Call for papers - Advanced organoid methods and protocols: from development to disease modeling

Guest Editors

Raquel Coronel, PhD, Carlos III Health Institute, Spain
Matthew Ishahak, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
Brisa Palikuqi, PhD, Yale University, USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 28 January 2026

BMC Methods is calling for submissions to our collection on organoids. This Collection invites researchers to contribute to the growing field of organoid technology, focusing on the development, application, and optimization of organoid models for studying human health and disease. We welcome submissions that explore innovative methodologies in organoid generation, differentiation, and culture, as well as their integration with high-throughput and high-resolution techniques for studying disease mechanisms.

Submit to Collection

Meet the Guest Editors

Back to top

Raquel Coronel, PhD, Carlos III Health Institute, Spain

Raquel Coronel, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Functional Unit of Chronic Disease Research of the Carlos III Health Institute. She earned her degree in Biochemistry from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and her PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Alcalá (Spain). In recognition of the quality level of her PhD, she was awarded the Extraordinary Doctoral Prize by the University of Alcalá. During her doctoral studies, she evaluated the biological role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in human neural stem cells (hNSCs) and explored its functions during the development of human cerebral organoids (hCOs). She has extensive experience in the stem cell maintenance, the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into 2D and 3D (organoids), and the implementation and optimization of new methods for the generation of cerebral organoids. Her current research focuses on the study of the cellular and molecular basis of human development using hCOs as models, expanding the application of these 3D systems for the modeling of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Matthew Ishahak, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, USA

Matthew Ishahak, PhD, is a bioengineer with a passion for developing novel tools that enable discoveries in basic sciences and collaborative drug discovery efforts. Matthew earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami, where his research focused on the development of organoid-on-chip platforms. As a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, his research utilizes genetic engineering and in silico simulations to develop organoid models of pancreatic development and glioblastoma progression. Recognition of Matthew’s work includes an F31 Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a Loan Repayment Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a Rita Levi-Montalcini Fellowship and Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar Award from the Washington University Center of Regenerative Medicine, National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship (T32) from the NIH, Keystone Travel Award from the NIDDK, and Engineering Endocrine Tissue Rockstar Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Brisa Palikuqi, PhD, Yale University

Dr Palikuqi is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Stem Cell Center and the Department of Comparative Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. Originally from Albania, Dr Palikuqi received her PhD from Weill Cornell Medicine, where she trained with Dr Shahin Rafii. During her graduate studies, she developed an innovative platform for vascularizing organoids and tissue explants in vitro, laying the foundation for her interest in endothelial biology and regenerative medicine.

In 2020, she joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr Ophir Klein. Her postdoctoral work focused on uncovering the role of blood and lymphatic vascular-derived signals in intestinal regeneration and disease. In her independent lab at Yale, Dr Palikuqi continues to explore the complexity of endothelial cell paracrine signaling, with a focus on its roles in tissue repair and regeneration. Her research integrates in vivo models and advanced in vitro systems to identify mechanisms that can be leveraged to promote regeneration in a precise and controlled manner.

Dr Palikuqi is currently supported by a K01 Career Development Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and is the recipient of numerous fellowships and honors. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and building an inclusive, collaborative research environment.

About the Collection

Organoids, as three-dimensional, self-organizing structures derived from stem cells, have emerged as powerful tools for modeling human development and disease and screening drug candidates. These miniaturized organ-like systems recapitulate key aspects of tissue architecture and function, offering insights into developmental processes that are often unattainable using traditional two-dimensional cultures or animal models. By closely mimicking organ development, organoids provide researchers with a unique platform to study how tissues and organs form, function, and respond to various stimuli. As techniques for generating and manipulating organoids evolve, researchers are increasingly able to study complex biological processes, drug responses, and disease mechanisms in a context that closely resembles the human body.

The significance of advanced organoid methods lies in their ability to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications. Recent advances have demonstrated their utility in areas such as cancer research, regenerative medicine, and infectious diseases, providing a platform for personalized medicine approaches. Moreover, organoids can be employed in high-throughput drug screening and toxicity testing, paving the way for more effective therapeutic strategies.

In light of these developments, BMC Methods is opening a collection on “Advanced organoid methods and protocols: from development to disease modeling.” We invite submissions on a wide range of method-based topics and approaches, including but not limited to:

Methods for organoid development and optimization
Organoid applications in personalized medicine
Approaches for utilizing organoids for disease models
High-throughput screening with organoid systems
Organoids as models for human and animals development and tissue formation
Comparative studies using human and animal organoids

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

Back to top

This Collection welcomes submission of original Methodology and Protocol papers. 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 "Advanced organoid methods and protocols: from development to disease modeling" 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.