Dr. Narendra Kumar is assistant professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Texas A&M Health Science Center, USA. He received his PhD in Microbial Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Technology in 2001.

Chronic mucosal inflammation leads to different complications such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease and epithelial cancer. The research focus is to find therapeutic targets through dissecting the molecular determinants that regulate mucosal inflammation through three major approaches: In-vitro analysis of the structure and functions of the molecular determinants, In-vitro confirmation of the proof of the principle in a human cell culture model, In-vivo amelioration of mucosal inflammation through viral mediated gene delivery

1. What makes an article top quality? 

Response: Nicely written on most relevant topic, and hence a wider audience.

2. Do you think that journals determine research trends?

Response: Its other way round.

3. What makes a good position paper?

Response: Data driven hypothesis with question driven multi-approach experiments.

4. What are the qualities you look for in an article?

Response:Relevant topic, sound hypothesis, probing questions, and well design experiments.

5.Can you give us a broad indication of the types of themes a scientific journal should cover?

Response: Liver-cancer, liver-transplant, drug-induced liver toxicity, role of liver in personalized medicine.

6. If you could be granted dream articles, what would they be on?

Response: How environment drive liver functions.

7.How does the research published percolate through to practitioners?

Response: If the topic is relevant to practitioners.

8. How does the research published percolate through to practitioners?

Response: At least two reviewers initially and if any issues arises than third reviewer should be consulted.

9. How can a publisher ensure the authors/readers a rigorous peer review and quality control?

Response: At least two reviewers initially and if any issues arises than third reviewer should be consulted.

10. Your editorial policy is to be eclectic and welcome perspectives from other disciplines and schools. How does this translate into the types of contributions you encourage?

Response: Broader thinking from wider perspective.

11. What do you see as the merits of journals, as opposed to book series, as a means of scholarly communications?

Response: Journals give the most up to date information using cutting edge technology.