Call for papers - Mpox: Epidemiology, prevention, and treatment

Guest Editors

Richard B Kennedy, PhD, Mayo Clinic, USA
Jason Zucker, MD, Columbia University, USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 18 April 2025

BMC Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of mpox. The goal of this Collection is to gather research that addresses the development of preventive measures, treatment guidelines, and insights into the similarities and differences between mpox and smallpox.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequality.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Richard B Kennedy, PhD, Mayo Clinic, USA

Dr Kennedy is a Professor of Medicine and the Co-Director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group. Dr Kennedy’s research emphasis is on understanding the factors driving the tremendous diversity in human immune responses to viral vaccines, including: measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, SARS-COV-2, vaccinia, and zika. Of particular interest are emerging, re-emerging, and biodefense-related pathogens. His group focuses on the role of host genetic variation, age and immunosenescence, nutrition, and other factors on the development and maintenance of immunity following vaccination. The laboratory employs systems biology and vaccinomics approaches to better understand the complex interactions that occur during the development of vaccine response with the goal of predicting and controlling vaccine-induced immune responses and adverse events.

Jason Zucker, MD, Columbia University, USA

Dr Zucker is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Columbia University Medical Center and Assistant Medical Director of the New York City STD Prevention Training Center. Dr Zucker trained as a combined adult and pediatric infectious diseases physician and provides status-neutral sexual health care to patients of all ages. His research focuses on ways to optimize engagement in the sexual health cascade of care.
Dr Zucker has been actively involved since the start of the 2022 mpox outbreak. He is co-vice chair of the NIH-funded Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP), the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial of the safety and efficacy of tecovirimat. He is also a co-investigator and site PI for the CDC-funded Life after Mpox (LAMP) and several other CDC mpox studies. Dr Zucker has also participated in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Mpox, the writing team for the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV Mpox section, and co-wrote the New York State AIDS Institute clinical guidelines on mpox.

About the Collection

BMC Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of mpox. The goal of this Collection is to gather research that addresses the development of preventive measures, treatment guidelines, and insights into the similarities and differences between mpox and smallpox.

Mpox has garnered increased attention because of its potential for human-to-human transmission and the absence of specific antiviral treatments. Understanding the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and treatment options for mpox is crucial for effective public health responses and clinical management.

Recent research has contributed to improved diagnostic capabilities, leading to better identification and containment of mpox outbreaks. Advances in vaccine development and antiviral therapies have shown promise in mitigating the impact of mpox on affected populations. However, challenges remain in understanding the full spectrum of disease transmission and the long-term consequences of mpox infection, underscoring the need for continued research in this area.

Ongoing research efforts may lead to the development of more effective prevention strategies, including targeted vaccination campaigns and public health interventions. Advancements in treatment modalities, such as the identification of novel antiviral agents or immunomodulatory therapies, could significantly improve clinical outcomes for individuals affected by mpox. The development of comprehensive guidelines for the management of mpox cases and outbreaks could enhance preparedness and response efforts at local, national, and global levels.

We welcome a wide exploration of topics related to mpox, including but not limited to:

Etiology and pathogenesis: investigate the causative agent of mpox, including its genetic makeup, transmission dynamics, and host interactions.
Epidemiology and surveillance: analyze the incidence, prevalence, and distribution of mpox cases globally, risk factors associated with mpox outbreaks, effective surveillance strategies to detect and monitor mpox outbreaks.
Clinical presentation and diagnosis: evaluate the clinical manifestations of mpox and diagnostic methods.
Treatment and management: investigate antiviral therapies for mpox, the role of supportive care in managing severe cases, and the effectiveness of vaccination strategies.
Viral shedding and transmission: study viral shedding patterns in infected individuals and modes of transmission.
Immune response and immunity: characterize the immune response during mpox infection.
Animal reservoirs and vectors: identify potential animal reservoirs and their role in maintaining mpox.
Public health interventions and preparedness: assess the impact of public health measures during outbreaks and preparedness plans for mpox emergence.
Risk communication and community engagement: explore effective communication strategies to raise awareness and prevent panic during outbreaks.
One health approach: collaborate across disciplines, including environmental factors, land use, and climate change, to understand mpox dynamics.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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BMC Medicine encourages submissions of front matter articles and original research, including clinical trials (phase I-III, randomized-controlled, either positive or negative trials), epidemiological studies (retrospective or prospective), systematic reviews and meta-analyses, -omics, medical imaging, genomics studies and biomarkers research. Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have read our submission guidelines.

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 "Mpox: Epidemiology, prevention, and treatment" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.