BMC Medicine invites submissions to a new Collection focused on the interplay between cardiac immunity and inflammation. We welcome original research, translational studies, and comprehensive reviews that elucidate the underlying mechanisms, clinical consequences, and therapeutic opportunities arising from immune-cardiac interactions. By highlighting the importance of this link, we aim to foster collaboration and advance our understanding of how to improve patient outcomes in heart disease.

The intersection of immunity and cardiovascular biology represents a transformative frontier in modern medicine. Recent studies have highlighted the role of immune responses in various heart conditions, including myocarditis, cardiac xenotransplantation, and heart failure. Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to the pathogenesis and residual risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. This Collection aims to explore the mechanisms by which immune responses influence cardiac function, the role of clonal hematopoiesis and heart disease, and the implications of such interactions for cardiac outcomes.

Understanding cardiac immunity and inflammation is crucial for developing more targeted therapies and accurate CVD risk prediction. Past advances provided insights into the inflammatory processes involving cardiovascular conditions, leading to innovative approaches for diagnosis and treatment. For instance, the identification of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein enhances our ability to assess inflammation in patients with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the intersection of cardio-oncology has opened new avenues for research into how cancer therapies influence cardiac immune responses, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach to patient management.

Continued research in this field holds promise for unveiling drug discovery targets and strategies to mitigate inflammation-related cardiac damage. As we deepen our understanding of the immune mechanisms at play, we may see the development of more clinically relevant models of human disease and precision medicine approaches tailored to individual patients. The integration of this knowledge with advancements in technology, such as biomarker discovery and imaging techniques, could revolutionize the way we approach cardiac care.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Role of immunity in cardiovascular biomedicine
• Systemic and cardiac-specific inflammatory pathways
• Residual inflammatory risk, e.g. “SMuRF-less but inflamed”
• Cross-organ communication and immune crosstalk
• Structural and functional cardiac remodeling driven by inflammation
• Novel biomarkers and prediction models
• Clonal hematopoiesis
• Cardio-oncology & therapy-induced immune modulation
• The role of immunity in cardiac xenotransplantation including partial heart transplantation
• Exposome/environmental exposures
• Epigenetic regulation of cardiac immunity and inflammation
• Immune memory and trained immunity in cardiovascular contexts
• Multi-omics integration (epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) in cardiac disease

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well Being).

BMC Medicine is calling for submissions to our new Collection exploring the use of organoids in connecting molecular insights with clinical practice. We welcome research that investigates their applications in molecular medicine, precision medicine, regenerative medicine, and the understanding of inter-organ crosstalk. Through this Collection, we aim to showcase the transformative potential of organoids in advancing biomedical research and improving patient outcomes.

Organoids, three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells, mimic the architecture and function of real organs, providing a groundbreaking platform for studying human biology and disease. These miniature organs have emerged as powerful tools in biomedical research, enabling scientists to explore complex biological processes, drug responses, and disease mechanisms in a controlled environment. By bridging the gap between traditional 2D cell cultures and in vivo models, organoids offer unprecedented opportunities to investigate cellular interactions, tissue development, and organ-specific functions.

Advancements in organoid technology have been instrumental in enhancing our understanding of various diseases, including but not limited to cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. Their capacity for personalized medicine, where patient-specific organoids are used to test drug efficacy, represents a significant leap towards tailored therapies. Furthermore, organoids facilitate the study of inter-organ crosstalk and molecular communication, revealing insights into systemic responses and disease progression that were previously difficult to achieve.

As research in this field continues to grow, we can anticipate innovative applications of organoids in regenerative medicine, the development of novel therapeutic strategies, and the potential for real-time monitoring of disease progression and treatment responses. The integration of multi-organoid systems may also pave the way for more complex models that better reflect human physiology, ultimately transforming clinical practice.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Organoids in development biology and disease modeling
• Insights into disease mechanisms through organoid models
• Applications of organoids in precision medicine
• Advances in 3D cell culture technologies
• Inter-organ crosstalk and molecular communication
• Organoids in regenerative medicine

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.