Journal of Breath Research: 2016 Reviewer Awards

Reviewer of the Year: Professor Massimo Corradi, Universita degli Studi di Parma, Italy

Massimo Corradi is a professor at the University of Parma, Italy, whose interest lies in respiratory medicine. The articles Professor Corradi reviews for the Journal of Breath Research resonate with him because he has a strong background in this field of research. His latest National Institutes of Health research project was entitled ‘Metals in exhaled breath condensate as COPD biomarkers’.

It comes as no surprise, then, that on reviewing papers for this journal, Professor Corradi looks for scientific appeal, novel research and rigorous methodology. An article that struck a chord with him sought to examine the use of exhaled breath analysis to detect drug abuse: Detection of drugs of abuse in exhaled breath using a device for rapid collection: comparison with plasma, urine and self-reporting in 47 drug users.

As a reviewer, Professor Corradi is particularly interested in the science, finding satisfaction in reading suggestions from other reviewers that mirror or complement his own. He therefore urges first-time reviewers to be scientifically rigorous, and to be honest when providing feedback on manuscripts.

For his part, Professor Corradi would like to see the names of authors removed from papers while undergoing peer review to ensure complete impartiality. He takes the process seriously, which is why the Reviewer of the Year award is important, he says; it recognizes the hard work, effort and time reviewers put into the task.