular levels. As one of the most powerful interventions for promoting health and preventing disease, exercise holds immense translational potential—yet many of its biological effects remain incompletely understood. Addressing this gap is both a scientific and clinical priority.
The Collection is guest edited by leading experts in molecular exercise science, Dr. Malene Lindholm and Prof. Zhen Yan (Associate Editor, npj Exercise Medicine and Health), whose leadership at IBEC 2026 further underscores the strong connection between the conference’s scientific vision and this initiative.
Through this Collection, we aim to bring together research that advances our understanding of how exercise works at the molecular level and helps shape the future of exercise medicine.
Congratulations again to Jonathan and Max on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to following their future contributions and to receiving submissions that will help define the next generation of discoveries in molecular exercise science.
Poster image:Â ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images
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