by Jennifer Harman, Editor
JH: Tell us a bit about yourself and your current focus of research.
DB: My name is Denise Battaglini. I am now working as a Consultant and Research Assistant in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at San Martino Policlinico Hospital in Genoa, Italy, and a PhD researcher in Translational and Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Over the last few years, I approached both experimental and clinical research in a translational way, thus acquiring essential skills in research methodology, statistics, pulmonary infectious disease, respiratory physiotherapy, neuro and pulmonary critical care. I am now focusing my research interests on mechanical ventilation, pulmonary infections (particularly microbiota modulation), airway management, and pulmonary critical care in specific subpopulations of critically ill patients such as those requiring neurocritical care and those with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
JH: What do you think is the most fascinating recent development in pulmonary medicine?
DB: I believe that identifying phenotypes of ARDS, including COVID-19-related ARDS, and integrating this information into patient care, including personalized mechanical ventilation, is one of the fascinating topics of the last decade in pulmonary research. I appreciate all the translational aspects of pulmonary medicine, from experimental to clinical.
JH: Is there an area of pulmonary medicine that you think is currently under-explored?
DB: I believe that more clarity is needed regarding the effects of different ventilator strategies on the outcome and development of ventilator-induced lung injury, targeting specific sub-populations of critically ill patients.
JH: Where do you see (or where would you like to see) the pulmonary medicine field in 10 years from now?
DB: In recent years there have been advances in our knowledge of mechanical ventilation. I believe that the future is heading towards personalized therapies to pulmonary medicine tailored to the patient’s needs.
JH: What does it mean to you to be an Editorial Board Member for BMC Pulmonary Medicine?
DB: It is a great privilege and responsibility to be an Editorial Board Member for BMC Pulmonary Medicine. Being an Editorial Board Member helps me improve my scientific knowledge, as I learn from the papers and reviews that I handle. It is also an opportunity to support the scientific community by helping to ensure the publication of open and reproducible research.
JH: What is one piece of advice you would give to reviewers as an EBM handling manuscripts?
DB: I would suggest that reviewers give constructive feedback and criticism to the authors to improve the quality of the research published.
JH: What is one piece of advice you would give to the authors of submitted manuscripts?
DB: I would suggest that the authors follow appropriate reporting guidelines endorsed by the EQUATOR Network (e.g. CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, CARE, COREQ, and ARRIVE) and be clear regarding the aims of their study. Authors should structure the methods, results, and discussion to address the aims and answer the research questions.
JH: What would you change in scientific publishing if you could?
DB: Although open access publishing has significant benefits, including increased accessibility, high article processing charges can create a barrier for researchers who do not have access to substantial research funds and could contribute to inequality in research publishing. Therefore, I believe that transparent reporting of the costs contributing to APCs is needed. Also, publishers should have a process in place to offer waivers for those without access to funds to cover APCs.
