In 2026, many authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors, with a brief interview of their thoughts and insights as authors. Allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for their tremendous effort and valuable contributions to the scientific process.

Outstanding Authors (2026)

Susumu Takeuchi, Nippon Medical School, Japan

Outstanding Author

Susumu Takeuchi

Susumu Takeuchi, MD, PhD, is affiliated with the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology at the Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, where his research focuses on lung cancer care, particularly in patient-centered communication and shared decision-making. He is currently leading a project with the Japanese Lung Cancer Society’s Education and Training Committee to create a new educational system focused on shared decision-making for lung cancer patients. Additionally, he is involved in developing and evaluating communication skills training programs for medical students, with the goal of enhancing both clinical practice and educational outcomes in lung cancer care. In addition, he routinely conducts patient-centered clinical research on novel pharmacotherapies for lung cancer, focusing on their applicability in elderly patients, optimal dosing strategies, and adverse event management.

In Dr. Takeuchi’s view, academic writing is essential because it transforms clinical experience into reliable, shared knowledge that improves patient care. In lung cancer, where treatments are rapidly evolving, it allows doctors to systematically evaluate therapies, report outcomes, and guide evidence-based practice. From a patient-centered perspective, academic writing also gives structure to patients’ experiences—such as treatment tolerability, especially in the elderly, and the process of shared decision-making—so that these insights can benefit others beyond individual cases. Ultimately, academic writing ensures transparency, reproducibility, and continuous improvement in both research and clinical care, helping us provide better, more patient-centered treatment.

Dr. Takeuchi highlights that data sharing is crucial. It improves transparency and reproducibility by allowing others to verify and build upon research findings. It also accelerates scientific progress, as shared data can generate new insights and more robust evidence. Importantly, from a patient-centered perspective, data sharing maximizes the value of patients’ contributions to research. At the same time, it must always be conducted with strict protection of privacy and ethical responsibility. Overall, thoughtful data sharing helps advance science and ultimately improves patient care.

“To all academic writers dedicated to advancing scientific progress, I would like to express my sincere respect for your continued efforts. Research and writing can sometimes feel demanding and incremental. Still, each carefully collected dataset and each well-written manuscript contributes to a larger body of knowledge that ultimately benefits our patients. Even small advances can lead to meaningful improvements in clinical care over time. I would especially encourage you to remain grounded in the patients behind the data. When patients need guidance, our work—whether it involves improving outcomes, quality of life, or decision-making—give us deeper purpose and motivation. Please continue your important work with confidence and integrity. Your contributions are essential to advancing medicine and improving patient care worldwide,” says Dr. Takeuchi.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)