In 2026, many CDT 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 who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.

Outstanding Authors (2026)

Daisuke Shishikura, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan

Zahid Khan, Queen Mary University, UK

Thanh Luan Nguyen, Vietnam Military Central Hospital 108, Vietnam

Outstanding Author

Daisuke Shishikura

Dr. Daisuke Shishikura is an interventional cardiologist at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan. After general and interventional cardiology training at Higashi Takarazuka Satoh Hospital in Japan, he moved to Australia for medical research at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) in Adelaide (2015-2019) and worked with Prof. Stephen J. Nicholls. He had focused on area of coronary imaging and atherosclerosis. He also had interventional cardiology training at Northern Hospital in Melbourne (2019-2021). Since 2021, he has been working as a staff cardiologist at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University and leading some research projects regarding lipidology, atherosclerosis and interventional cardiology. Recently, his interest expands to mechanical circulatory support and structure heart disease including TAVI and TEER.

CDT: What are the essential elements of a good academic paper?

Dr. Shishikura: Along with clinical practice, clinical questions may come up in our mind. Simple curiosity sometimes links to research. A good academic paper isn’t just about having interesting data—it’s about presenting a clear, credible, and well-structured argument. I think that all processes could lead to a good academic paper.

CDT: What authors have to bear in mind during preparation of a paper?

Dr. Shishikura: When preparing an academic paper, authors need to think beyond just “writing up results.” Good preparation is about designing a paper that is credible, readable, and publishable.

CDT: Why do you choose to publish in CDT?

Dr. Shishikura: We chose to submit our manuscript to CDT because its focus on cardiovascular diagnostics and therapeutics closely aligns with our study. The journal reaches a highly relevant clinical and research audience, and its emphasis on translational impact makes it an ideal platform for our findings. In addition, its open-access model ensures broad dissemination within the global cardiovascular community.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Zahid Khan

Dr. Zahid Khan has completed MRCP and FRCP from the UK and is currently pursuing an MD in Research at Queen Mary University, London, and a PhD at the University of South Wales. His current affiliations include the Queen Mary University, London, James Cook University, Australia, and Townsville University Hospital, Queensland, Australia. He has over 120 PubMed-indexed publications on cardiovascular disease prevention and management, and cardiometabolic diseases. His special interests include cardiometabolic diseases, cardiovascular prevention, ischemic heart disease, angina, myocardial infarction, coronary intervention, dyslipidemia, hypertension, artificial intelligence, and cardiac rehabilitation. He also works as an editor and collection editor for several reputable journals. Furthermore, he is a lecturer at James Cook University and a tutor at the University of South Wales and the University of Buckingham in the UK. He aims to facilitate high-quality research publications, increase networking, contribute to editorial work, and regularly review and write articles for the journal. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook.

In Dr. Khan’s view, successful authors in cardiovascular medicine combine clinical expertise, scientific rigor, and clear communication. They excel at translating research findings into clinically relevant insights—particularly in diagnostics, imaging, and therapeutics—while bridging the gap between research and real-world practice. Key attributes include robust methodology, appropriate statistical analysis, reproducible results, and credible reporting. They must also synthesize evidence, critically appraise the literature, and present balanced, up-to-date perspectives relevant to clinicians. Manuscripts should be logically structured, concise, and free of ambiguity. Ethical integrity is essential, encompassing proper patient consent, accurate citations, and full disclosure of conflicts of interest. Authors should demonstrate interdisciplinary awareness, including emerging areas such as artificial intelligence in cardiovascular care. Responsiveness to peer review and a strong academic/research background further enable them to deliver innovative, forward-thinking contributions that advance diagnosis, therapy, and—most importantly—patient outcomes.

Dr. Khan works in a demanding clinical and academic environment, which leaves him with very limited spare time for writing. He therefore plans his schedule carefully and deliberately carves out time for research and manuscript preparation. In his view, producing high-quality academic papers requires genuine dedication and protected time. While many believe good writing demands long, uninterrupted blocks of time, he finds this unrealistic; with experience, the time required often decreases. He emphasizes that consistency is far more important than marathon sessions. Rather than dedicating an entire day, he recommends committing a short, focused period daily—such as editing a section or refining specific parts of a draft. Practice builds efficiency, making academic writing more effective and productive.

Writing is a hobby for him, and he thinks it is far more manageable when it is closely tied to his ongoing clinical work or research. Real-world cases, audits, and daily clinical questions often provide the most natural and practical starting points, turning writing into a natural extension of his routine rather than an extra burden. He also stresses the value of collaboration, which allows responsibilities to be shared among team members. Familiarity with essential research tools—such as reference managers and literature search engines—is crucial. Ultimately, success comes more easily when one genuinely enjoys both writing and research. Finally, he encourages young researchers with limited experience to embrace every opportunity to build their skills.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Thanh Luan Nguyen

Dr. Thanh Luan Nguyen, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist and interventional cardiologist at the Department of Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Intervention, Vietnam Military Central Hospital 108, Hanoi, Vietnam. His research focuses on interventional cardiology, advanced cardiovascular imaging, and complex myocardial diseases, with a particular emphasis on infiltrative cardiomyopathies, including cardiac amyloidosis and other inherited metabolic disorders, such as Fabry disease and mucopolysaccharidoses. His work addresses the diagnostic challenges and under-recognized burden of infiltrative heart diseases, a broad and heterogeneous group that remains insufficiently studied in many clinical settings. In his recent research, he has explored a novel perspective on genotype-positive populations, suggesting that individuals carrying pathogenic mutations (e.g., Fabry disease or mucopolysaccharidoses) may already exhibit subclinical cardiovascular involvement detectable through advanced imaging, even before overt phenotypic expression. He is particularly interested in improving early detection and risk stratification through multimodality imaging, as well as integrating clinical, imaging, and biomarker data. Dr. Nguyen continues to pursue translational research aimed at redefining disease boundaries and advancing earlier, more personalized approaches to diagnosis and management in infiltrative cardiomyopathies. Follow him on ORCID and Scopus.

A good academic paper, in Dr. Nguyen’s view, should present a clear and clinically relevant research question, supported by a robust methodology and reliable data. It should be well-structured, concise, and transparent, allowing readers to understand and reproduce the findings. Importantly, it should contribute meaningful insights to the existing body of knowledge and have potential implications for clinical practice or future research.

According to Dr. Nguyen, common challenges in academic writing include formulating a clear research question, maintaining logical structure, and presenting complex data in a concise and understandable way. Language barriers can also be a difficulty for non-native English speakers. Additionally, ensuring methodological rigor and responding effectively to peer review comments are often demanding but essential parts of the process.

“Academic writing is fascinating because it allows researchers to transform clinical observations and ideas into structured knowledge that can benefit the wider medical community. It is a process of critical thinking, discovery, and communication, where each paper contributes to the advancement of science and ultimately improves patient care,” says Dr. Nguyen.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)