Call for papers - Ion channels and channelopathies

Guest Editors

Zhuo Huang, PhD, Peking University, China
Soile Nymark, PhD, Tampere University, Finland

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 27 October 2025

BMC Biology is calling for submissions to our Collection on Ion channels and channelopathies. Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that regulate the flow of ions across the cell membrane, playing a crucial role in numerous physiological processes, such as muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and hormone secretion. Dysfunctions in these channels, known as channelopathies, are linked to a wide range of diseases, including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, and cystic fibrosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions is essential for developing targeted therapies, making the study of ion channels and channelopathies a critical area of research.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Zhuo Huang, PhD, Peking University, China

Zhuo Huang is a Professor at the Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he has dedicated his research to the mechanisms of ion channels in neuropsychiatric disorders and the discovery of new therapeutic targets for refractory epilepsy. Dr Huang obtained his Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Peking University from 1998 to 2002, followed by a PhD in Neuropharmacology at University College London from 2003 to 2008. He continued his academic journey as a postdoctoral researcher at UCL until 2013, before returning to Peking University as a researcher.

Soile Nymark, PhD, Tampere University, Finland

Soile Nymark is an Associate Professor at Tampere University, Finland. She received her PhD at Aalto University, Finland, studying adaptation mechanisms in retinal rod photoreceptors. She did her post-doctoral training at Boston University School of Medicine, USA, focusing on the retinal visual cycle. After returning to Finland, Dr Nymark shifted her attention to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the key retina maintenance tissue, and began investigating its ion channel machinery. In 2016, Dr Nymark started her own research group with the goal to understand the multiple interactions between retina and RPE focusing on RPE ion channelome and related diseases. Her expertise covers electroretinography, single cell electrophysiology, microelectrode array, calcium imaging, live-cell fluorescence microscopy, and different model systems including stem cell derived in vitro models, mice and zebrafish.

About the Collection

BMC Biology is calling for submissions to our Collection on Ion channels and channelopathies. Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that regulate the flow of ions across the cell membrane, playing a crucial role in numerous physiological processes, such as muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and hormone secretion. Dysfunctions in these channels, known as channelopathies, are linked to a wide range of diseases, including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, and cystic fibrosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions is essential for developing targeted therapies, making the study of ion channels and channelopathies a critical area of research.

This Collection aims to bring together cutting-edge research that advances our knowledge in this field, with the potential to drive significant breakthroughs in diagnostics, treatment, and personalized medicine. Contributions are sought that explore the molecular and structural biology of ion channels, including studies on their architecture, gating mechanisms, and ion selectivity. Research on the genetic mutations leading to channelopathies and their phenotypic consequences is also of high interest. Additionally, insights into the pathophysiology of channelopathies, particularly how dysfunctional ion channels contribute to diseases such as cardiac, neurological, and muscular disorders, are crucial.

Potential topics for submission include, but are not limited to:

Molecular and structural biology of ion channels
Genetics of channelopathies
Pathophysiology of channelopathies
Roles of ion channels in normal physiological processes and their potential as therapeutic targets in other conditions
Development of pharmacological agents targeting ion channels
Innovations in the diagnosis of channelopathies, including biomarker discovery and next-generation sequencing
Clinical trials and novel therapeutic approaches, including personalized medicine and precision therapy for channelopathies
Advanced techniques in studying ion channel function, including electrophysiological recordings and computational modeling

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

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.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research and Methodology Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Ion channels and channelopathies" from the dropdown menu.

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.