Dr. Narendra Kumar has completed his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology in 2001 and postdoctoral training from the University of Tennessee Health science center in 2005. From 2005-2008, he was instructor of Physiology and Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Tennessee HSC and Le Bonheur Children Medical Center respectively. Since 2008 he is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center. Rated among top 25% in the college by the students, he teaches Immunology, Biochemistry, Pharmacogenomics, and Principles of Drug action under PharmD program. In research he has over 10 years of continuous funding record on IBD and is currently funded from NIH and CCFA. He has received several national/international awards, published more than 16 papers in reputed journals, and has three patents to his credit, two of which are already commercialized while the third is under negotiation for licensing.

Dr. Narendra Kumar's research focuses on 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.

12. How do you differentiate of Journal of Liver: Disease & Transplantation (JLDT) with other journals in the field?

Response: Can’t comment at this stage as it’s too early to comment.