Call for papers - Cutting-edge diagnostics for infectious diseases: emerging technologies and approaches

Guest Editors

Sikhulile Moyo, PhD, MSc, MPH, Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Botswana
Gayani Tillekeratne, MD, MSc, Duke University School of Medicine, USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026

BMC Infectious Diseases invites submissions for a Collection on Cutting-edge diagnostics for infectious diseases.

This Collection invites researchers to contribute innovative studies on cutting-edge diagnostic technologies for infectious diseases. We are particularly interested in research that explores advancements in molecular diagnostics, rapid testing methods, biosensors, and next-generation sequencing. By showcasing the latest approaches in infectious disease diagnostics, we aim to promote advancements that enhance public health outcomes and enable effective responses to emerging infectious threats.

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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Sikhulile Moyo, PhD, MSc, MPH, Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Botswana

Dr Sikhulile Moyo is the Laboratory Director at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP) and a Research Associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A former McGoldrick Fellow in Biostatistics, Dr Moyo has completed two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships—one with the NIH Fogarty International Center and another through the Wellcome Trust–funded DELTAS SANTHE program. His research focuses on early HIV-1 infection, HIV incidence estimation, molecular epidemiology, and evolutionary bioinformatics, with over 140 peer-reviewed publications to date. He has contributed to key studies on HIV drug resistance, point-of-care diagnostics, and viral genotyping (HIV, Hepatitis, CMV, HPV). Dr Moyo is co-Chief Scientist on Botswana’s Presidential COVID-19 Task Force and serves on various international and national HIV technical working groups. He is also a Principal Investigator on NIH-funded projects and actively mentors emerging researchers and fellows at BHP.

Gayani Tillekeratne, MD, MSc, Duke University School of Medicine, USA

Dr Gayani Tillekeratne is an Associate Professor in Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Duke University, USA. She is a clinician and researcher who is focused on developing novel diagnostics and strategies to improve antimicrobial use for acute respiratory and febrile illnesses in low-resource settings. Her work in antimicrobial use and resistance has spanned South Asia, East Africa, and USA. She also serves as Co-Director of the Ruhuna-Duke Centre for Infectious Diseases in Galle, Sri Lanka.

About the Collection

BMC Infectious Diseases invites submissions for a Collection on Cutting-edge diagnostics for infectious diseases.

The field of diagnostics for infectious diseases is rapidly evolving, driven by the need for timely and accurate detection methods. Traditional diagnostic techniques often fall short in terms of speed and sensitivity, highlighting a pressing need for innovative solutions. Recent advances in technologies such as molecular diagnostics, biosensors, and next-generation sequencing are paving the way for more efficient and reliable testing methodologies. These emerging approaches have the potential to revolutionize the identification of pathogens, enabling faster clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes.

Addressing the challenges posed by infectious diseases is critical, particularly in an era marked by global health crises and the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The development and implementation of rapid diagnostic tools can facilitate timely interventions, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates. As researchers and healthcare professionals work collaboratively, significant strides have been made in understanding the complexities of infectious diseases. This includes the adaptation of point-of-care testing technologies that bring laboratory capabilities closer to patients, thus enhancing the capacity for early diagnosis and treatment.

If current research trends continue, we may see transformative advancements that integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into diagnostic processes. Such innovations could lead to the creation of smart diagnostics that not only detect infections with high accuracy but also provide real-time surveillance data. Future technologies may enable rapid identification of emerging pathogens, thus enhancing public health response strategies and mitigating outbreaks before they escalate.

Advances in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases
Innovations in rapid diagnostic testing
Applications of next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection
Biosensors for real-time infectious disease monitoring
Point-of-care testing technologies and their impact

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 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 "Cutting-edge diagnostics for infectious diseases: emerging technologies and approaches" 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.