April 2026 Newsletter

The April 2026 Newsletter highlights key insights on publication metrics, student support opportunities, fellowships, scientific developments, and upcoming academic events.

Talking Publication Metrics

What do the Impact Factor and h-index really measure?

Publication metrics play an ever more important role in today's environment.

Therefore, we compiled an outline of the most widely used metrics.

Additionally, here's a brief discussion of the nuances we need to consider.

Supporting Students

Do you have students whom you want to support?

Are you a student yourself, looking to gain new experiences?

We have created an overview of the scholar- & fellowships we offer for you.

To further support you or those who don’t yet feel ready to take action, we have prepared a brief guide too.

Bioinformatics & Validation

In one sentence, bioinformatic pipelines benefit from validation.

Patten et al. show that bioinformatics pipelines can produce biologically convincing but completely false signals - even after standard filtering.

The team demonstrates, with experimental validation, that even when applying best practices, false-positive rates for a plausible cancer-driving gene can approach 99%.

For labs working in genomics or those setting up new workflows, this methodologically insightful 20-minute read is probably well worth your time.

Upcoming Deadlines

• PROBio-LatAm Fellowships – April 19
• IUBMB Travel Fellowships – June 15
• IUBMB Education Fellowships – June 15
• Tatenda Murigo Scholarship – June 15
• IUBMB Relocation Support for Displaced Trainees – Open All Times

Special Note

This short video honors Mary George - a PROBio-Africa Fellowship recipient.

Upcoming Academic Activities

• IUBMB Plenary Lectures – June 15
• IUBMB Jubilee Award Lectures – June 15
• IUBMB Educational Activities – June 15
• IUBMB Focused Meetings (2028) – June 15

Your Chance to Publish

Why Society Journals Matter

Society journals uphold established editorial standards and transparent peer review. This provides a level of trust that protects researchers from being associated with predatory publishing.

That reliability matters - especially when publications are evaluated for grants or tenure.

Worth Reading

• ALG8 Mutations Rewire Metabolism in Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Can Natural Antioxidants Protect Cells from Amyloid-β Damage?
• Aldose Reductase and Isoxazole Derivates: Their Links to Diabetes
• A Decade of Digital Biochemistry Education - What Actually Works?
• Cartooning in Biological Learning

Special Opportunities

Do you know a highly promising junior investigator in your group?

Nominate them and give them the opportunity to:

• Travel to the IUBMB Congress, supported with $2,000 USD and a lecture slot
• Be invited to contribute a review article in IUBMB Life
• Win $1,000 USD for themselves

IUBMB Events

Topic: Preventing Diabetes-Induced Ferroptosis

Nevena Savić is the winner of the Wiley-BioFactors Young Investigator Prize for an outstanding study on the prevention of diabetes-induced hepatic ferroptosis.

Honouring the Legacy of Joan Guinovart