Aims & Scope
Core Research Domains
Molecular Pathophysiology
- Inflammatory signaling pathways in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)
- Epithelial barrier dysfunction mechanisms in sinonasal mucosa
- Cytokine networks and immune cell activation in nasal polyposis
- Type 2 inflammation molecular signatures in eosinophilic CRS
- Cellular stress responses and tissue remodeling pathways
- Gene expression profiling in sinonasal inflammatory phenotypes
"Transcriptomic analysis reveals distinct IL-33/ST2 pathway activation patterns in eosinophilic versus neutrophilic chronic rhinosinusitis endotypes"
Immunological Mechanisms
- Innate immune receptor signaling in sinonasal epithelium
- Adaptive immune responses and T cell polarization in CRS
- IgE-mediated mechanisms in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis
- Eosinophil activation pathways and degranulation mechanisms
- Neutrophil extracellular trap formation in acute sinusitis
- Immune dysregulation in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease
"Mechanistic investigation of eosinophil peroxidase-mediated tissue damage in nasal polyp formation: role of oxidative stress pathways"
Microbial Pathogenesis
- Sinonasal microbiome composition and dysbiosis mechanisms
- Bacterial biofilm formation and persistence pathways
- Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors and superantigen effects
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing in chronic infection
- Fungal colonization mechanisms in allergic fungal sinusitis
- Host-pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces
"Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B-induced superantigen activation of T cells in nasal polyp tissue"
Biomarkers & Disease Models
- Discovery and validation of molecular biomarkers for CRS endotyping
- Proteomic signatures in sinonasal secretions and tissue
- Metabolomic profiling of inflammatory mediators
- In vitro models of sinonasal epithelial barrier function
- Animal models of chronic rhinosinusitis pathogenesis
- Organoid systems for studying sinonasal disease mechanisms
"Development of air-liquid interface culture model to investigate epithelial-derived alarmin release in response to fungal allergen exposure"
Secondary Focus Areas
Cross-Disciplinary Mechanisms
- Unified airway disease: molecular links between CRS and asthma
- Neuroimmune interactions in sinonasal inflammation
- Metabolic factors influencing inflammatory pathways
- Environmental exposure effects on epithelial function
- Genetic susceptibility and epigenetic modifications
Methodological Innovations
- Novel imaging techniques for cellular pathway visualization
- Single-cell sequencing approaches in sinonasal tissue
- Spatial transcriptomics of inflammatory microenvironments
- Advanced proteomics and metabolomics platforms
- Machine learning for biomarker pattern recognition
Molecular Epidemiology
- Population-based genetic association studies
- Biomarker prevalence across demographic groups
- Environmental factor effects on molecular phenotypes
- Microbiome diversity patterns in populations
- Risk factor identification through omics approaches
Therapeutic Target Discovery
- Identification of novel molecular targets for intervention
- Mechanism of action studies for biologic agents
- Drug target validation in disease models
- Pathway-specific therapeutic approaches
- Resistance mechanisms to current therapies
Emerging Research Frontiers
Systems Biology Approaches
- Network analysis of inflammatory pathways
- Multi-omics integration for disease understanding
- Computational modeling of immune responses
- Systems-level biomarker discovery
Precision Medicine
- Molecular endotyping for personalized approaches
- Predictive biomarkers for treatment response
- Pharmacogenomics in sinonasal disease
- Patient stratification based on molecular profiles
Regenerative Mechanisms
- Epithelial repair and regeneration pathways
- Stem cell biology in sinonasal mucosa
- Tissue remodeling and fibrosis mechanisms
- Wound healing responses in chronic inflammation
Explicitly Out of Scope
We Do Not Consider
- Clinical Treatment Protocols Antibiotic regimens, corticosteroid dosing schedules, treatment algorithms, or therapeutic guidelines without mechanistic investigation
- Surgical Technique Descriptions Endoscopic approaches, procedural innovations, surgical outcomes, or operative methods unless investigating underlying pathophysiological mechanisms
- Patient Management Studies Clinical decision-making, care pathways, quality improvement initiatives, or healthcare delivery models
- Purely Clinical Outcomes Research Treatment efficacy trials, symptom scores, quality of life measures, or patient-reported outcomes without molecular/mechanistic endpoints
- Descriptive Case Reports Individual patient presentations, unusual clinical scenarios, or diagnostic challenges without mechanistic insights or biomarker discovery
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track Review
- Original Research Articles (mechanistic studies)
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses (pathophysiology focus)
- Methods & Resources (novel techniques for mechanism study)
- Biomarker Discovery & Validation Studies
Standard Review
- Short Communications (preliminary mechanistic findings)
- Data Notes (omics datasets, molecular profiles)
- Perspectives (mechanistic hypotheses, pathway discussions)
- Technical Notes (protocol optimizations)
Rarely Considered
- Case Reports (only if exceptional mechanistic insights)
- Opinion Pieces (must address pathophysiology controversies)
- Commentaries (on published mechanistic studies)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Animal research reporting standards
Observational study reporting
Systematic review standards
Raw data deposition required
IRB/IACUC documentation mandatory
bioRxiv/medRxiv deposits encouraged