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Celebrating Early Career Excellence and Advancing the Molecular Biology of Exercise

We invite researchers working at the forefront of molecular exercise science to submit their latest work to the Collection.

Published in Cell & Molecular Biology

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Celebrating Early Career Excellence and Advancing the Molecular Biology of Exercise
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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:

1. 🏆 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" 

   
Left: 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.) 

  

2. 🏆 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:  ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images

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    Team
    npj Exercise Medicine and Health

    Go to the profile of Dr. Pranav Joshi

    Contributors

    Author

    Go to the profile of Dr. Pranav Joshi

    Dr. Pranav Joshi (He/Him)

    Associate Publisher, Springer Nature

    Contributing authors

    Go to the profile of Yang Ba

    Yang Ba

    Commissioning Editor, Springer Nature

    Go to the profile of David Bishop

    David Bishop

    Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University

    Go to the profile of Sissi He

    Sissi He

    Managing Editor, SpringerNature

    Go to the profile of Warisha Parween

    Warisha Parween

    Assistant Editor, Springer Nature

    Multiple Contributors
    Dr. Pranav Joshi, Yang Ba, David Bishop, Sissi He & Warisha Parween

    Contributors

    Author

    Go to the profile of Dr. Pranav Joshi

    Dr. Pranav Joshi (He/Him)

    Associate Publisher, Springer Nature

    Contributing authors

    Go to the profile of Yang Ba

    Yang Ba

    Commissioning Editor, Springer Nature

    Go to the profile of David Bishop

    David Bishop

    Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University

    Go to the profile of Sissi He

    Sissi He

    Managing Editor, SpringerNature

    Go to the profile of Warisha Parween

    Warisha Parween

    Assistant Editor, Springer Nature

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    Go to the profile of Saliha Bayir
    Saliha Bayir
    4 days ago

    A fantastic initiative supporting ECRs. Congratulations to everyone involved!

    Go to the profile of Dr. Pranav Joshi
    Dr. Pranav Joshi Author
    4 days ago

    Thank you for your kind words :-)

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    Molecular Biology
    Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Molecular Biology

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