Call for Papers: Special Issue Honoring Dr. Judith Campisi’s Contributions to Science

In a significant development within the scientific community, the renowned peer-reviewed open-access journal Aging (Aging-US) has announced a call for submissions to a special commemorative collection that honors the late Professor Judith Campisi, a luminary in the field of cellular senescence. This focused edition aims to consolidate pioneering research on the mechanisms and impacts of cellular senescence, spanning a comprehensive array of topics from fundamental biology to clinical applications. Professor Campisi’s transformative work has been instrumental in expanding the understanding of how senescence influences aging, oncogenesis, and the regulation of tissue homeostasis, setting the groundwork for new therapeutic strategies.

Cellular senescence, the complex process through which cells irreversibly cease to divide while remaining metabolically active, has gained immense attention for its dual role in physiology and pathology. The senescent phenotype exhibits profound changes, notably the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which involves the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and proteases that can alter the tissue microenvironment. This feature, extensively characterized in Campisi’s research, contributes both to tumor suppression and, paradoxically, tissue dysfunction linked to aging and chronic diseases.

This special collection seeks to gather cutting-edge studies elucidating the fundamental molecular triggers that induce senescence, including DNA damage responses, telomere attrition, oxidative stress, and oncogene activation. Further, it emphasizes mechanistic insights into how senescent cells maintain their arrest and modulate their secretory profile in various physiological contexts. These scientific inquiries delve into the signaling pathways such as p53/p21 and p16INK4a/Rb, which orchestrate the senescence program and determine cell fate decisions influential in organismal aging.

Beyond mechanistic studies, the scope extends to the physiological roles of senescent cells, revealing their context-dependent effects. Researchers are invited to submit findings that explore the beneficial roles of senescence in embryonic development, wound healing, and regeneration, juxtaposed with detrimental consequences in chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor microenvironment modulation. This nuanced perspective underscores the intricacy of senescence as a biological phenomenon, pivotal to both healthspan and disease progression.

An additional focal point of the collection is the advancement of biomarkers and innovative tools for the detection and quantification of senescent cells. Accurate identification remains a challenge due to the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the senescent phenotype. Contributions that present novel imaging techniques, single-cell analyses, and molecular signatures provide critical resources for both basic research and translational applications, facilitating precision medicine approaches in aging-related conditions.

Therapeutic interventions targeting senescent cells represent a rapidly expanding frontier directly inspired by foundational research in this domain. The collection invites submissions on the development and evaluation of senolytics—agents that selectively eliminate senescent cells—and senomorphics, compounds that modulate the SASP without cell death. This line of investigation aims to mitigate the deleterious effects of senescent cells in vivo and translate these findings into clinical therapies for age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration.

Importantly, the special issue is guest edited by Han Li and Irina Conboy, internationally recognized leaders in the study of senescence and aging. Their combined expertise spans molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and systemic aging, positioning them perfectly to curate a collection that integrates multidisciplinary perspectives on cellular senescence. Their leadership recommits the field to rigorous, innovative, and impactful research trajectories in honor of Professor Campisi’s enduring legacy.

The submission deadline is set for January 15, 2026. Authors are encouraged to adhere strictly to Aging’s manuscript guidelines outlining formatting, ethical considerations, and original research standards. Each submission will undergo a thorough and rigorous peer-review process ensuring the highest scientific quality and relevance. Researchers worldwide are encouraged to contribute original research, comprehensive reviews, and thought-provoking perspectives that collectively advance the field.

This commemorative call for papers not only serves as a tribute to an extraordinary scientist but also catalyzes a renewed collective effort to decode the complex biology underpinning senescence and its vast implications. It invites the scientific community to push the boundaries of knowledge surrounding the molecular and cellular underpinnings of aging and age-related diseases, potentially unlocking novel paths to enhance human healthspan and longevity.

This initiative also reflects a growing recognition that interventions targeting senescent cells hold promise to redefine aging research from a descriptive to a therapeutic discipline. The research curated under this collection will contribute to a more profound understanding of age-associated pathologies, offering hope for innovative clinical solutions and improved quality of life for aging populations globally.

For more detailed information regarding manuscript submission, interested researchers are directed to the official Aging journal website. The platform also offers extensive resources relating to editorial policies and open-access publishing, enabling a broad dissemination of knowledge. The Aging journal remains committed to fostering open scientific communication and public engagement, with active outreach on multiple social media platforms.

In closing, this commemorative special collection provides a unique opportunity for scientists to honor the memory of Professor Judith Campisi by contributing to a growing body of knowledge that she inspired. It resonates as a call to action for the global aging research community to continue unraveling the complexities of cellular senescence and its manifold effects on health and disease.

News Publication Date: May 1, 2025

Web References:
https://www.aging-us.com/judith-campisi-commemorative-call-for-papers
http://www.aging-us.com/