Special Interview with Prof. William C. Cho
On October 23, 2024, the editorial team of Journal of Translational Genetics and Genomics had the great honor of interviewing Prof. William C. Cho from the Department of Clinical Oncology at the Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong, China.
In this interview, Prof. Cho provided an in-depth discussion on the importance of integrating genomics and proteomics in cancer treatment. He emphasized that combining these fields not only enhances our understanding of cancer's molecular mechanisms and enables the identification of tumor-specific biomarkers but also facilitates the monitoring of tumor evolution to predict and counteract resistance mechanisms. This comprehensive approach supports the development of personalized therapeutic strategies, thereby optimizing treatment efficacy and minimizing side effects for patients.
Reflecting on his 30-year career in research, Prof. Cho shared that he has never taken a single sick day, feeling immensely excited whenever he publishes a quality paper or witnesses the emergence of cancer therapies with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. His great passion for cancer research and his strong sense of responsibility toward cancer patients were profoundly evident throughout the interview.
When discussing advice for young scholars, Prof. Cho offered four valuable insights: First, he stressed the necessity of precision medicine, which involves customizing treatment plans and prescriptions for individual patients. Second, he advocated for the integration of multi-omics approaches, which provide a comprehensive understanding of cancer from multiple perspectives, thereby enhancing efficacy and reducing side effects. Third, he urged the exploration of emerging therapies, such as targeted treatments, immunotherapy (e.g., CAR-T therapy), and gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), in addition to conventional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Finally, he highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in future research endeavors. These insights hold significant promise for informing future cancer research and treatment strategies.
Furthermore, Prof. Cho shared key strategies for enhancing the visibility and impact of the journal: First, he recommended clearly defining the journal's research domain to establish a unique academic identity. Second, he advocated for stringent quality control of submissions and a focus on constructive peer review to bolster the journal's academic reputation. Third, attracting renowned experts in the field to join the Editorial Board can enhance the journal's scholarly influence. Fourth, actively promoting newly published papers and academic activities through social media platforms (such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) can help cultivate a positive online presence. Fifth, participate in or sponsor international conferences, and use a combination of virtual and facial methods to attract more scholars to pay attention to and recognize the journal. Sixth, optimizing the submission and review platform will improve communication efficiency among authors, editors, and reviewers, ensuring a smooth manuscript processing workflow and enhancing user experience. Lastly, attention to the design of the journal’s cover and overall image is crucial for creating a more professional and eye-catching presentation, allowing it to stand out among academic publications and enhancing brand recognition.
Personal Introduction:
Prof. William C. Cho has been recognized as “Highly Cited Researchers for 2023” by Clarivate. He is a Chartered Scientist granted by the Science Council (UK), a Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (HK), Guest Professor at multiple Universities, and a Fellow Member of several institutes, including the Institute of Biomedical Science (UK), Hong Kong Institute of Biomedical Science, and Hong Kong Society for Molecular Diagnostic Sciences.
Prof. Cho’s research endeavors focus on cancer biomarkers, non-coding RNA, genomics, proteomics, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, meta-analysis, etc. His prolific contributions include over 600 peer-reviewed papers covering cancer biomarkers, proteomics, non-coding RNA, traditional Chinese medicine, etc.
Editor: Zhiyu Zhang
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Yan Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Journal Editorial Office
Journal of Translational Genetics and Genomics
