MDPI Philadelphia Editors Salon 2026—Advancing Open Science with Transparency Summary

On 27 February 2026, MDPI hosted the MDPI Philadelphia Editors Salon, the first North American MDPI Salon of 2026, bringing together 50+ editors, researchers, and academics to participate in important discussions that are paramount to the collaborative growth between MDPI and those who publish with us, while also celebrating the opening of MDPI’s new Philadelphia office. This growth consists of sharing our publishing practices with transparency, establishing a baseline of research integrity, and tackling modern challenges like AI and paper mills with our affiliated scholars, while also showcasing and improving open access research for all moving forward.  The Salon was held at Drexel University inside the George D. Behrakis Grand Hall near the center of University City, Philadelphia’s bustling academic heart. The various presentations, fruitful conversations, networking opportunities, and academic perspectives shared only reinforced our belief in the future of Open Access publishing and the collaborative scholars who take part in critical research and wish to improve alongside us.

For a summation of the most important presentations and highlights of the 2026 Philadelphia Editors Salon, please see below:

Opening of the Event:

• As the host of the 2026 Philadelphia Editors Salon, Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Dr. Sally Wu, opened the event by welcoming attendees and introducing the format of the event.

Opening Speech and Celebration of the US Office:

• Mr. Bob Vrooman, Head of Business Development, gave the opening speech and acknowledged our new Philadelphia office, and 2nd in North America, in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. He then further expanded on the opportunities this would afford MDPI and its stakeholders moving forward.

MDPI Overview:

• Ms. Summer Huggard, Operations Manager from MDPI Canada, provided an inside look at MDPI’s operations in North America and worldwide, expounding on the continued growth of MDPI in all areas and presenting a broad overview of MDPI as a whole and goals for the future.

MDPI Editorial Processes and Special Issue:

• Ms. Diana Ribeiro Tosato, Journal Relations Specialist and External Affairs Coordinator (Brazil), presented on MDPI’s proprietary editorial processes and approach to Special Issues and their uses. This presentation delved into the specific requirements and steps present from manuscript submission to publication and highlighted notable differences between regular submission and Special Issue submission, while ensuring all attendees understood that the submission process and vetting is relatively the same in both cases.

IOAP and Society Partnerships:

• Mr. Bob Vrooman discussed MDPI’s amassed portfolio of IOAP and Society partnerships and outlined the benefits of collaboration, along with the number of MDPI’s previous success stories in these areas.

Unparalleled Impact of PET Imaging on Research and Day-to-Day Practice of Medicine:

• Esteemed University of Pennsylvania scholar, Dr. Abass Alavi, who specializes in the field of molecular imaging, and more specifically in the imaging modality of positron emission tomography (PET), shared his presentation “Unparalleled Impact on PET Imaging on Research and Day-to-Day Practice of Medicine”, which exposed all attendees to high-level research in a critical area of medicine.

Best Contribution Award & Presentation:

• Acknowledged and presented crystal awards to our four chosen Best Contribution Award winners, celebrating our most dedicated editors and recognizing their contributions to both their journals, MDPI, and publishing as a whole. Multiple award winners gave acceptance speeches detailing their research and overall contributions to their respective fields of research study.

MDPI Ethics and Research Integrity:

• Presented by Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj, this session covered the critical topics of MDPI Ethics and Research Integrity, outlined key aspects of our review processes, highlighted MDPI’s Research Integrity Team and their inter-departmental growth, along with addressing common misconceptions.

AI in Publishing:

• Presented by Regional Journal Relations Specialist and specialist in AI, Dr. Barnaby Crook discussed AI in publishing, along with its relevance in the modern age and its various applications. In doing so, Dr. Crook covered both positive and negative aspects of AI in the field, from its use in technical editing, AI declarations, and preventing AI from infiltrating the publishing space in the wrong ways, along with methods to both recognize and prevent misuse.

Feedback and Discussion Panel:

• Four of the previous MDPI presenters (Mr. Bob Vrooman, Ms. Summer Huggard, Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj, and Dr. Barnaby Crook) participated in a feedback and discussion panel, and attendees were encouraged to ask various questions relating to their own experiences with MDPI. Topics covered included examining the specifics of MDPI’s peer review processes, AI and its ever-increasing role in the publishing industry, MDPI’s various initiatives and their uses, and much more. The constructive exchange between scholars and publishers alike represents a critical part of events like this, allowing direct communication between our internal decision-makers and our external experts and fostering collaboration in real-time to address issues and foster improvement both in the present and future.

Closing Remarks and Networking:

• Mr. Bob Vrooman delivered closing remarks, thanked all of our attendees for sharing their valuable time with us, and made the event successful before officially closing the 2026 Philadelphia Editors Salon. Attendees were then welcomed to engage in the final networking session of the day, before finally leaving the venue, marking an end to the day’s insightful proceedings.

Best Contribution Awards:

The MDPI Best Contribution Award is presented to editors in recognition of their exceptional dedication and impactful support of their journals. It highlights standout contributions and areas, including providing thorough and insightful reviews, making informed and fair decisions, ensuring publication quality and integrity, and facilitating the timely submission of high-quality manuscripts. The award also celebrates each recipient’s commitment to their journal’s growth and success through ongoing collaboration with authors and the editorial team. This prestigious honor acknowledges the vital and demanding role editors play in upholding academic excellence and credibility. The following four winners were recognized at the 2026 Philadelphia Salon, with Prof. Dr. John M. Vohs' award delivered in person:

Looking Ahead:

The MDPI Philadelphia Salon wasn’t just a celebration of academic excellence, but as our first North American Salon of the year, and in celebration of our brand-new Philadelphia office, it served as an excellent baseline to hit the ground running in 2026 in our efforts to continue to proudly provide our affiliated scholars with the tools they need for scientific information dissemination of their critical research, while simultaneously collaborating with them both virtually and at events like this where seemingly simple discussions can lead to mutually beneficial improvements. We express our sincere thanks to all attendees, speakers, and award recipients for providing us with their time and their willingness to connect with us. With a far-reaching and forward-thinking perspective, MDPI, as a pioneer of open access research, remains committed to supporting all aspects of scientific publishing and fostering continuous growth within the industry. We greatly look forward to organizing more events like this in the future that bring together influential voices across academia for the betterment of all involved. We can’t wait.